Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, October 28, 1908, Page 1

a Z Vor. XVI.—No, 19. Granp Rapips, Irasca County, MINN., Wepnzspay, OcToBER 28, 1908. Two Dollars a Year. EXCUSES THAT WILL NOT EXCUSE PASARD The Independent Forced to Ac- knowledge That the Herald- Review Is Right. TRIES HARD TO EVADE THE ISSUE Driven to the Wall on “Wood Deal” the Champion of Peanut Jim Ad vises Commissioners to Buy Coal Instead of Wood. The Independent is making a des- perate efiort to lead the voters of Itasca county to believe that Commis- sioners O’Brien and Mullins have not only neglected their official duties, but that blackmailing paper even goes so far as to insinuate that some of their acts have been of a questionable character. The Independent does not dare to venture beyond imnnu- endo, because of the law of libel. It knows full well that any direct cherge would bring the publisher into criminal court where he would have to answer for his libelous attacks. For this reason the Independent seeks to protect itself behind base insinuations that are even more despicable than direct, unqualified faisehood. No less strenuous 1s the Independent in its desperate effort to becloud the public mind as to the true worth and charcter of Jun Passard, who has misrepresented this important district during the past six years. The Independent will need Passard in its business, and the In- dependent dictator, Jingo George, will also need him, Passard is as pliable in the hands ot Spear as clay in the mould of the potter. The re-election of Passard means the election of George Spear. He is the power that pulls the string and Passard is the dancing puppet. ‘To show the dishonesty and un- reliability of Passard’s defender, the Independent, we need only quote one sentence from its issue of last Thurs- day. It says, concerning the pur- chase of wood last spring: Regarding the wood deal the Herald-Review states, in effect, that John ‘O’Brien was the only one who had any wood 1n any consider- able quantities. That may be true, but was that any excuse, for paying almost twice as much as good wood is worth for the poor wood which was purchased’ The price paid for the wood in question and complained of by the Independent, was $4 per cord. Note the exaggeration: * * * “but was tnat any excuse for paying almost twice as much as good wood is worth for the poor wood which was purchased?” Mr. Farmer, or Mr. Wood Dealer, would you cut and haul good wood for $2 per cord? Is it not plain that the Independent is dehberately at- tempting to misrepresent and mislead? The Independent says that $2 per cord is a good price fer good wood. Will the farmers who have wood to sell agree with the Independent and Peanut Jim? We hardly think so. The Herald- Review has been buying wood in Grand Rapids about sixteen years, and has always felt that good wood at $4 per cord was very reasonable, Over one hundred cords bought from one party last spring cost the Herald-Re- view a little more than $4 per cord— and it was cheap at that price. The Independent advocates the buying of coal instead of wood. An excellent suggestion—for the farmers hereabouts who are trying to make a living and clear up their farms in this timbered region. It has always been the policy of Commissioners Mullinsand O’Brien to purchase fuel for the court house and jail from the farmers of this vicin- ity, rather than from the coal dealers of Duluth. The consumption of fuel is quite an item and they have always held that it is far better to distribute the money among the farmers who in turn will spend it among the local merchants. The wood purchased from O’Bnen over which the Independent has had so many spasms, was taken, as heretofore stated, at a time when there was no other wood available. Green hard wood had been arranged for with John G. Fraser, Seamour Washburn and Art Ranger, all of whom were unable to fulfill their con- tracts owing to the breaking up of the snow roads. They would not deliver wood on wagons at $4 per cord. Un- der the circumstances the committee did the best 1t could—unless the ad- vise of the Independent were followed and coal purchased at a price even higher than that paid John O’Brien, The howl set up by the Indepen- dent, (for political purposes only) is 7 on a par with a story related from Feeley this week. Passard was in Feeley in company with his manager, d Wilson. One of the campaign hes that 1s said to have been related to the voters of Feeley would read something like this: Neil Mullins some time ago, had a lot of rotten wood on hand that he could not sell at any price. Being a member of the board of commis- sioners he could not sell the worthless wood directly, so he had it sold to the county through Henry Hughes at $5.00 per cord. Mr. Hughes avers that he never sold Itasca county a stick of any kind of wood, in his life, directly or in- indirectly. It is needless to state that Mr. Mullins never sold the county any wood either before or since his election as a member of the board. This serves, however, to illustrate the sort of campaign that is being made by Passard and hisfriends. They hesitate at no falsehood. Passard as a Wood $uyer. Has any taxpayer ever heard Jim Passard say that he has bought wood for the county for which he paid $6.75 per cord? Has any taxpayer read about it in the Independent? Hardly. Yet it isa fact. Here are the dates and the prices paid, as taken from Auditor Spang’s records: On January 10, 1907, Commissioner Passard bought wood for Itesca county for which he paid at the rate of $6.00 per cord. On January 6, 1908, Commissioner Passard bought wood tor Itasca county for which he paid at the rate of $6.75 per cord, On February.6, 1908, Commissioner Passard made two seperate, purchases of wood for Itasca county for which he paid at the rate of $6.75 per cord.’ On March 14, 1908, Commissioner Passard bought wood for Itasca county for which he paid at the rate of $6.75 per cord. On May 9g, 1908, Commissioner Passard bought wood tor Itasca county for which he paid at the rate of $6.75 per cord. Have you, Mr. taxpayer, ever seen anything about these “wood deals” in the Independent? Have you heard Mr. Passard men- tiot these little deals while canvassing for votes?. Hardly. How much longer do the people want to stand for the coarse work of this sanctified sinner? An Important Election. This district, as itis now laid out, is far more important than heretofore. It is now comprised of twelve of the most thickly settled towhships in the county, These townships are settled by a thrifty and permanent class of citizens who have a deep interest in the manner in which public business shall be transacted. The farmers es- pecially are interested in electing a man who will excercise some influence on the board; a man who will be able to procure for his constituents their just proportion of public_money for road and bridge work; they are interested in having a man represent them who has the ability and inchn- ation to get what the district is en- titted to; the farmers especially should be anxious to have a man on the board from this district whose interests are indentical with their own; a man who knows what the farmers need and knows how to get what they are en- titled to of the public revenues. If the thrifty taxpayers of this district vote for their own interests Neil Mullins will be elected next Tuesday by an overwhelming majority. Jim Makes an Effort. At the last meeting of the board Passard thought a thought, and made a motion to appropriate %300 to be expended on the Bovey-Grand Rapids roadby the township trustees. Pas- sard wanted to do something to relieve himself from the charge that he never does anything except draw his salary and all the mileage he can get n, He evidently couldn’t think of any public highway except the Bovey-Grand Rapids road. As that is the best piece of road in the county, the other mem- bers thought it would be only justice to make expenditures where improve- ment is much more needed, and the motion failed to receive a_ second. Mr. Mullins, however, secured an appropriation of $300 to be expended on the highway east of town known as the Zininger road. When Commis- sioner Mullins sees the urgent need of road improvement: in his district he generally succeeds in getting all that his constituents are deserving of, considering the available county funds. With his past experience and well known devotion to public duties Neil Mullins is admirably equipped to give the people of this district better service than ever before and if he is not retained on the board the Herald-Review will miss its guess by a very large majority, and the people will miss an excellent opportunity to retain the services of an excellent public official. There appears to be { REPUBLICANS MADE absolutely no question as to Mr. O’Brien’s retention on the county board. For four.years be has served his constituents in a manner that the people of all sections of his district appreciate. Unlike Mr. Passard, he has not planned and schemed to ex- pend public money for the benefit of his own property. The Big Fork region has received the same careful consideration that has been given to any other part of the district. It is predicted that Mr. O'brien will re- ceive a big votein the home territory | of his opponent. “The Poor Farm Deal.” The Independent is still harping on the “the poor farm deal,” but it has failed, up to date, to tell the peo- ple that Commissioner Passard voted to sell the poor farm for $40,000, $25,000 less than the option was final- ly let for. The Independent has also failed to tell its readers that it was by the vote of Mullins, O’Brien and Tone that the price of $65,000 was finally agreed upon instead of $40,000, the sum that Passard voted to let it go at. Is the Inde- pendent honest with its readers? Is it making an honest effort to tell them the whole truth, or is it simply trying to deceive them as to the true char- acter of Jim Passard. The Inde- pendent says that it is informed on good authority that there 1s valuable iron oreon the poor farm. The In- dependent is informed of no such thing. If there 1s iron in paying quantities on the property it has not yet been discovered, Lest we forget, the Herald-Review will again quote from the coutny avditor’s records. Here is the vote on the proposition of optioning the poor farm, and it shows just where Passard stood all the time: From the proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners, meeting of Sept. 26, 1905, (Commissioner’s Record 4, page 72.) “D. M. Gunn on behalf of the Oliver Mining company renewed his offer for an option to purchase the county poor farm, for the sum of $40,000. After some discussion of the mat- ter, Commistioner O’Brien moved that the proposition be rejected. The motion was duly seconded and upon roll call was carried by the following vote: Commissioners O’Brien, Tone and Mullins voting YEA and Commissioners PASSARD and Lang ~eal NAY.” From the proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners, meeting of Nov. 9, 1905, | Commissioners’ Record 4, page &. “W. C. Gilbert came before the board and made an offer for an option to purchase the poor farm for the sum of $65,000.00. Commissioner Mullins then moved the adoption of a resolution reciting the opinion of the board that after careful investigation, it had been found that an option upon the poor farm to William C. Gilbert for the sale price of $65,000.00 would be conducive to the best interests of the county and authorizing the execution in duplicate and delivery of such an instrument, a copy of the same being attached to such resolution, Said resolution was then UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.” Readers may draw their own con- clusions as to the commissioners who worked and voted for the bene- fit of the taxpayers. Passard’s Promises for Support. {f Jim Passard is not elected next Tuesday, it will not be because he has failed to make promises of easy jobs to a large number of his con- stituents. To one man, it is re- ported on good authority, he has” promised an appointment as ap- praiser of state lands in this county. Jim represents to his con- stituent that this job is easily worth $500 a year. As a matter of fact it 1s only worth about $150 and the work is done only about once every four years. But even if it were worth $500 a year, as Peanut repre- sents, he would not have the giving of it to anybody. He is also prom- ising numerous road overseeing jobs and has even gone so far as to promise jury jobs to a great many who aspire to serve their country as grand and petit jury- men. The Ballots Distributed. County Auditor Spang and his as- sistants have been busy the past few days sending out the official ballots to the fifty different precincts of the county. They haveall been delivered to the proper authorities ir the out- lying districts and Tuesday morning next all will be in readiness to record the will of our sovereign citizens. There will be five seperate ballots to mark, viz: The national and state on one ballot, county ballot, women’s ballot, the school district ballot in No. 1, and the constitutional amend- ment ballot. A. B. Clair, the timber buyer, and who is of the best of ‘em at fixing up political fences, came in yesterday afternoon from his home at Grand Rapids and spent several hours in the | city, leaving last evening on a business | trip to Northome—Remidji Pioneer. | HIM COUNTY ATT’Y Judge Stanton was Appointed in Koochiching County by Republicans. Many people in Bemidji haye of late received personal letters through the mail, signed by B. F. Wright, in which Mr. Wright makes the state- ment that Judge Stanton was ap- pointed county attorney of Kooch- icbing county by democratic authority says the Daily Pioneer. Judge Stanton was asked concern- ing this assertion and a letter to the Pioneer says: “To Editor Pioneer:—For some reason, which I can only surmise, Mr. B. F. Wright of Park Rapids, aspirant for district judge, has seen fit to make the statement in personal letters and by newspaper articles, that I held the position of couuty attorney of Koochich- ing county by Democratic appointment. “The fact is that I was appointed to that Office by the board of county commissioners of Kouchiching county, every one of whom is & Republican. “It seems to me that campaign statements should be truthful, and especially when made by one who seeks election to the judgship. “—C, W. Stanton.” Elsewhere the Pioneer prints a Statement of Mr. Wright as to the action of his friends in attacking the personal character of Judge Stanton. The statement is given by the Pioneer as Mr. Wright requested it to be given, and the people can best judge as to the intentions of Mr. Wright and his friends. It seems to be the policy of Mr. Wright aud some of his friends to in- culeate in the minds of the people the idea that loyalty to party super- ceeds everything else and that a man who is absolutely independent, and is affiliating with neither of the great parties, is of necessity a poor can- didate and deserves defeat. The independent voters of the Fifteenth Judical district will resent this imputation on November {3, and there is no douht that Judge Stanton will be re-elected by a very confort- able majority. POSTOFFICE IN f BENA ROBBED Nearly One Thousand Dollars Se- cured by Robbers Last Sun- day Morning. Robbers made a sensational and profitable haul at Bena in the gen- eral store of Ernest Fleming Sun- day morning when they blew the safe getting about $1,000. Of this amount there was $500 in currency, $250 in stamps, the postoffice being located in the store and three $100 checks. There appears to be no clue, the work being that of profes- sionals. The burglars after robbing the place stole a Great Northern hand car and made off either east or west. One suspect was arrested at Cass Lake yesterday, but there was no evidence against him. GRANDRAPIDS WINS OVER WEST DULUTH The Local City Foot Ball Team Easy Winner by Score of 27 to 0. On the local grounds last Sun- day the Grand Rapids City team added another victory to a long list by defeating the Fairmont team from West Duluth. The game was a good exhibition of foot-ball from start to finish, altho the visiting team was outplayed at all stage of the contest. Owing to the condition of the field, line smashes were the order of the day and Grand Rapids failed but a few times to make their downs. Duluth gains were few and far between, the ball being in Grand Rapid’s possession most of the time. Lafreniere distinguished himself as capable to hold a back field posi- tion with the best of them. Wallin, the full-back, played in his usual form and starred for the locals. Patterson and Johnson each got away for a long end run and altho they did not score the touch-downs, the credit for eachis largely given to them as with a few line plunges a score was made in each instance. Great praireis due the visitors for their manly conduct on the field and altho they played a losing game they did not give up till the battle was over. There was no rough or coarse work from either side and all admit that itwas the cleanest article of foot-ball ever played here. TO THE CITIZENS OF ITASCA COUNTY Irrespective of Party Affiliation You Should Vote For the Interests of the County and Your Own Interest and Against the Proposed Vicious Tax Citizens of ltasca County: Your attention is called to the proposed tax amendment to the constitution of this state, providing for a change in the method of taxation, and open- ing the doors for the legislature to provide classes of subjects for taxa- tion; thatis, giving the legislature the opportunity to pick out any par- ticular kind of property it sees fit,and impose taxes upon that property for the benefit of the entire state, and thereby release al] other property in the state from bearing the burden of state government. The object, the express purpose of this proposed amendment, is to open the door and make possible the im-|8 position of a tonnage tax on iron ore produced in northern Minnesota. If iron ore was now being produced allover the state, no such amend- ment to the constitution would have been thought of, but as the iron ore is produced in the northern part of the state, and as the largest number of voters are in the southern part of the state, the idea of amending the constitution so as to permit the legis- lature to raise the entire state taxes from the products of the north, namely, irop ore, has become a politi- cal factor, and is to be obtained, if possible, by the adoption of the pro- posed tax amendment. If this tax amendment is adopted, it will not only retard the develop- ment of Itasca county, but will set it back more than twenty years. It will bea direct blow to every person re- siding in the county, not alone to the people producing or working at the production of iron ore, but to every farmer, every land owner, eyery mer- chant, every mechanic, every person living in the county. . It needs but an examination of the tax records of this county to fully ia- form every one of the magnitude and importance of this proposition, and the danger that now confronts us. In the year 1906, the assessed valu- ation of all the taxable property in itasca county which included the en- tire county of Koochiching, was $6,623,578. This year, 1908, with the county divided, Koochiching being formed out of nearly one-half of its original territory, the assessed valua- tion of this county is $22,468,669. Without taking into account the assessed valuation of the property in the territory that is now Koochich- ing county, in the year 1906, the tax- able property of this county has in- creased, in the past six years, $15,845,091. What has increased the taxable property in Itasca county $15,845,091 io six years? It is the development of the iron mines, the investment of millions of dollars in the production of iron ore. Because of this development, be- cause of this great increase in the taxable property in this county, be- cause the assessed valuation of the taxable property in this county has increased $15,845,091 in six years, the value of every acre of land in the county has increased. The discovery and development of an iron mine on the range increases the yalue of every farma in the county, and increases the value of every acre of wild land in the county. It increases the value of all lands and property in the coun- ty, for the reason that it lowers taxes, and at the same time increases the revenue, so that there will be more money in the hands of the coun- ty for the purposes of building roads and making other public improve- ments. Upon the one hand, taxes are going down. Upon the other, the revenues are increasing. This is still a new county. Its lands are mostly wild, uncultivated timber- ed lands. There are vast sections of the county in which there are no roads or other public improvements. What we need is that settlers should come in, locate upon the wild lands, clear them, make farms, and homes of them, build roads and establish schools. One great essential is that there should be roads, good roads. These roads can only be built by taxa- tion: by. moneys obtained from the road and bridge fund, and this fund Amendment. depends upon the amount of taxes jcollected; that is to say, upon the amount of taxable property and its assessed valuation in the county. When this county is making such a desperate strauggle tor development and when its needs are so great, why should the one thing that is furnish- ing the means for this development be taken away from the county for the benefit of the entire state? And that is exactly what the southern part of the state is after. Th object of the tax amendment is to take away from Ltasca county the taxes levied upon these iron proper- the taxes that are levied up $15,- 91 worth of taxable property, and taxes through the distribute such entire state. It is openly urged in the southern part of the state, that a tonnage tax on iron ore, together with the gross earnings taxed on railroads, will pay the entire state taxes of the state, thus relieving the great cities and the rich counties in thesouth from paying such taxes, and thereby bearing their share of the burden of state government. While this wil! be a benefit to the southern counties of the state, we here can readily see how it will dam- age us aud damage us at a critical time at that period of our develop- ment when we most need the re- venues from the increase of taxable | property. Voters of Itasca county, have you | forgotten the fight that was waged at the 1907 session of the legislature to defeat the bill providing for ton- nage tax? This bill provided not only for a tonnage tax of tive cents a ton on all ore produced, but it was so framed, necessarily so, that it would take away from the counties where the iron lands were, all other taxes, If the methud of taxation 1s left as it is, with the steady increase in the value of the taxable property in this county, we will, in a short time, have a revenue sufficient to build good roads throughout the county and make other public improvements in the county, all to the benefit of all of our people, when, at the same time, the rate of taxation will steadily de- crease and become lower, so that the general welfare of our people wil) be thereby steadily enhanced. All this belongs te us, because the property taxed is in our county,a part ofour natural resources, Not only are we entitled to it because the tax~ able property is in our county, but because we are endeavoring to con- vert a vast wilderness into a settled, civilized and productive land. Not only do we want roads, we want schools, and all of the instrumentali- ties of civilization, progress and pros- perity. These depend upon taxation, and taxation depends upon the in- county the increase of taxable proper- ty depends upon the discovery and development of iron mines, the pro- duction of iron ore. All of the iron ore in Itasca county is a low grade ore. Itis mixed with sand, silica and foreign substances which are separated from the ore. This adds tremendously to the cost of production, so that the production of iron ore ia Itasca county must com- pete with the production of the higb grade ores in St. Louis county, in Michigan and other sections of the United States. It costs much more to produce iren ore in Itasca county than it does in St. Louis county and other places, and if the margin of profit is reduced by a tonnage tax, it will stop development in this county. Itjwill put back the development of this county more than twenty years, and thereby injure everybody in the county. Those who will be injured most are those who are the poorest; those to whom a little money does greatest good. Every vote in Itasca county should be against the tax amendment, and every voter should think when he goes into the booth to vote, to vote against the tax amendment. Put your cross opposite the word “NO”, crease of taxable property and in this~