Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, January 12, 1911, Page 1

“Ristorical Society THE BEMIDJ1 DAILY PIONEE MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY, VOLUME 8. NUMBER 268. BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, THURSDAY EVENING,‘ JANUARY 12, 1911. TEN CENTS PER WEEK. STEPHENS FIGHTS IN - SENATE AGAINST 0DDS Crookston Banker’s First Skirmish Shows that Election Committee Intends to Be Stumbling Block. “FOOLISH” YARN IN CITY PAPERS Ridiculous Report Spread That “Mys- terious” Methods are Being Used to Oust Saugstad. (By F. A. Wilson) Bemidji Pioneer Legislative Bureau St. Paul, Jan. 12.—It dosen’t look overly bright for Andrew Stephens, the Crookston Banker, in his contest in the senate against John Saugstad, the county optionist who now occu- pies the former seat of the contest- ing senator. At a meeting of the election com- mittee of the senate in the judiciary committee room yesterday afternoon, the spirit of the elections committee was revealed for the first time and it seems to favor Saugstad and the!‘ indications are that to win their; fight the friends of Senator Stephens will have to clash with their oppon- ents on the floor of the senate. Senator Julius E. Haycraft of Ma- delia, district, is chairman of the elections representing the thirteenth committee and is close to Lieutenant Governor Gordon who, of course, is an out and out county optionist. Other members of the committee are Senators Hackney of St. Paul, Carl Wallace, Minneapolis, Jas. P. Boyle, Eveleth, Cashman, Owatonna, Dale, Madison, Putnam, Blue Earth, Cook, Lake City, and Gunderson of Alex- andria. All were present with the exception of Senator Gunderson. There was a lively discussion over the proposition to have the evidence This the refused to do on the ground that the contestants should furnish the printed evidence and run in the contest printed. committee the risk of reimbursement from the state. Because of the state wide reputa- tion of the Crookston banker and be- cause county option enters so large- ly into the affair, the Stephens con- test is one of the most interesting things which has so far featured the new legislature. The twin city papers have printed a good many foolish things about the contest, chief of which may be men- tioned the yarn to the effect that Senator Stephens is hiding in St. Paul, directing his campaign from a secluded room in the St. Paul Hotel. Senator Stephens has been in St. Paul since the legislature convened but he has at no time attempted to He has met his friends fearlessly and frankly and de- appear “incognito.” clares this to be his policy through- out the contest. Senator Stephens has a Herculean task in unseating Senator Saugstad, first because it is extremely difficult to oust a member once he has been sworn in and, second, because of a none to friendly clections committee whose duty it is to pass upon the evidence and report its findings to the senate which must of necessity be influenced largely by the commit- tee's decision. *xxxxx “I am well satisfied with the way Speaker Dunn handled me in making his committee appointments,” said Representative P. D. O'Neil. I didn’t land as chairman of any of the committees but that was only to be expected after the antagonism 1 have shown the Speaker and his crowd. committees and that is enough for 1 didn’t care so much about the drainage committee as I don’t ex- 1 landed on four important me. pect to see much legislation along that line.” o x ok An effort is being made to revise the game laws to permit the hunt- ing of game birds beginning with September 1, a week earlier than the prefent law provides. A bill to this effect is now pending in the house. ok oxoxow o Both houses have now settled down to the usual grind. The com- mittees are practically all organized and good progress is being made. The first bill to pass the senate was an emergency appropriation of $17,- 000 for the St. Peter hospital for the insane. K. K. ROE REGEIVES LETTER Mankato Mayor Writes Bemidji Al- derman on Commission Plan, Alderman K. K. Roe of the city council has received the following letter from Mayor A. G. Meyer, of Mankato, in regard to the commission i form of municipal government which has been in operation in that city for some time: Mankato, Minn., Jan. 10,1911, Mr. K. K. Roe, Bemidji, Minn. Dear Sir:— The commission form of gov- ernment is an improvement over the old form; I have been alderman and | mayor under the old form and I know that this is way ahead of the other form. The business is more direct, and more like the busines of a cor- poration or like bank directors. We have a mayor and four comissioners, I will mail you a charter so you may see from that how they are divided. Yours truly, A. G. MEYER. Mr. Roe has received the charter and all who are interested in the plan may look over it at any time, by se- curing it from him. H THREE TOTS DIE INBURNING HOME Minneapolis Children Lose Lives in Blaze. MOTHER BABLY INJURED Fights Frantically to Rush Into the Flames in Attempt to Rescue Her Babies—Combined Efforts of Sev- eral Persons Necessary to Save Her From Meeting Same Fate as Her Offspring. Minneapolis, Jan. 12—Three babies, Gladys Rooth, four years old; Andrew Rooth, two years old, and Evelyn Rooth, one year old, left alone in their home, were burned to death. Their home was destroyed and their charred bodies were found in the smouldering ruins beside the body of their pet dog. Mrs. Rooth went to the house of a neighbor, Mrs. Jean Coudroy, on an errand and, looking from a window, saw smoke and flames leaping from her home. Rushing back through the snow bank she burst through the rear door only to be felled by a flash of flame. A second attack in a frenzied at- tempt to reach her children was like- wise repulsed and when Mrs. Charles L. Dean, another neighbor, attempted to prevent Mrs. Rooth’s rush to cer- tain death into her home, which by that time was a seething furnace, Mrs. Rooth turned on her and fought desperately. Seems to Lose Her Mind. Throwing Mrs. Dean into the snow Mrs. Rooth seemed to lose her mind and, screaming at the top of her voice, she stood knee deep in the snow bank and tore great bunches of hair from her head. Finally the com- bined efforts of neighbors forced her into Mrs. Dean's home, where she was temporarily cared for and later re- moved to the city hospital. Meanwhile Dan E. Richter, attorney, and a laborer named Anderson, both of whom happened to pass, broke in the front window and attempted to enter, but were driven back by flames, barely escaping injury. The bodies of Gladys and Andrew were found on the south side of the house, while that of the haby, with the dog beside her, were on the north side next the window. Gladys’ body was lying over that of her little brother and it is thought that when the fire started Gladys carried the baby sister to the window away from the flame and was returning for her brother when she was suffocated. The building was a frame structure. STODDARD FAILS T0 SEGURE FREEDOM| State Board of Pardons Asked to An- nul or Commute His Sentence,— Can Renew Request. OTHER APPLICATIONS REFUSED Itasca County Murderer Must Re- main in Prison—Martin 0’Mal- ley to Die on Gallows. St. Paul, Minn. Jan. 12.—(Daily Pioneer Special Service.)—Justin Stoddard, sentenced to the Minnesota state prison at Stillwater, from Bel- | trami county on a statutory charge, Sept. 23, 1908, for a term of 20 years, has failed in his effort to se- cure freedom. Stoddard made formal application to the state board of pardons to com- mute or annul his sentence but there were so many applications ahead that Stoddard's case was given but little attention and no definite action was taken. request but favorable action on his Stoddard can renew his case does not appear to be the inten- tion of the board of pardons. George J. Ferguson, sentenced from Itasca county, June 19, 1899, to the state prison for life, charge of murder in the first degree, also made an unsuccessful attempt on a to procure clemency at the hands of th state pardoning board. The board also turned a deaf ear to the dramatic entreaties on be- half of Martin O’Malley, the Le Sueur county murderer, who is under sen- tence ot death and the final decision of the only persons between him and the gallows was that he must die. O’Malley was convicted on the charge of murder in the first degree on October 9, 1910. It developed at the hearing that O’Malley and his wife are unable to converse in the same language, he being a Bohemian unable to speak English, and she speaking English and not Bohemian. The woman was a widow with two children O’Malley was a widower with seven children. It now remains for Governor Eber- hart to designate the day on which while the man is to be hanged. In the case of Martin Ellison, serving a 25 year sentence on the charge of highway robbery, the board of pardons yielded to the pa- thetic plea of Mildred, the 20 year old ‘wife of Ellison, and commuted the sentence to ten years. Ellison was convicted in Minneapolis in 1906 at the time that city was experienc- ing the terrors of a carnival of crime and the severe sentence was imposed as a warning to other highwaymen. The board of pardons denied 18 applications for clemency. With the exception of the two cases noted above, there was none from the nor- thern part of the state. FEDERAL LAND SUITS FILED Action Taken to Recover Property for . Indians. ‘Washington, Jan. 12.—Announce- ment was made at the department of justice of the filing of nearly 700 bills in equity in the United States circuit court for the district of Minnesota to recover several thousand acres of val uable timber in the White Earth reser- vation. According to the statement issued at the department white speculators have attempted to deprive the Indians of this land and while some of the land is actually in possession of persons who have no legal right to it the offi- cials are hopeful of being able to re- cover for the Chippewas in every case. 'SENATOR HUGHES IS DEAD Colorado Member of Upper House Ex- pires at Denver. Denver, Jan. 12.—Charles J. Hughes, Jr., United States senator from Colo- rado, is dead at his home here after an illness extending over several months. Death is believed to have resulted from paralysis. The senator had been ailing for two years, but his real breakdown came at the ‘“chuck din- ner” given by the Denver Press club to Colonel Roosevelt liere last August. A PLACE WHERE THE TARIFF BOARD WOULD BE USEFUL. //‘//: Wi ' / 2 s il i =—Bartholomew in Minneapolis Journal. MORE GOUNTY FAIR MONEY State Fede;ation Will Ask Legisla- ture to Double Appropriation. The Federated County Fairs of the State of Minnesota will urge the Legislature at least to double the ap- propriation Eor county fairs, which at present is $34,000, said sum not to exceed the amount paid for pre- miums. A resolution to this effect was unanimously adopted at the third anual meeting of tne federation at the Merchants hotel fn St. Paul Te- cently. It also was decided that a uniform classification of all exhibits be adopted by the different counties. The federation will recommend a law to be passed limiting the mem- bership of the state agricultural society to representatives of only such societies as are recognized as strictly county agricultural societies. The question of encouraging boys and girls to exert their influence in making the county fair a success In several counties, according to delegates, prizes are of- was discussed. fered for essays written by children on subjects dealing with industrial life. That the amusement end of the county fair is essential also was the sense of the meeting. J. J. Furlong of Austin wes re- elected president; E. E. Miller, St. Paul, was elected vice president; John H. Brown of Tyler and Thomas R. Johnston of St. Paul were re-elect- ed secretary and treasurer. As di- rectors E. H. Smith of Austin was chosen from the first congressional district, John Timpane of Waterville from the third, C. B. Wadell, St. Louis Park, the fifth; S. Hutchins, Glenwood, the seventh, and A. D. Stephens of Crookston from the ninth. Directors from the other districts hold office for another year. ‘W. R. MacKenzie represented Bel- trami county at the meeting. JUDGE DISGHARGES THOMAS Man Given Freedom and was Prompt- ly Rearrested. James Thomas, the lumber-jack, who was arrested last Monday on a charge of securing money under false pretenses, was granted a release yes- terday before Court Commissioner H. A. Simons. The moment Thomas stepped out of the office of Judge Simons he was met by a deputy sheriff from Fergus Falls, who had a warrant for his ar- rest, on the same charge as the one on which he was arrested on' here Monday. It appears that Thomas has been in the habit of sending drafts of the “nothing doing” kind to the banks at Fergus Falls. COMMISSION FORM OF GOVERNMENT ‘Wherever one may mention the commission form of government in Duluth, he hears much favorable comment and little that is unfavor- able. the majority of those who have been Some Duluth men—in fact aproached on the subject—have only hazy knowledge of the details of the plan, They have not made a study of the subject and have not gone in- to the variations used in the differ- ent cities and the results attained in each. On one point, there is little dif- ference of opinion. The commis- sion form of government is right fundamentally and it would be the proper thing to adopt say all. It is scientific government, and if proper- ly applied with the distinctive con- ditions and needs of each city in mind, it cannot but be successful and an improvement on the old wardline, partisian style of government. Knowing the needs and conditio‘us in Duluth and feeling assured that the commission form of government is right fundamentally, business men have no hesitancy in asserting that the charter commission should begin immediately a thorough investiga- tion of the subject. They agree that the charters and the results in all cities having the commission form should be studied with a view to getting the details which might best be applied to Duluth under con- ditions here. The feeling is growing all over the country that a municipal corporation is just as much of a business enter- prise as a private corporation. The property owners are the stockholders and the council is the board of direct- ors, with the mayor as president. They hold that there is no more reason for government of a munici- pal corporation by’ political parties than there is for similiar practice in a private corporation. They hold there is no more reason for the re- moval of a municipal corporation for political purposes than there would be for similar action in a private cor- poration. The feeling is growing that business methods hav‘e too long been kept out of the administration of municipal government and the commission form of government is a remedy.—Duluth Herald. A. 0. U. W. Hold Installation, At a joint installation of the A. O. U. W. and D. of H. lodges held re- cently the officers for the ensuing year were put in office. = The Grand Chief of Honor Mrs. Duffy, conduct- ed the ceremonies for the D. of H. and Clayton Winter installed the Workmen. About eighteen members from Cass Lake were present. An oyster supper followed the installa- tion. SALOONS DOING BUSINESS All Liquor Houses Which Have Goods and License Open. All of thé Bemidji saloons which hav liquor on hand and those which have either received new licenses or have licenses which have not yet run out, are back at their old stands and doing business. A Duluth brewery shipment of beer arrived in the city this morn- ing. It is said by a number of.saloon men that they have at the very lest| lost not less than $35 a day, since the closing of northern Minnesota saloons was begun by “Pussyfoot” Johnson and his agents. From present indications it is very evident that there are some saloon men in the district which was affect- ed by the closing law who will sue the government for the amount to which they believe their liquor to have been worth which was destroy- ed by the agents. TOWN OF AITKIN IN DANGER Water Supply is Nearly Exhausted, and Users are Cautioned. In its last issue the Aitkin Age sounds a note of warning to the people of that city and says that “the city water supply is in serious dang- er of being exhausted. Mud river, from which the pumping reservoir is supplied, is for the first time in all the years it has been used, showing signs of going dry as a result of the small flow of water and the freezing of t he stream to the bottom in some places. “The council has sent men up the stream to try and keep the channel open and requests the press to give the users warning not to use a par- ticle more water than is absolutely necessary. The N. P. road has been notified not to pump any more water from the reservoir and those who have other water sources for water- ing stock and for other purposes are urged to use them and relieve the city supply. “The new' artisian well is flowing into the reservoir, but the pipe is very small and the supply is almost nothing compared ' with the de- mands.” Town of Taylor Man Arrested. Constable John Gravlin, of Ten- strike, arrived in Bemidji this morn- ing with Dan Robinson of the Town of Taylor in custody. Robinson was arrested on a charge of obstruc- ting a public highway. It is said that Robinson has even gone so far as to be dangerous in his method of keeping the highway free from travelers, BEMIDJI MILITIA IN GOOD STANDING — Inspecting Om'Lerr i’ntt Well Pleased With Show%ng Made By Com- l’pnny K. — GUARDSMEN WILL RECEIVE PAY Some Properiy Lost—Preparations Being Made For July Civie Cel- ebration. At the inspection of Company K, the Bemidji company of Minnesota National Guard, held last evening in the Armory, the affairs of the com- pany were found to be in fairly good condition. The inspection was conducted by Albert Pratt, major of the third regi- ment of the guard, and Captain Hatcher, military store keeper. Captain Hatcher examined the property of the company and found that it was in good condition, although there were several articles missing. < There is a clause in the “Laws and Regulations of the Minnesota Nation- al Guard” which reads as follows: “Whenever information is received that animals or other property be- longing to the military service of the state are unlawfully in the posses- sion of any person not in the mili- tary service, the quartermaster, or other proper officer, will promptly cause proceedings to be instituted and diligently prosecuted before the civil authorities for the recovery of the property, and, if the same has been stolen, for the arrest, trial, con- I¥éaruis, ang due punisnment ot the offender and his accomplices.” It is therefore urged that if there are any people in Bemidji who have property in their possession belong- once. As the matter now stands the com- pany commander, Adam E. Otto, to- gether with his officers, are held re- sponsible for all lost articles. b Major Pratt after inspecting the company said that the company was about on an equal footing with the other companies of the state militia. It was made known last evening that it is very likely that after the first of July, this year, that all en- listed men in the national guard will be paid a salary. It will be a cer- tain per cent of the salary paid the regular army men, and will amount to from $5 to $50 a month. This will be done to cause more interest in the National Guard of the United States. i Major Pratt also explained to Cap- tain Otto about the Civic Celebration which is to be held in Minneapolis’ in July. The major said that all of the state militia of Minnesota would be in attendance, including the artillery. The program for the opening day of the celebration has not been aranged for as yet but this much is known, that during the morning a parade will be held in which the militia will take part. During the afternoon competitive drills will be had and the three com- panies to win the highest honors are to receive prizes of $500, $300 and $200. The expense of the company will be paid by the city of Minne- apolis during the celebration. It is thought that the anuual en- campment of company K will be held immediately after the Civic celebra- tion, at either Lake City or some- where between Brainerd and the Twin Cities. The annual government inspection will be held in March. Nymore Hotel Burned. Fire which totally destroyed the Krog Hotel at Nymore occured Tues- day night. The cause of the fire is unknown. A small amount of fur- niture was saved from the ground floor of the building, but the proper- ty in the upper story was a total loss. The fire department at no time had control of the conflagration. ing to company K to return same at