Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, February 17, 1908, Page 1

THE BEMIDJI DAILY PIONE A N Dare, state printer MINNESOTA HISTORICAL VOLUME 5. NUMBER 256. BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 17, 1908. CITY ELECTION WILL BE HELD TUESDAY; IT'S WARM Mr. Russell Made Clean Newspaper Campaign for Mayor. ---Pioneer Has Been Open to Mr. Pogue, But He Didn’t Use Announcement. The annual city election for the | which we announced at the outset of purpose of electing officers for the | the campaign. City of Bemidji for the ensuing/ Our columns were open to any year, will be held tomorrow, when | candidate who desired to make an a mayor, city clerk, city treasurer, announcement of his candidacy for city assessor, and one alderman | office. Mr. Russell, candidate for each from the First ward, Second|mayor, took space in the Pioneer, ward, Third ward and Fourth ward "and over his own signature made a will be chosen. | straightforward declaration of his The time for filing of the petitions | principles, and his determination, if of candidates closed on the Sth inst., i elected, to work for a bigger and and the following made filings for better Bemidji. He has also stated the offlces stated. | that there will be a tight lid. For Mayor—?. J. Russell and J.l The editor of this paper has known P. Pogue. jlhe gentleman for the past sixteen Alderman, 1st ward—L. F. John-! years, and we have never had occa- son, G. M. Torrance and M. E. sion to doubt his word. Smith. | Mr. Pogue, who is a candidate Alderman, 2nd ward—Tom Smart for re-election, has not seen fit to (no opposition). | make use of the columns of the Alderman, 3rd ward—Jos. Bisiar,l Pioneer in” announcing his candi- E. J. Gould and Matt Mayer. | dacy, although our statement gave Alderman, 4th ward—George Mc- him that privilege if he had so Taggart and G. E. Rhea. desired. Neither he, nor any of his City Clerk—]. P. Young and supporters, have asked for space Thomas Maloy. in which to announce Mr. Pogue’s City Treasurer—Earl Geil. }platform. He has filed for the City Assessor—]. E. Cahill and office of mayor and has cards out D. D. Miller. ;announcing his candidacy. Further The contest for mayor is believed | than this, the Pioneer is not in- to be a close one with neither candi-| formed. date having anything suggestive of a| It has been the aim of the Pio- walk-away. | neer, through the entire campaign, The adherents of both Mr. Russell to prevent wmud-slinging through and Mr. Pogue have been doing | the newspapers 1f possible. As some very strong work for their re- ‘ far as this paper is concerned, we spective candidates, and for the most | have been highly successful, in part the campaign has been clean. ‘which our readers will bear us While this is a time of year when | out. most of the voters are absent from| We fail to see where there is the city working in the woods, it is{any occasion for bringing out the expected, nevertheless, that a large| Daily Sentinel. The efficiency of vote will be polled, and nothing will | the Pioneer as an advertising med- L left. undone_ to ha\'el S 1Efiral‘ium is too well established among voter in the city deposit his ballot | for his choice for offices. | legitimate readers to create a de- Relative to the present campaign, | mand for a new daily, even for the Pioneer has followed the attitude | temporary purposes. . M. E. Smith, Candidate Alderman First Ward. I hereby announce my candidacy for alderman of the Fisrt ward. M. E.Smith. | Candidate” for City Assessor. I hereby announce myself as can. didate for city assessor. i J. E. Cahill. i ‘ Local news on last page J. BISIAR, Candidate for Alderman, Third Ward. ———— FORTY CENTS PER MONTH —Respec Russell for Mayor. “Of Mr. Russell, only good words can be said of him. He is an able, clean, progressive citizen, and a man we all honor, but he is backed by a crowd that cannot do business in this city as a controlling power.”—(Sentinel of Feb’y Tth, 1908.) Thanks, Colonel; and you had bettet turn in and help elect that kind of a man. If I am elected, you will see the “lid” not only remain on Bemidji, but you will see it screwed down so tight there will be NO ERAKS. thully, —P. J. RUSSELL. The quartette of character assas- sins who fathered Saturday’s issue of the “Daily” Sentinel are attempt- ing to fool the people of Bemidji into voting for Mr. Pogue on the ground and for the reason that he ‘“closed” the town. They say,—“From the very moment he took the oath of office” he has enforced the laws, and became a terror to evil doers— especially to those who voted against him at the last election. In short, that he suppressed gambling, and made the saloons close, and keep closed on Sunday and after 11 o’clock p. m. Let us see. Mr. Pogue became mayor on the 2nd day of March,. 1907, and gambling was not sup- pressed until May 2nd, just two months after, and then it was not Mr. Pogue, but Sheriff Bailey acting under instructing from the governor, who did it. In his letter of instructions to the sheriff, the governor quotes a letter from citizens of Bemidji in which they say,—‘Gambling devices of all kinds are running wide open with the knowledge and consent of the Mayor”. The.governor’s letter to the Sheriff bears date of April 27th, 1907, and Mr. Bailey put the ban on gambling, as before stated, on the 2nd of May. When did Mr. Pogue enforce the Sunday closing and the after hours law? Not until the 15th day of June, 1907, one week after the Supreme Court handed down its decision in the Robinson case. Is this enforcing the laws from the “very moment he took the oath of office?” Fear, not virtue, was the impelling force as may be understood by reading the Robinson decision, 101, Minn., Page 277. Says the Court,—“The forfeiture of office and i pecuniary penalty prescribed by R. 1905, Sec. 1561 and 1562, for the failure of the mayer or other officer named therein to mal‘(e complaint of known violations of the statutes regulating the sale of intoxicating liquors may be enforced by the attorney general through appropriate action brought for that purpose.” The “pecuniary” penalty refered tois a fine of $100 to $500. No one blames Mr. Pogue for enforcing the law, even though that action was inspired by fear; they do blame him for not enforcing it, without showing fear or favor. Some are persecuted, while his political pets are allowed to run practically wide open, on all days and at all hours. I have no quarre} with Mr. Pogue personally, he has some good qual- ities, but everyone knows, he is not fitted in temperament, or training to govern a city. Those who would govern others, must first learn to obey the law, and Mr. Pogue has not, and does not obey the laws, whice he would hake others obey. I had hoped to go through this campaign without any personalities, but when Mr. Pogue allows his campaign managers to attack me! personally, I feel that it is time the! people knew the facts. I am charged with allowing George McTaggart to run a saloon three months without a license. The city attorney is not a license | inspector. His duties are to defend the city in actions brought against it, and to prosecute actions in its name, and give advice to the council when so requested. I was.never informed, nor was any member of the council informed by the clerk, whose duty itis to keep a record of the expirations of all licenses,that Mr. McTaggarts’ had expired. The “big four” say I defended saloonkeepers accused of vio]atinz’ the liquor laws. I have, and I have no apologies to offer. The! P. J. RUSSELL FOR MAYOR; THE TRUTH ABOUT THE LID greatest criminal ever brought to the bar of justice is entitled to counsel, and if unable to procure same, the court must appoint and the county pay for counsel to defend. They say I did not secure any convictions while I was_village and city attorney. The records of the Justices of the Peace for these years will show, ask one of the Pogue “boosters” in one of the favored places on 3rd st., whether I secured any convictions or not. He knows: Mr. Gibbons has carried on the work of prosecuting Mr. Pogue’s political enemies with commendable zeal, but no one has heard of his prosecuting a certain Justice of the Peace who made away with several hundred dollars belonging to the city, or bringing action on his bond. Why? Mr. Gibbons is on the bond as a surety. “With this aim in view and seek- ing the best interest of the city of Bemidji We come to you” says the “greeting.” Who is we? “We” is not Col. Allen, for he expressly states that everything in that “Daily” except the locals is “job work,” it certainly is job work Col. It is not Pogue, otherwise his name would appear as editor. Who then can ‘“we” be, why did not “we” come out and tell the people of Bemidji a week or more ago? Why wait for the last minute? I leave the people to judge. With full faith in the good sense of the people of Bemidji to whom my record as a citizen of Bemidji for nine years, as village and city attorney for six |- years, is an open book, and assuring them once more that I will carry out to the letter everything I have prom- ised, I await with confidence thé] result of the election tomorrow. Very Respectfully, P. J. RUSSELL. Feb. 17, 1908. ) I hereby announce myself as a!the city, and would lend my aid to candidate for alderman from the such enforcement. I also believe Third ward in this city, at the forth-| that all measures calculated to ad- coming city election, to be held on!vance the welfare of the city as a Tuesday, February 18th. " {whole should be adopted, that the If elected to the office of alder-| community may take its place as the man, I willdo ali in my ppwer to|leading city of Northern Minnesota. further the best interests of the| "I solicit the support of the voters city. of the third ward, and promise, if I believe in a conservative en-lelected. to serve their interests, to forcement of all ordinances and |the best of my ability. other laws within the jurisdiction of —J. BISIAR. A HATIONAL DRAINAGE WON'T PASS THIS SESSION Bills of Congressmai Steenerson and i Volstead, of Interest to Minnesota, in Abeyance. “Advocates of the passage of a national drainage law at the present session have practically given up hope of success. The opposition by speaker Cannon and other Repub- lican leaders to any measures in- creasing public expenditures which can possibly be postponed to a further time is so strong that bills such as those providing for payment {out of the federal treasury in aid of a national drainage policy are rel | garded as having small chance of passage. “Indeed the opposition is so stroug to measures of this kind that Repre- sentatives Volstead and Steenersen, who have special bills relating to drainage matters in Minnesota, have little confidence that Speaker Can- ngn will give encouragement to the passage of these bills at the present session. “In ordea to meet this situation Representative = *Volstead has re- modeled his Minnesota drainage bill so to provide thatno payments shall be made from the public treas- ury, but simpiy authorizing the dis- posal of the land under any circum- stances which will promote the drain- age policy. ( “Mr. Volstead is confident that if any bill on the subject of drainage| can be passed at this session it will| be one which simply takes an initial step in the matter, without entailing any public expenditure. “The house today passed a bill which was reported from the com-| mittee on public lands by Repre- sentative Volstead authorizing the return of money that has been paid | by homesteaders or other would-be purchasers of public lands in all} cases where, through no fault of the person making the payment, title to the lands failed. Officials of the general land office recommended the passage of the bill.” L. F. JOHNSON, Candidate for Alderman for the First Ward, City Election, Feb. 18, I bereby announce myself as a! candidate for election to the office of alderman for the First ward, at the city election, to be held oh Tues- day, February 18, 1908. If I am elected I will cast my own ballot, and I will always work for the best interests of the whole city. L. F. Johnson. A new line of souvenir post cards has just been received at the Pioneer FIREMEN'S MASQUERADE WILL BE GIVEN FEB, 21 Eighth Annual Balt Promises to Be the Best Ever Held by the Department. The members of the Bemidji Fire department will give tkeir eighth annual masked ball in the city opera house on Friday evening, February 21. Heretofore the masked ball has always been given on Feb- ruary 22(Washington’s birthday) but as that notable event falls on Saturday, it was decided to give the dance on the evening before so there would be no dancing on the 1 Sabbath. No pains are being spared to make the forthcoming dance a suc- cess in every way. Prof. Syming- ton’s full orchestra will furnish the music for the occasion, which insures the best in the city in musical lines. The following are the committees who have the dance in charge: Floor Committee—R.. Russel, A. Gould, C. S. Dailey, A. Doran. Special Committee—Gary Bren- nan, John Cline. Arrangements—George Fleming, J. J. Doran, M. Downs, M. F. Cun- ningham, E. H. Cornwall,"H. Doran, Bart Stafford. Everybody in the city should buy a ticket to this dance and thereby assist one of the most worthy organi- office. zations in the city. CONCENTRATED MOVENENT TO SECURE NIGHT TRAIN Bemidji Commercial Club Will Be Assisted by Other Com- mercial Bodies in Request for Night Train to Twin Cities over M. & I. Great pressure is being brought to bear on the officials of the Minne- sota & International and Northern Pacific railways for the purpose of securing the putting on of a night passenger train between Interna- tional Falls and St. Paul. During the past week the commer- cial club of Bemidji has headed a general movement on the part of all commercial clubs in the towns from International Falls to Brainerd, whereby the different places are importuning the companies to put on the much-wanted train by the 1st or 15th of May. Strong letters have been written by those commer- cial clubs stating to the railway officials the belief that the installing of such train would not only be a great convenience to residents in the towns mentioned, but would also be a paying investment for the railway companies. At present, people living on the M. & I. railway are compelled to spend an entire day reaching the twin cities and they usually ate com- pelled to spend that night in the city before they can transact any busi- ness. It is estimated that by putting on the night train to the cities at least two days will be saved in doing business with twin city merchants. Going to the twin cities on the night train will be much more con- venient in every way than day traveling. Slecpers could be at- tached to the trains and those de- siring to “go below” can sleep in their berths the entire night, reach- ing St. Paul in ample time in the morning totransact their business the same day. The merchants of St. Paul and Minneapolis will be importuned to assist in furthering the project of this night train, and itis confidently believed the train will be forthcom- ing. Candidate for Alderman First Ward. I am a candidate for Alderman of the First Ward. My platform is to use my best judgment for the best interests of the city. Graham M. Torrance. George McTaggart Candidate Re-election Alderman 4th Ward MY PLATFORM I am in favor of all improvements that will afford work for the labor- ing man, and believe in extension of the water works and sewer system, and the paving of the streets of the city, as soon as necessary funds to carry this out, can be obtained. I also believe in the continuation of cement sidewalks and boulevard system to all the streets in the city. If elected I ‘shall use my best efforts for the upbuilding of a GREATER BEMIDJI and serve the taxpayers honestly and con- scientiously. . GEORGE McTAGGART. dJ. P. Young, Candidate for City Clerk. If elected for city clerk at the election on Feb. 18th,” I will en- deavor to fulfi'l the duties of the office in a manner that will give sat- isfaction to everyone. I believe in good government, fair and impartial treatment to every- one. I aminterested in the growth and development of Bemidji, and believe that wupon the govern- ment of a city of this kind, hinges its successful growth and development. Iam a member of no party or “clique.” Respectfully, J. P. Young. Additional local matter will be found on fourth page. Until then all broken shoes at $3.00 a pair. Removal - Sale About March 1lst the Bemidji Cash Shoe Store will move to the building now being vacated by E. H. Winter & Co. en’s and Children’s Shoes will be closed out at greatly reduced prices. 60 pairs of Ladies’ $3.50, $4.00 and 85 00 Men’s Shoes at 25¢ to $125 a pair off. All heavy Winter Rubbers and Overshoes at the wholesale cost and below. Bemidji Cash Shoe Store Repair Work Quickly Done. lines of Men’s, Wom-