Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, December 13, 1913, Page 1

VOLUME 11. NO. 195. TRUST COMPETITION EASILY DESTROYED If a Single Man Serves on Boards of Directors of Two Different Corpor- ations Such is The Case SHOULD PUT END TO PRACTICE Impossible to Break the Money Trust With this Fault In Practice Opinion Of Harpers Weekly Writer From Congressman C. H:. Tavenner. Washington, December 13.—The rod and staff of the Money Trust is the. interlocking directorate. If a single man serves on the boards of directors of two essentially compet- ing corportions, compectition between tkose corporations is destroyed. It is by having its agents acting as direc- tors on corporations having a capita- lization of twenty-six billions of dol- 1lars that the Money Trust maintains its throttling hold on American civ- ilization. “Interlocking directorates must be prohibited, because it is impossible to ‘break the Money Trust without put- ting an end to the practice in the larger corporations,” says Louis D. Brandels in his illuminating series of articles in Harper’s Weekly. There is every precedent in law and justice for legislation prescrib- ing strict penalties for the destruc- tion of competition in this subtile way. Suppose, for instance, that a trustee for a fund or an estate were to deal with Himself in making in- vestments with his trust funds. He would be instantly stopped by the courts if discovered, or perhaps sev- erely punished. No principle of law is better orcognized by courts than this one. The director of a corporation is a trustee—he is the representative in the management of the stockholders. But if this corporation makes a con- tract with another corporation in which the same director is also a di- rector, so that the director shares in the profits of the transaction, such a contract is now recognized by the courts. = By a quibble the courts have held that in neither corporation was the single director responsible for the contract—- it had to be voted by a majority of members of each board. Therefore, the vote of the interested director was unnecessary. The truth, of course, is that it is not the director’s vote but his in- fluence that counts in the directors’ meeting. This is especially true if the director who interlocks two com- peting boards happens to be the agent of the Money Trust—a partner for instance, in the firm of J. P. Mor- gan & Co.—to whom both corpora- tions must go for aid in time of need. His influence can outweigh the com- bined opposition of all the other di- rectors. This system of finance which has grown up possesses fearful potentiali- ties for stifling American initiative, independence and progress. Even though the few men who now mani- pulate the credit of the country act fairly in all cases, their system should be speedily destroyed because of its possibilities for evil. Although be- lief claimed, and perhaps honestly, to the Pujo committee their belief that they are administering their absolut- ism with justice to al, the public knows that their power has become oppressive. Suppose some inventor were to dis- cover a process that might revolu- tionise the production of steel. He would have one, and only one, pos- sible customer to whom he might sell his invention—the United States Steel Corporation. Suppose he tried to organize an independent corpora- tion to exploit his process. He would at once need money for finane- ing his plan, and right there is where stop him. No bank in the country, no matter how able to supply the money, would give him aid. ) For the steel Corporation and the banks are bound to the same in- fluence by interlocking directorates running through the Morgans. Eleven Strikers Convicted. Vancouver, B. C., Dec. 12.—Eleven coal miners were found guilty at the New Westminster assizes of charges arising out of last summer’s strike riots at Ladysmith, Vancouver island. Three were acquitted. Several of the men, witnesses had testified, were participants in the blowing up of a strikebreaker’s house. Sentences were deferred. BEMIDJI TEAM DEFEATED Thief River Falls Earned Small Vic- tory Over, Bemidji High School Quint Last Evening CONTEST WAS FAST AND CLEAN Replete with clean, fast and spec- tacular plays the Bemidji high schoel basket ball teamwas humbled by the Thief River Falls quint last evening in that city by a score of 18 to 16. At no time during the game was thelPennington county five sure of victory and fought hard tliroughout the forty minutes of play to keep in the lead of their visitors. Bemidji players could be easily picked as the faster of the two quints but being un- familiar with their surrgundings aad playing on a smaller floor they were unable to use their team work to advantage. Lloyd Tanner of Bemidji was the star of the game and out classed any player on either team as to skill in shooting baskets and ‘evading his guard. This plucky little player shot eight out of nine chances on free throws while the foul shooter on the Thief River quint only made two. Tanner also made three field baskets from difficult angles while the only other man on the Bemidji team that was credited with a basket was Hayner who played center. “They certaintly are a nice bunch"” was one of the remarks made by a member of the Bemidji quint when referring to the treatment they re- ceived. “The crowd was the largest that I have ever seen at a game and every one was rooting hard for their home team but did not interfere with us in any way. We have no kick coming and will be sure that Thief River will be treated in a similar manner when they play here.” Graham brothers also figured pro- minently as stars at guard. Fred Graham did not allow his man a chance to make a basket while George kept his men down to one field throw. URGES STAMP PURCHASE Mayor McCuaig Hopes Public Will Be Liberal Buyer of Red Cross Seals—Cause Worthy of Support “CONTRIBUTE IN A SMALL WAY” ‘William McCuaig, mayor of Be- midji, is strongly in favor of the sale of Red Cross Christmas seals and this morning said: “I wish to call the attention of the people of Bemidji, and ask them to support, the work of the members of the Woman’s Study club, who have placed on sale throughout the city Red Cross Christmas seals, which are sold for the purpose of carrying on the great work of the Anti-Tubercul- sis Society. I hope the public will be liberal buyers, of the stamps as I be- lieve the work is worthy of your sub- port, and you can in this small way contribute to a worthy cause.” Women who are in charge of the sale say that the seals are being dis- posed of at a rapid rate and that there is a possibility of it becoming necessary to order a ney lot before the end of next week. ROGERS WAIVES EXAMINATION Youth Who Stole $180 Bound Over To Grand Jury by Judge Crowell Stanley Rogers the 15 year old boy who yesterday stolée approximately $180 from a retail cigar store in this city was taken before Judge Crowell this morning where he waiv- ed preliminary hearing to-a charge of grand larceny in the second de- gree. Graham M. Torrance apeared for the state, while the lad was not represented. Mr. Torrance explained that the boy wished to walve prelim- inary hearing and as a consequence an order binding him over to the grand jury was issued by Judge Cro- well. Rogers will plead guilty.upon the re- turn of Judge C. W. Stanton to the city: from St. Paul, where he is today listening to arguments on a motion. If the boy should plead guilty he will likely be sent to the training school at Red Wing, his age being under e, : Rogers was brought from Shevlin, where he was captured at noon yes- dey, by deputy Sheriff Denley, who made the trip by automobile. It is understood that young. i BEMIDIT MINNESOTA, SATURDAY, EVENING DECEMBER 13, 1913. KKK KKKKK KK KK KKK KK * SEVERAL MERCHANTS FAIL * * To GIVE OUT REFUND X x ° . SHEETS x ¥ Farmers coming to Bemidji * ¥ to do their Christmas shopping * * planning to take advantage of ¥ ¥ the free refund being carried onv * ¥ by merchants of this city, are - * complaining that several of the ¥ merchants are not encouraging * the use of - the refund sheet. * This is a handicap to the farm- * er coming to Bemidji expecting * to regain the money spent in * coming here, and every merch- * ant should insist that his clerks * jssue the refund sheets to all * shoppers from out of the city. * The farmers expect to receive * the refund, they are entitled to * it and deserve it. KK HK KK KKKK KKK KKK SUGGESTS STATE SENATOR ******** * * ok koK Kk Editor Scheers Says W. R. Mackenzie Has Far Grater Field as N. M. D. A. Secretary Than Legislature "THIEF RIVER LIKED SITE” Charles Scheers, editor of 'the Akeley Tribume-Herald in -~ his cur- rents issue says: “W. R. Mackenzie was re-elected secretary of the Northern Minnesota Development ~Association and = his friends hope he will continue in this position. Mr. Mackenzie has been o prominently mentioned for state sen- ator, but as secretary of the N. M. D. A. he has a field of labor far great- ter than that of a state senator. Mr. Mackenzie should be paid a reason- able salary and retained as secretary, Bemidji has several other good men one of whom might be drafted for the senatorial job. Among those men- tioned are Mayor McCuaig, Hon. J. J. Opsahl, A. G. Wedge, Jr., G. E. Carson and others. “The delegates enjoyed a boat ride on beautiful Bemidji lake, Friday, De- cember 5. All were enthusiastic over; the mnormal site—including the Thief River Falls delegates “There were those who ‘disagreed with President King on the “swamp| land” question, but all delegates were agreed as to his-honesty of purpose;l.’ and thus the walk of dynamite was a veritable lovers’ lane of harmony and peace. In the meantime Macken- zie’s spot-light worked beautifully and Northern Minnesota was well covered for sometime before the con- cention. Big men like Governor Stan- ton, Semator Boyle and others com- posed the resolution committee and if any one was looking for political aggrandizement he was dambadly phooled.” LOGGERS TO BE IN MOVIES During the past week a moving picture firm representative has visit- ed many of the Crookston Lumber Company camps near Kelliher and other points where pictures were ta- ken of the operations along this line of industry. During the past few year many operators have visited camps in Northern Minnesota as pic- tures of woodsmen cutting large tim- bers and the methods used in skidd- ing and other processes are providing of interest to the theatre goers in other sections of the country where logging camps are a thing of the past. *|at the end of the second week school ‘|low. United States “amount paid for the article. > STUDENTS TO HAVE 2 WEEKS VACATION Sqmol Board Will Give Bexmd)l Pu- . pils from Dec..19 to Jan, 5 For Christmas Holiday Rest. CHANGES AFTER NEW YEARS . Second Semester Starts Soon and New Half Year Subjects Will Be Sub- Istituted for Those Now Taught “ In keeping with the rule followed in former years that the pupils and teich‘ers of the Bemidji public schools uld be: given ample time for the Christmas holiday festivities, the school board has announced that all Bemidji institutions of learning will close on next Friday afternoon. They will reopen on Monday; January 5. 7 Huge preparations are being made in: the Seventh and Eighth grades,] s’ well as in the lower class rooms for Christmas and teachers are hold- ing daily rehearsals. Last year a cc*mblnation holiday :program was ven by the pupils of the high sohool and eighth grade, but this year eighth grade students will en- tertain the upper classmen. {Christmas trees are now be- i'ng placed in the various class rooms and the students are already begin- ning 'to look forward to the pleasure the closing entertainment. ‘ No Examinations. No examinations will be given be- fqre the holidays, but will = follow sBortly after, when the second sem- ester begins. The “exams” will start is'in progress after the vacation. Then comes the new period. Half year subjects will be dropped and new ones substituted, civics will-fol- history, botany takes the place of physical geogra- phy, commercial geography instead of commercial artithmetic and high- er algebra will follow solid geometry. TO GIVE WATCH FREE Geo. T. Baker and Company Make Unique Offer To Public The old-fashioned “Spelling Bee” is again in favor—double extra favor we should say—because Goe. T. Baker & company, the jewelers are advertising to give away, dbsolutely lfree, a solid 14 k. Gold Omega Brace- let Watch, such as would ordinarily be sold at $75.00 The free-for-all conditions are advertised in. another column. “Cut out the ad and encour- age this intellectual game by trying for the prize yourself and telling others about it,,”” said Mr. Baker this morning, The Omega watch is considered one of the best time pieces on the market today and will make a fine Christmas gift. E. F. Netzer, proprietor of Netzer’s pharmacy has started a second re- fund plan that promises to meet the approval of Christmas shoppers. Be- sides offering the fare refund to all out of town buyers. Mr. Netzer gives a purchase slip with every article bought at this store which allows the holder a 10 per cent discount of the WILL PLAY THRERSE -Um Superior Quint To Contest For Honors Jan. Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Feeling sure that the champion- ship of Northern Minnesota and the head of the lakes will center upon the contests to be played between the Bemidji Athletic Club Basket quint and the Superior Y. M. E. Team, Manager Art Olson of that quint has asked that three games be played here. Preparations are . now under- way to make these matches the fea- | ture of all events in Bemidji during the winter season and it is probable that the local team will arrange a ball or banquet in honor of the visit- ors. ¢ PUT STONE FRONT IN PLACE Contractor Kreatz Pushing Work On First National Bank To Comple- _tion—Begin Inside Work. TANNER OF ST: CLOUD HERE George Kreatz, the, Bemidji con- tractor, is pushing the work on the remodeling of the First National Bank to completion as fast as possi- ble, and it is likely that the build- ing will be ready for use some time before it had been expected. Workmen are busy putting the stone front in place, and this work is being slightly delayed because of the derrick being a-.trifle light, which necessitates that - the con- struction be slow. Ed Tanner, a brother of George Tanner, of this city, and owenr of the Tanner quarry at'St. Cloud, who is furnishing the granite for the bank building is in Bemidji today in connection with the raising of the large stone pieces into place. The material being used is that known as \the white granite. | Men are now at work remodeling 'the inside of the building. MARKS VISITS BEMIDJI Dartmouth- Gridiron Star of Former Days Here on Business Yesterday Jack Marks, of North High, Min- neapolis, and Dartmouth football fame, was a guest.at the Markham hotel today. -Marks is traveling for the Maxwell automobile. He was a member of the famous North side football eleven nine years ago, when that team won from the best of them. He lgter passed up Northrup field and went to Dartmouth, where his gridiron work attracted the eyes of the football world. For three years he was placed at half on Camp’s all- American second eleven, and the critic said it was a throw up between as to who should have the place. He was elected captain of the Dartmouth eleven, but left college before foot- ball season arrived. He recently gained more renown on the grid- iron because of his ground gaining ability .displayed in the Marine-All Star game of several weeks ago. E. J. Reed of St. Cloud is a Be- midji business visitor today. BOATING ON LAKE BEMIDJI DECEMBER FIFTH The picture shown above is that of an excursion party, comprising delegates to the convention of the Northern Minnesota Development as- sociation held in Bemidji last week. The day was ideal, and many of the] visitors found it too warm for coats, as i1s shown by looking at the stern of the boat. This year is the first 7 in the history of:Bemidji that a boat trip around Lake Bemidji has been possible this late’ in the season. ‘“Why go sout! ,”” was the glogan of the party. : ER TELLS - OF CHRISTMAS ~ FIRE DANGER State Fire Marshall Tells How Holi- day Flames Can Be Avoided and Give List of Don’ts” URGES USE OF ELECTRIC LIGHTS Asks For Co-operation in Carrying Out Suggestions Made To Minimize Possibility of A Conflagration Charles E. Keller, of St. Paul, state fire marshall, has issued a list of Christmas don’ts which are given out with the hope that they will decrease the amount of holiday fires which otherwise would be the result. . Carelessness at Christmas time In- creases danger of life and property. The rapidly approaching Christmas season brings grave fire hazards with fit. The flimsy materials used in store decorations are of a highly in- flammable nature, usually in close proximity to kerosene, gas, actylene, electric and other lights. Electric lights properly safe-guarded are the ideal light for- decorative purposes, but improper handling makes them a decided fire menace. Electric bulbs should never be wrapped with tissue paper or cloth for colored effects, as the heat from a light of small ‘cali~ bre will ignite if kept in contact with the wrappings for a short time. The average Christmas tree offers unusual opportunities with gaily col- ored candles is a veritable death trap. Churches, ‘halls and: school houses where public celebrations are held are usually “packed to suffocation and in many instances the aisles and other means of exit are filled with people, making escape almost impos- sible, but in any event imperiling the lives of all who attend. Keller Dont’s Do mot decorate Christmas trees with paper cotton or any other in- flammable material. Use metallic tin- sel and other non-Inflammable denor - ation only, and set the tree securaly 80 that the children in reaching 'or things cannot tip it over. Do not use cotton to represent snow. If you must have snow use asbestos fiber. Do not permit children to light or re-light the candles while parents are not present. They frequently set fire to their clothing instead. The tree itself wil needles become dry, Keep matches out of the reach of children at the holiday time. Candles are meant to be lighted and if the children can get matches they will experiment with them. “A House of-Merriment ‘is better than a house of Mourning.” Don’t Use Cotton The fire marshal does not wish to be understood as opposing the pro- per celebration of the Christmas sea- burn when (Continued on Page §) MANY ATTEND CONCERT City Hall Packed at Opening Enter- tainment of Bemidji Band—Large Number Attend Dance SPECIAL NUMBERS WERE GOOD Playing to a packed house the Be- midji Band gave it’s opening indoor band concert of the season last even- ing in the city hall. The program which was prepared by Alden Rem- frey, director of the band, was one of the best ever heard in this city. Al Newmann'’s reading entitled “Sparta- cus to the Gladiators’” received a tor- rent of applause, Miss Elizabeth Erickson sang a so- lo, and she was compelled ‘to re- turn to the stage and sing.a second one to satisfy the audience. Oscar Nelson played a trombone solo. Following the concert a dance was given to which about 35 couple re- mained. The evening was considered .|one of the most entertaining given here for some time and Mr. Remfrey now believes that here after the at- tendance at the concerts will be- come larger. 2 The next concert wil be given about January 18 or 14 and will again be free with a dance following. An effort will be made to give one concert every month through out the -winter season.