1948 Columns, July-December
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Roaming in the Gloaming

With Bob Forrest

Things Material and Immaterial

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July 1, 1948

   State liquor officials arrested ten violators of the liquor laws in Minnesota, which made Mayor Humphrey real angry. He wanted to know why the men were arrested in Minneapolis without due knowledge being given beforehand: evidently the state did not want to trust Minneapolis law enforcement officials. Why a mayor should get red faced because law was being enforced is just another of those Mill City mysteries. ---
   Colored boys were not allowed to join the National Guard in Minnesota last week. Minnesota was the first to offer troops to aid the freedom of the colored folks and much Minnesota blood was shed on southern battlefields. Evidently that blood was shed in vain. Minnesota's treatment of the colored man is worse than it is in the south. Up here we let them join our schools and universities and are always willing to let them play on football teams but when it comes to defending the country that's different. Down south they're consistent: they just don't want anything to do with the negro. ---
   If you want to see how a prairie town looked in the rough take a look at the photo hanging in the Lake Wilson post office. It is the earliest photo there is in Lake Wilson and will give later generations the stark nakedness of the building and hewing out of a place to live by the pioneers. ---
   Warren will pull Dewey through Minnesota next fall: Warren's a Scandinavian. ---
   The tumult and shouting is over and hoarse voiced delegates are back home again from the big show at Philadelphia, where for five days pent up hot air and emotions of four years were released. It was a real show and had as many clowns as Ringlings who strutted their stuff, while staid political human chess players made the moves that brought their candidates to victory. Stassen's show was disappointing: the votes that he had hoped for vanished into thin air and Dewey relying more on votes than on enthusiasm won out easily on the third ballot. Taft also ran. The selection of Gov. Warren of California won a lot of approval from all sections of the United States. ---
   For Lake Wilson folks: the water tank and the cistern after two weeks are again up to normal. What would have happened if a fire had broken out last week? ---
   The condition of things in Berlin cannot help but impress the people that we took the worst licking of the war there. How smart clever Americans, astute Britons and the French ever let those so-called dumb Russians get them to sign an agreement that would make them virtual prisoners in a town they helped capture is really amazing. ---
   Followers of the Stassen campaign must feel that Mr. Stassen got his real national setback when he went into that debate with Dewey in Oregon. ---
   It's not very often that you read of one political party filling the war chest of its opponent yet that's just what happened last week when a republican congress upped the pay of the federal office holders. Every one knows that the federal office holders are a big political revenue producer: of course the republicans probably figured they would be doing the collecting next year. ---
   Why spend money destroying weeds and then allow the ones along the road side not killed to go to seed. The time to mow the weeds is right now: not after they go to seed. ---
   Trig Knutson has decided to succeed himself as representative from Murray county. Trig made a good record and feels he should be re-elected. ---
   Folks here in the western end of the county are urging Chas. F. Sierk to file for re-election as county commissioner. He takes an active and intelligent interest in the affairs of the county and for a new man on the board has a fine record.
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July 8, 1948

   General Eisenhower did the common-sense act when he declined to be a candidate for either the republican or democrat ticket. He knows full well of the fickleness of the American people. He remembered what happened to Admiral Dewey after the Spanish-American war. Dewey was as great a hero as Ike is today. The children of the nation gathered their pennies and bought the admiral a house in Washington. He was riding the crest, but he married a woman of another creed and then deeded the house to her. What happened? Dewey sank into oblivion. ---
   Eisenhower knows that whether he runs for office or not, he is soon going to be faced with a public that is going to do a lot of cross examining. The American people are beginning to fret over the troops in Berlin, now virtually captives of Russia. The people will want to know who these men behind the Iron Curtain without providing some means of retreat. If these Americans in Berlin are slaughtered in the event that war does come, the men responsible will sink farther into oblivion than Admiral Dewey. ---
   It's about time the sportsmen's organizations in the state wake up, and instead of devoting most of the winter to holding oratorical feast fests, take up matters of vital concern. At the present time the state of Minnesota takes five percent of the money that you pay for a hunting or fishing license. Why? The Lord only knows, but the members of the legislature passed the law and $100,000 a year goes into the general revenues fund. These funds, according to Frank Blair, Department of Game and Fish head, could better be used for the construction of a conservation building so that all the various activities of conservation could be housed under one roof, instead of in four different places as it is now. Good idea, Mr. Blair. ---
   It was the 4th of July and the weather was dry and there wasn't a flag or even a piece of bunting displayed in the business section of Lake Wilson on the morning of the 4th. Finally a flag was placed on a tree near the council room. No wonder strangers wanted to know "If this was a Communistic village." ---
   Harry Wahlstrand has filed for the office of congressman. A mighty fine man is Mr. Wahlstrand. We watched him in two recent sessions of the Minnesota legislature and no man in that body has a better record. It is doubtful if there is a man in the senate that is more esteemed and respected that Harry Wahlstrand. Mr. Wahlstrand is a member of the faculty of the Willmar school. ---
   The Eisenhower movement in both parties was the hope that he could be elected and thereby defeat an unpopular convention candidate. In the democrat party it was plain that they were out for Ike to beat Truman, and when all is said and done, Truman may have made mistakes but has more real guts than any man we can remember in public life when it comes to sticking by his convictions. How many men have you read about that would throw the foundation of his party to the four winds, because they wanted to stand for a principle and that's just what the president is doing when he comes out manfully for the "Bill of Rights." ---
   Politicians in the east are still ranting about the housing conditions. In Minneapolis, recently completed buildings stand empty on account of a lack of buyers. ---
   The nights the first of the week were real corn nights: even sheets were burdensome.
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July 15, 1948

   The members of the local ball team don't want to feel too badly over their 14 to 1 defeat Sunday. It's one of those things that happen in everyday life. It might have been worse. The little town of Jeffers beat Westbrook 23 to 1 a short time back. The Jeffers 3rd baseman made seven runs in the game: a real record. ---
   Thought maybe the Dems would nominate Jimmy Roosevelt for vice president to offset the Warren nomination but evidently the delegates thought that Jimmy was not quite as heavy as his dad. ---
   The most important matters to come before the coming session of the Minnesota legislature are the soldier bonus law and a sales tax. The two will go hand in hand. If a sales tax bill passes then the bonus law will naturally follow. ---
   If old General Patton had had his way we wouldn't have been behind the Iron Curtain. ---
   Twenty years ago a cool crisp winter morning, long columns of smoke would be rising from every chimney in town: last winter only a few chimneys were smoking. And here's a funny thing. In spite of all the bottle gas and fuel oil furnaces and stoves in town the Farmers Elevator sold more coal than any year since it's been in business. In al 980 tons were sold--figure that one out. ---
   With this enormous grain crop in sight one wonders why the so-called experts assert that food prices will still climb upward. It looks as if we would have to find more starving nations somewhere. By the way, what became of all the starving peoples of Europe that we heard so much about a year ago? ---
   Right now is a good time to start a campaign for more storage for fuel oil in Minnesota but it looks as if we will go through the same experience as last year: wait till the last minute and then start imploring governors and congressmen to see that we get enough oil to keep us from freezing. ---
   Many democrats seem to be more sure that Truman will be defeated than a lot of republicans. ---
   If Stassen does not put the finger of approval on Joe Ball it might mean the election of Humphrey. ---
   If the U.N. is not able to secure space between such small nations as the Jews in Palestine and the Arabs, it should take its dolls and go home. ---
   See where a man shot his wife because she was unfaithful to him. What a fool to spend his life in jail and relieve the guy that stole his wife from a life of suffering--irritation and woe. ---
   This is the greatest ripening season we have had in this section for many years. All small grain crops seem to be vying with one another. Flax, generally a later crop, is ripening as fast as the oats and barley.    Corn is coming along wonderfully well; some fields are beginning to tassel out: some difference from last year. ---
   The villages over in Cottonwood county are badly worried over the new county school setup, as present plans mean that these villages will lose their high schools.
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July 22, 1948

   The water problem is still with us. The best way to get concerted action on the problem would be the appointment of a committee of the Community Club to unite with the water committee of the village council and give the problem a thorough investigation. ---
   A lady reader asks, "Why isn't the law relating to the shooting of fireworks enforced? My boys like to shoot them and it is hard to stop them when not only boys but young men are making day and night hideous." You're right sister, and perhaps the most cowardly factor of the so-called patriotic spirit is in the young men who at all hours of the night keep shooting the bootlegged firecrackers. There were sick babies and nervous old folks who suffered during the hot nights. ---
   Trig Knutson was here last week conferring with the officers of the Lake Wilson Community Club over State Highway No. 91. Trig is intensely interested in the proposition as 24 miles of No. 91 are in the district and was willing to go the limit in assisting the local club in getting some work done on the road that has been neglected for years. Mr. Knutson who has just filed for re-election as a member of the Legislature from Murray county made a splendid record in the last session. He voted with the wishes of his constituents and made a lot of powerful friends in the house. He has filed for re-election and it is doubtful if he will have any opposition. Trig by the way is a member of the state roads committee. ---
   Lake Wilson's junior baseball team played Fulda's junior team one night last week. We asked Billy Beers, starting 3rd baseman on the home bunch how the game came out. He said he was not sure. We asked what the score was; he said "Fulda got 27 runs." The Roamer suggested that they must have won. Bill said, "I dunno, you see we never got to bat and besides the wind was against us." ---
   The republicans and democrats have both strong civil rights planks in their platforms but they are the most insincere planks of the whole bunch, and there are a lot of phonies. Not even the shouters for the plank are sincere. Do you think for one minute that Mayor Humphrey who carried the civil rights cross would live in a block in Minneapolis where colored folks lived next door on both sides and across the street? Syrup catches more votes than the truth. ---
   Driving on a newly graded road northeast of town one day last week, Lizzie bogged down. It happened in front of Henry Kollowa's place. He had no team or tractor but his daughter Minnie phoned Chris Vosa that we were stuck. In less than five minutes we heard an engine purr and before we could get out and help, Chris and the boys had the car out. We asked them "How much?" They just laughed, but it was a kindly, friendly act, one that you see so little of in these busy hectic days. While visiting at the Kolowas', Minnie who reads this column told us that she transcribed three items each week from the column and sent them to Stanley, blind son of Charley Swan. Seems that kindness is the slogan of those folks. ---
   The rump convention at Birmingham may prove Truman's defeat. Four or five southern states may turn the trick. While a lot of folks you meet glibly say "Truman hasn't a chance," he's going to get a lot more votes than most people think. Commentators are not in the ballot booths with the voters. ---
   The Roamer was 76 years old yesterday. Not that there is anything remarkable about it in this day and age, but we wonder how many of the young men and women ever expect to reach the biblical limit of three score and ten. We know we didn't. To youth it looks improbable, almost impossible, but the years go by so quickly that one does not realize it. With each coming year the time seems to fly faster. We do more thinking and we really appreciate how fortunate we have been and even a hardened old guy like us offers a silent and humble prayer to Him who has given us so many blessings throughout the years: blessings that we were not entitled to many times. Growing old, with all its aches and pains brings a richer and fuller life and we get to the place we are going.    "A little more tired at the close of the day,    A little less anxious to have our way,    A little less ready to scold and blame,    A little more care for a brothers name,    A little less care for stocks and gold,    A little more zest for days of old,    A little more leisure to sit and dream,    A little more real, the things unseen,    A little more nearer to those ahead,    With visions of those long loved and dead,    And so we are going where we must go,    To the place the living will never know." ========================

July 29, 1948

   There's going to be a new draft board in Murray county. The members of the last draft board backed away from serving again and suggested that the best qualified men for the job would the ones that criticized them the most during the last war. At the best it's a thankless job. ---
   A commentator said the other day, "Women work more than men." Come to think of it, he may be right. In the village here Mrs. Nelson who is only ninety is out in the garden every day with her hoe and rake and nifty Mrs. J. F. Nepp who is past eighty mows her lawn and when her neighbor was gone she went over and mowed her lawn: that's the kind of neighbors that most men crave. ---
   The highest wages in history are being paid to harvest hands this year. Some of them are getting $15.00 a day. While these wages seem high one must remember that the season up north is short. ---
   Saw where a man shot his wife's lover: caught them in a rather compromising condition. What a fool he was. He should have made him marry the woman so that he could go through a lifetime of nagging, fighting and irritation: make him do the suffering. ---
   Westbrook and Currie papers are a-feudin' and a-fussin' over their baseball teams and at Storden a visiting player took a sock at the gate keeper because he wouldn't let his wife in free: sounds like old times. ---
   Complying with the wishes of many of his constituents, Charley Sierk has filed for the office of county commissioner. He has given this district splendid service and for a new man has produced results. He also represents 95 percent of the people in the western part of the county on the County Memorial hospital. The folks out here irked by another year's delay are strongly in favor of discarding the present plans which are overly expensive and are in favor of erecting a more modest hospital that can be enlarged as the years go by. ---
   Cliff Schrader visited here last week. We wonder how many folks in the west end of the county every stop to think of the fine work he did for it, when it was in dire need during the drought period in the thirties. This section was stricken, many families were in sorry need of food and stock was virtually starving. Cliff as county agent gave his full energy to this section that winter, travelling day and night carrying groceries to the needy and checking up on the wants for the livestock. Through his efforts, car loads of oats, hay, straw and even wheat where shipped into this community to aid those in need. We soon forget. Cliff is one of the finest men we ever knew. Modest, unassuming and unpretentious he does good deeds in a friendly quiet manner that gains the confidence of the people. Cliff is now working for a chemical company in St. Paul. ---
   The Pipestone Indian school is in danger of being closed. This school was always of interest to former Senator Shipstead, who for years gave it his best efforts and he kept the school on a high plane. He was thoroughly familiar with every detail in the school and could go before the committee in the senate and they always acceded to his wishes. An able senator was Mr. Shipstead and a conscientious one. He though progressively and most of the measures he advocated are now being made into laws. Minnesota did not lose anything during the time Shipstead served in the U.S. senate. ---
   The Henry Wallace party has had its convention. One that followed closely in the footsteps of the other two in the matter of noise, etc. This country will gain by having a Progressive party. Third parties have always given new ideas and thoughts. Did you ever stop to think that if the three candidates for president this year were confined to Dewey, Truman and Stassen that Stassen would receive the votes that are going to Wallace. Youth votes for progressiveness, liberalness and tolerance. It is the natural outgrowth of the human mind for youth to try and improve conditions for mankind. It has been so since the beginning of time. How many tractors would there be in Murray county if it were not for youth? ---
   It's costing the U.S. $100,000 a day and most of our best transport planes to carry food to the American army behind the Iron Curtain. The French did the same thing in 1870: we learn slowly. ========================

August 5, 1948

   It will take thousands of years to overcome racial and religious prejudices. We have a friend of Irish parentage that was not born in Ireland or ever saw Ireland yet he hates the English for wrongs committed two hundred years ago as if he had fought at the battle of Boyne water. The human race does not change in a day. ---
   Congressman Andersen has filed for re-election. Carl lost a lot of support on his vote against the reduction of the income tax. Most voters don't like to see a man vote against reduction in taxes, even if he was right. ---
   Ever since we came to this section back in 1883, we have believed that the stone that came from the Pipestone quarry was the only stone of its kind in the world. Digging into an old history we find the following from the pen of W. E. Butler who made a careful survey of the Lake of the Woods. He blazed the track for three regiments of British and Canadian soldiers from Ft. William over the divide into Rainy Lake and then into Lake of the Woods. Says Butler in his book, "The Great Lone Land," of the Lake of the Woods: "Among the Indians the lake holds high place as the favorite hunt of the Manitou. The strange water worn rocks, islands of soft Pipestone from which are cut the bowls of many a calumet, the curious masses of ore resting on the polished surface of the islands," etc. ---
   These beauty contests may be nice to look at but the final result to the race is nil. What we want in this country is a contest for the best housekeeper, not a bunch of kids whose favorite food is slop. The men they get will not be able to support them if fed chow mein and chop suey. ---
   Down at Northfield the citizens are having a celebration and are planning to get Jesse James the bandit whose arms dripped with the blood of innocent people. Folks will do anything to get a crowd or get into the spotlight and the funny part of the whole thing is that over in Germany the U.S. is hanging men and women for imitating Jesse James. ---
   Saw a letter in the Sunday Star where a guy with an Arabic name was arguing that polygamy was a good thing for the nation. He said a man should have four wives: Gov. Youngdahl is absolutely right when he advocates the enlargement of our mental institutions. ---
   Time's a coming soon when there will be no village or township assessors in Minnesota. Under a plan that is in the making everyone will receive a blank from the state and they will be compelled to list all their property and forward to the county assessor. Lot of folks don't think this plan will work but remember Uncle Sam collects billions of dollars under this plan each year. ---
   What a bill of fare President Truman gave congress. It contained everything but a request to repeal the unwritten law. He never expected that they would ever be touched. Most of them have been studiously avoided for the last 18 years. ---
   To solve the present high prices is a very simple matter. For years the federal government has been subsidizing everything along the lines of what went into a man's stomach. Why not hold everything at the present price levels and give the consumer a ten percent subsidy on all food stuffs he buys: what's sauce for the goose should be sauce for the gander. ---
   The rationing of meat does not mean a thing to the poor guy on a salary: the only meat he sees nowadays is in the magazine ads. ---
   If price control goes back, the wealthy will thrive, wax fat. They have money to pay high prices, and meats, that is the good meats of all kinds, will be on the black market and the grocer and his clerks will have sore backs from reaching under the counter for scarce goods for the chosen few. ---
   Auto accidents bring sadness to many homes and also grief to the people who have auto insurance: the rate on private cars has been upped 13 percent and 30 percent on commercial vehicles. Another boost in the high price of dying.
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August 12, 1948

   "Marian" has a column, "Musing and Mewing" in the Sherburn Advance. Last week the lady said:    "Not that I want to tell anyone how to run their private affairs or anything but I would like to offer a suggestion. Why not advertise in the local paper before you try out of town scandal sheets? For instance, an ad that appeared in the Worthington Globe that read similar to this: 'Wanted--woman to correspond with. Object matrimony. Box ??? Sherburn, Minnesota.' If you haven't gotten any results on that ad yet--stop in at this office and we will try to solve your problem for you."    Just when did the staid, sober and impeccable Worthington Globe get into the scandal sheet class? For emblems the lady who admits her paper is a scandal sheet has two black cats at the head of her column: sorta running true to form. ---
   Modern construction work is simply amazing. An erection crew moved into town last week and in three days had completed the new Koob building. The building is made of aluminum sheets on a steel frame and is 40x80 feet. It is a real addition to Main Street and would be a credit to any town. It has ample room to display any farm machinery made. ---
   Roy York filed for the office of representative last week. Mr. York served in two previous sessions and voted consistently. He has farmed in this section for many years and has a large following. ---
   The leading woman in the nation has at last arrived. She has succeeded in arranging a new menu whereby dinner can be cooked in ten minutes. This will give the dear girls more time to mow the lawns, shovel snow and take care of the garden: ain't science wonderful? ---
   Southwestern Minnesota agricultural leaders are missing bet in not going after the Pipestone Indian School. This section has craved an agricultural school in this section for years: here's one that's ready made. ---
   Just why people would be guessing about Youngdahl is something hard to understand. Stassen, if he wants to go places must have Minnesota and he can maintain his prestige here better with Youngdahl than any other candidate. ---
   Staff King filed for the governorship at the last moment: don't let them goad you into resigning from the auditorship--an ace in the hole helps a lot sometimes. ---
   The worst ploy Truman has made is on the loyalty of government employees. Refusing to allow access to the loyalty records of employees or appointees is something that will hurt the individual more than the disclosure of their records: now the poor guys are dubbed guilty. The folks are in a frame of mind now that is not at all friendly to Communism. ---
   Poor corn weather was our portion last week. Not only was the weather damp but the nights were bitter cold. Corn needs sunshine and warm nights. ---
   Heard a party say the other day, "I don't like the looks of Dewey's face." If the party had looked in a mirror they might have been reminded of Bobbie Burns' line, "O would some Power the Gift to Gie us to see oursel's as others see us." ========================

August 19, 1948

   It's about time that someone has guts enough to tell the real truth about the high prices. Prices will never come down as long as a government pays subsidies whether it's on air mail contracts or potatoes. Conditions could be improved however if the government would grant a subsidy to the consumer: that would put them on a par with the producer. ---
   The frequent showers this fall have helped grain movements: if we would have had a perfect fall the elevators would have been blocked and the grain movement stalled. Many farmers are storing their grain this fall in their bins not in the elevators. ---
   Newspaper polls divulge that the "going" is going to be hard for Mr. Truman this fall. Republican workers however should not sit and hold their hands. This man Truman is going to get a lot of votes in places where the republicans expect to carry everything. ---
   Ivanhoe seems to be taking the lead in furthering education in the southwestern part of Minnesota. We notice that 14 outside districts are sending pupils to the county seat of Lincoln county. This seems to indicate a definite trend for a change in rural education opportunities. ---
   There were few diversions on the prairie in the early days but there was one that always drew full houses and plenty of conversation and that was the petty law suit. Looking back in an early docket we read where Jack Douma DeLang (he ran the old hotel on the spot where the First National Bank now stands) sued J. D. Garrot, a boarder, for $2.50. The suite was brought before Justice Neidergerek who was the depot agent then. Evidently he had boarded with DeLang and DeLang asked for a change of venue. The suit was taken before Justice C. B. Parker of Chanarambie township. After J. B. Risselada, R. D. Sprague and James Gilfilan had been sworn in. The docket says, "The plaintiff stated the nature of his demand." The defendant "Made and filed his answer duly verified denying the facts and asking for $10.00 damages." A. Risselada, R. D. Sprague and James Gilfilan were sworn after which judgement was rendered for the plaintiff in the sum of $2.25 and costs. The costs came to $9.36. Them were the good old days when amusements were cheap and satisfying and full of argument. ---
   The confidence that the late Franklin Roosevelt had in Stalin is the reason we are in the mess that we are in at Berlin. The late president had undying faith in Stalin in spite of the objections of Eisenhower, Churchill and Patton--and the Russians got the bacon and evidently we did not even get part of the rind. ---
   Even red herrings can't erase the odor of Russian Communists. ---
   A Russian school ma'am is bringing things to a focus. It's about time too. Some folks are wondering just how far Russia will go in her efforts to undermine the government of the United States. Our own officials, that is some of them, evidently for political reasons are covering up spy activities in this country. ---
   "A few weeks ago remarks were made in this column concerning anniversaries, stating that the Diamond Anniversary is on the sixtieth year. Mr. Alfred E. Pedersen has taken time to show me a booklet entitled "The Wedding Anniversary List" which therein states the 50th Anniversary is the Golden Jubilee; the 55th Anniversary is the Emerald; and 60th Anniversary is the Diamond Jubilee. That should settle the argument."--Ruthton Tribune.    We are just modest enough to think that the above is a rebuttal to the query raised by the Roamer about Ruthton celebrating its Diamond Jubilee. According to "The Customs of Mankind," a national authority published by Double Page & Co. in 1924, here are last four dates on the list of jubilees:
   The Woolen Wedding..................40 years
   The Silk Wedding........................45 years
   The Golden Wedding...................50 years
   The Diamond Wedding................75 years
   "That should settle any arguments." ---
   It was back in the seventh century that man enjoyed his highest position in society and was free from all enslavement. Back in those days an Anglo Saxon could get a divorce from his wife if she was deformed, silly, barren, passionate, luxurious, rude, habitually drunk, gluttonous, garrulous, quarrelsome or abusive. Yet some folks will tell you that men were dumb in the old days.
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August 26, 1948

   The members of the Farmers Union in a recent poll were asked, "Why did grain prices decline last spring?" The majority blamed "speculators:" what caused it to go up? ---
   The pheasant crop in this section seems to be above the average. Flocks of birds ranging from two days to half grown birds are common. Looks like the sportsmen are going to have some real shooting this fall. ---
   Hard to please everybody. We were commenting on the fine job the city fathers had done in black topping the main street, when a guy standing alongside of us said, "Hope they'll do something to our street, there has not been a maintainer on it this year." There's always a fly in the ointment. ---
   The county fair is on this week. The fair is a mirror of the progress of the county during the year, especially the work of the 4-H club, which has given an impetus to the youngsters to remain on the farm, improve the soil and enjoy the privilege of being a farmer: the most independent career on earth. ---
   Mr. Walter E. Johnson who is a candidate for Governor on the left wing of the DFL came right to the point in a recent meeting at Alexandria when he called on Hubert Humphrey to explain:    "Why is he so eager for the peacetime draft today when in 1944 he used political pressure to escape the draft himself." Mr. Johnson charged that Hubert Humphrey had obtained a deferment by means of political pressure applied by Elmer Klem, then state chairman of the DFL party. ---
   Crops have been good this year. Most of the thrashing will be done this week making it one of the earliest seasons on record. Oats were splendid. Barley was not as good a quality as last year. Corn and soy beans however never looked better. ---
   Russia seems to take a delight in slapping Uncle Sam around. Some day the people hope the worm will turn. Let's hope it does before Stalin kidnaps all the Americans in Berlin. ---
   Glad to see the board of education has started publishing the minutes of the board meetings and we are also pleased to note that they got on the front page. The most important "news" to most people is how and where their tax money is spent, yet hundreds of newspapers continue to hide the most important news that is "news" to the majority of their readers, hidden away on some inside page near the rear and in type too often too small for the average person to read. ---
   There's a lot of women and some men that are breathing easier this week on account of the return of Cedric Adams to the Minneapolis Star. Listening to a group of women talking a week ago Sunday, one of the gals said, "If Cedric does not come back pretty soon I'm going to quit the paper." Evidently he's the cherry of the intellectual and news gathering Star-Journal cocktail. ---
   A horse drawn hay rack was the cause of an accident near Tyler recently in the dark gray light of the night. The hay rack had neither lights nor reflectors and an auto ran slap bang into it. An autoist would have some chance in escaping an accident when he came from the front but coming from the rear all the manual and intellectual examinations given by the state are of no avail in a case of this kind. ---
   Despite general raises in post office salaries no increase was made to take effect at this time. Raises in mail rates are never made just before elections. By the way the deficit in the post office department will be nearly $500,000,000 next year. ========================

September 2, 1948

   The voters of North Hero twp. in Redwood county voted last spring that all weeds left uncut along the road on September 15th would be cut by the board and the expenses charged against the land. The board had a notice in the Walnut Grove Tribute last week which read, "No money will be paid for mowing weeds as the money will be used for snow removal" which brings up the thought that if the weeds were mowed there would be but little snow to remove, but anyway isn't it grand to live in a country where the people rule. ---
   Over in the second district Val Imm, a Mankato newspaper editor and state senator, filed for congress and last week the Sherburn Advance asked, "Whose money is behind Val Imm?" Questions like that are not generally advanced so early in the game. Looks like a muddy campaign. ---
   Looks like a quiz program campaign. Voters are asking Ball why he supported Roosevelt and why he voted for the Taft-Hartley law and they are wanting to know from Mr. Humphrey how he evaded the draft and how come that he did not fight for the dairymen in the Democratic convention where he was carrying the banner for the downtrodden. ---
   John L. King has upped the Jackson Pilot to $3.00 a year. If there's a paper in Minnesota that's worth it, it is the Jackson County Pilot. ---
   Liquor violators have been running hog wild in Jackson county and last week eleven violators were arrested. Ten of them paid fines. The V.F.W. club at Jackson also was raided. Five different counts are placed against the club. The case was postponed until some time this week. Two members of the fair sex were among the ten arrested. ---
   The attacks on Henry Wallace by the people of North Carolina are a real slap at "the home of the free and the land of the brave" slogan. They are not against Wallace on account of his leaning towards communism: they don't know what that means, but they just don't like to have a white man talking with or to colored folks. ---
   Baseball has been the cause of more rivalry, hatred and envy between towns than any other one thing. Words are passed in the heat of passion: words that burn and sear and leave scars that are often carried for generations. At Canby last week dazed umpires canceled a game that was to have been played between Canby and Hansonville. There was some dispute as to where the third and last game was to have been played. Each team had won one game and evidently no friendly agreement had been made just where the game was to have been played. The umpires declared Canby the winner of the league for 1948. There'll be a lot of feudin' and a fussin' over decisions of this kind that only mar and hurt the national sport. ---
   The weather man did his part again and another Murray county fair has come and gone. Like everything else, fairs change and the past years have seen a lot of them in the Murray county show. Looks like afternoon fair programs are on their way out. Baseball does not attract the crowds in the afternoon. Last year there was not enough in the grandstand to pay for the game and last week there was not enough in the grandstand to pay for half the purse. The rain stopped what promised to be a fine game in the first inning and rain checks were given for the night show. The shows, that is the evening shows, were well received. Sunday afternoon there was a fine crowd to see the hot rod auto races. It was feared by the management that the regional baseball game at Iona would keep our crowd pretty slim, but the folks gave the fair the biggest crowd of the three days and what a wonderful crowd it was, up on its toes during the entire afternoon as they watched the hots roar through clouds of dust: the best part of the afternoon was that there were no accidents. On both Friday and Saturday afternoons the attendance was almost nil, something that is happening to all fairs. The illness of county agent Hagen on Saturday brought gloom to the 4-H'rs and the rest of the fair folks. The 4-H had the biggest and best exhibit in its history. Exhibits in the horticultural building were above the average also in the Women's building. The school building was pretty bare: the closing of the many county schools and other factors were the cause of the poor display, the poorest in the history of the fair. The Billy Wolf shows had a bunch of rides for the youngsters and had a pretty clean midway. Governor Youngdahl gave an interesting and informative address on Saturday afternoon but steered shy of politics.
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September 9, 1948

   Hard to believe, but an oil tank was spotted at a bulk tank at Walnut Grove last week and when the valve was turned, no fuel oil emerged: the tank had been empty all the way from Oklahoma. Up at Woodstock two weeks ago an "empty" was spotted at one of the elevators and when the men went to load it, they found it full of oats. ---
   Can't understand why the unions are kicking about the Taft-Hartley law. There's been just as many strikes as there were before and every one of them resulted in higher wages and an increase in the prices of manufactured goods. Even John Lewis did right well after fake meetings with the tribe that owns the coal mines where both imitated "men working." The strike was settled and wages were raised and the next week it was made known that you would pay the bill: let the people rule. ---
   The biggest race in the history of Lake Wilson will soon be on: the race for the job of rural mail carrier. There'll be more folks, men and women, after the job than there are bullheads in Lake Wilson. Bobbie Smith, veteran mail carrier, is quitting and a new carrier will be selected. A substitute carrier will be appointed by the powers that be, who will hold until an examination is held. Servicemen have the head start in the examination, having a five percent handicap. Bare in mind no matter who the powers that be may select he's got to be in the first three who pass the examination. ---
   Murmurs are going around in baseball circles these days in the small towns that belong to the Gopher League. During the summer these small town teams are used as punching bags by the more affluent towns that have the means to get more outside players. When the playoff comes the big four takes all the gravy, not even giving the little guys the spoon to lick. Unless some rule can be adopted whereby the four bottom teams can get a percentage in the playoff games, chances are that they will seek other leagues next season. ---
   Harry Wahlstrand of Willmar, a candidate for congress, was here last week calling on our people. Mighty fine man, as able a state senator as Minnesota ever had in its senate. Ask any Minnesota state senator what they think of the qualifications of Wahlstrand of Willmar. ---
   A year or so ago sportsmen all over the state got all het up over the seining of carp and urged the department to cancel all private contracts and let the state crews do the work. The state did just this in Jackson county last week and it aroused a lot of indignation. The Jackson county folks wanted the home boys to do the seining: the game and fish department in Minnesota is one place where you're always wrong. ---
   According to a recent Gallup poll eight out of ten voters wanted the congressional committee to continue its probe on Communism: seems as if there a lot of folks allergic to "Red Herrings." ---
   Five more schools in the vicinity of Tyler during the past year have closed up and the pupils will go to Tyler, and two more districts: Districts No. 66 in Lyon and 76 in Lyon county, are considering joining the new consolidated district. The consolidating of schools throughout the state has brought diminishing rural school exhibits at the county fairs in some counties: naturally the exhibits from rural schools will be discontinued. ---
   During the auto races at the county fair a week ago Sunday the road on the west of the grounds was lined with cars. Sixty-two at one time were parked to watch the event. Many of these folks who sat in their new shiny $2,000 car would never even stoop to take a nickel that did not belong to them, yet they sat on the road and absorbed the auto races at no cost to themselves. These races cost quite a lot of money and they must have been good as ninety percent of the highway fans waited until the last crumb of dust had settled. Next year the fair board will take the numbers of the highway parkers and will print them in the local papers. ---
   Cool weather this week has not done much to hasten the bumper crop: some corn and soy beans need a lot more sunshine and warm days. ---
   As usual there seems to be a lot of teal in some of the neighboring ponds but they will have started on their journey south before the season opens: maybe that's why there are so many of them.
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September 16, 1948

   At last a real official has been found. He lives over in Pipestone county. He had Peter Hourscht arrested for violating a weed inspection order. Peter was fined $25. What the state has lacked is men that were willing to enforce the weed laws. Until we can get the weed orders enforced the weed law will continue to be a joke. ---
   Sixty rural schools in Cottonwood county are closed and Murray county has 41 closed. It looks like the day of the rural school is crowding in the footsteps of the buffalo. ---
   "The crowning beauty of a woman in her hair" saith the sage. The old guy must have been driving his auto with the front windows down and three women in the back seat, of whom one could have been his better half. ---
   The weather over the week end was superb. No place in the world could the weather of last Saturday and Sunday be excelled. Take the memories of these days with you until the breezes blow next January. Memories won't put coal in the bin or fuel in the tank but they bring a ray of hope for the year ahead. ---
   The Northern States Power Company announces a raise in rates. Just why they have not done this before is a mystery to their customers. The increase in fuel prices alone must be stupendous, thanks to the miners and the coal operators. Unions must have increased costs heavily. When the repair crew moves in these days they bring in a whole army. Years ago we remember when two men came down to fix the lines. The poles, wire, and in fact everything connecting with bringing us heat, power, and light has gone up nearly fifty percent and the increase in your rates will be 8 percent, which leaves the rates less than they were ten years ago. ---
   Down near Worthington last week truck farmers were selling tomatoes at $1.25 a bushel. Here in Lake Wilson we saw a sign "Tomatoes 19 cents a pound," (they had been shipped in) but nevertheless it made them $11.04 a bushel. Some spread: and you can't lay that up against the unions. ---
   A Chicago judge last week declared that a man could spank his wife with impunity: when we were a kid we were spanked with everything from a hair brush to a tough leather strap, but never with impunity. ---
   When told of the raise in electric rates, one guy said, "That's just like those Public Service outfits." We reminded him that last week we paid $1.51 for an old stewing hen. Ten years ago we could have bought it for a quarter. Makes a difference whose ox is being gored and how deep he's gored. ---
   Another Minnesota girl has won the title of Miss America. She showed 'em her shape in bathing trunks and evening gown and then she played on a vibra harp. These contests should include baking an apple pie, making a meat stew from cheap cuts of beef and be able to iron a man's shirt collar without as many wrinkles in as there is in a prune. ---
   The race between Youngdahl and King ended as most people anticipated but the $64 question among politicians is, "If Staff was going to file why did he wait until the last minute." Perhaps this was just a warm up for two years hence. ---
   Not since the British kept infringing on our maritime rights in 1812 impressing our seamen and taking them from American ships has the U.S. been treated so ignominiously as we are in Berlin. We are jibed at and scorned by the Russians who seem to be doing everything in their power to create war. We have turned so many cheeks to them that we seem to be losing what little pride we have left. ---
   What is a pioneer? was the question asked the other day. From our viewpoint no one who cam to Murray county after 1880 can rightfully be called a "pioneer." You just can't associate hard coal stoves with pioneering. ---
   The Southern Minnesota league laid the foundations for a staple baseball league in that section. The playoffs in that league this year brought in $9,979.00 Of that sum $1,500.00 was split between the four last division teams.
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September 23, 1948

   One of the bakeries in this section runs a quiz program every so often. The $64 question should be "Why doesn't the price of bread go down?" The price of wheat has been cut a third, yet the bread price remains as changeless as the Pyramids. Back in the early days when farmers snarling at grain prices used to say that when grain went down in Minneapolis the grain buyers got the news by wire, but when it went up the news came by freight. Looks like these "good old days" are back at the bakeries. ---
   Minnesota republicans should endorse the movement for a veterans bonus: they should do it as if they meant to do it and quit haggling about it. ---
   An orchid to Eddie Lokken for his nifty new building across from the bank. It is a credit to the village and covers up an eyesore that has existed since the fire. Ed made the cement blocks and did most of the work himself. ---
   Folks will be glad to know that Doctor Patterson is making visits to Lake Wilson again. People in general are not intensely interested until something happens to them or their family: then they tear the roof off to get a doctor, and how important a doctor becomes when a loved one is ill. The family stands around with bated breath to listen to what the doctor says, and what a feeling of sadness or joy his few words bring. ---
   Count Bernadotte of Sweden was murdered by Jewish gunmen in Jerusalem last week. A victim of the spawn of hatred and bitterness shown by Walter Winchell and Ben Hecht, who preached tolerance on one side and the other side taught hate and viciousness even if it did take shiploads of T.N.T. ---
   Voters should be giving some consideration to a proposed constitutional amendment that would take a third of the state highway funds and transfer them to the counties. While there is no doubt that the county should be improved one must admit that this section of the state has a fine net of gravel highways in the rural districts. There are some crowded sections of state highways that need another lane: an improvement that will save many lives. ---
   Only half of the voters in this section were interested enough to vote at the primary election. Across the water men and women are dying for the right to vote but over here we have so much freedom that we don't know what to do with it: we just can't take off time for such an unimportant matter. ---
   Folks interested in starting a band met with the Community Club officers and met with a willingness to aid. Vern Habberman took charge of the soliciting and you can see how well he did the job in another column. That ought to keep the band boys in music for several days to come. ---
   Honestly, the vote that Senator Ball received in the primary was a surpass even to his friends. From the lambasting he had bee receiving from ill informed orators and newspaper polls it was anticipated that he would make a poor showing: he'll do better in November. ---
   Workmen in electricity were forced to cut down some of the trees in the park last week to install condensers. Some folks have the wrong ideas about the park. They think the village owns it or leases it. The village does neither and village councils have never had any authority over this piece of land. Only one dollar was ever paid for on the park when it was first started and no lease to anyone has ever been O.K.'ed by the Omaha railroad. ---
   Hard to believe but since the civilizing of this section, the wind and erosion covered the bottoms of our lakes with as many as eight feet of silt. In Lake Okabena where a dredge is working, nine feet of silt has been removed. The removal started several dormant springs to working. ---
   For years some folks have blamed the Goldenrod weed for their hay fever. Investigators have found out that the worst enemy of the hay fever sufferers is the ragweed, which is found in nearly every farm yard and country road. Another irritant is timothy pollen. ---
   There's going to be something doing at the annual meeting of the officials of the Minnesota Amateur Baseball League. There has been a lot of criticism over the umpiring and another sore spot is on account of a player who is signed up with Minneapolis and still being allowed to play in amateur competition.
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September 30, 1948

   No one living in the last sixty years has ever seen a finer stretch of fall weather. The days have been warm and sunny and there has been no dark gloomy fall rain. Jack Frost has not yet appeared, something unusual for September 28th. ---
   See where a farmer was locked up on account of slavery charges. He is accused of keeping a man at work from daylight till dark every day, not paying him any wages, using harsh words at times and barely keeping him in clothes: a lot of women will watch this case with keen interest. ---
   The Minnesota Poll of Public Opinion certainly went awry on its election predictions on the governor and senatorial primaries. Youngdahl did not beat King as badly as forecast and Ball certainly surprised everyone by his fine showing at the primaries: a reversal from the forecast made by the Minnesota Poll. From the results only one thing seems to be assured--both Youngdahl and Ball will win in November: the outs generally make their best showing at the primaries. ---
   The county fair season in Minnesota for 1948 ended last Sunday at Jordan in Scott county. Ninety-eight fairs were held in Minnesota this year, which would emphasize the fact that the county fair is still of interest to rural communities. The first fair was held and Barnsville in Clay county on July 8th and since that date there has been a continual string of fairs. Jamming so many fairs in such a short period makes it hard for many fairs to secure attractions, etc. Take the week of September 26th to 29th, the dates of the Murray county fair: fourteen fairs in the state were held either on that week or starting. Sixty-six fairs were held in August, fourteen in July and eighteen in September. Twelve counties have two county fairs: Blue Earth, Cass, Crow Wing, Goodhue, Kittson, Koochiching, Morrison, Otter Tail, Polk, Scott, and St. Louis. The state appropriation is split between the two fairs. ---
   We took a trip up on the North Shore last week. We, that is Ed. Engebretson and the Roamer planned on going fishing. At Grand Marais where we had a cottage we asked the boatmen in the bay what they charged. They said, "Three and a half to four dollars an hour." The lake was a little rough, the water was dark and cold, there was a chill in the air and as we had neither "longies" nor overcoat and as we were born in Scotland and Ed. had acquired some Scotch traits we decided not to go fishing but to buy our fish. Lake trout were scarce: they weren't "running" and we traveled through Mineral Center then up to Grand Portage, the oldest town in Minnesota, but still no fish, so we took the trail along the lake to the tip of Minnesota and there we found Ole Nyseth, seems as half of the fishermen are Oles or Nels. Ole had just come in from going through his nets. He had been out in Lake Superior for about three miles and his total catch for the night was four lake trout. We bought a 7 1/2 pounder, dressed, for 40 cents a pound and we just gorged ourselves on trout during our stay.
   There's a big change on the North Shore in recent years. When we made our first trip up there, cottages were few and far between. Now there is a hundred miles of cabins that are far superior to those in central Minnesota. These cabins are fully modern but in the central part most of the cabins are about the same as they were twenty years ago, when anything went. Been a big year for the resort owners, some of the big operators sold their interests and are now living in Walker. Some resorts changed hands four times. One operator told us that he had turned away thirty-nine tourists one day, evidently the anti-slot order made but little difference to the tourist trade.
   There are no better roads in the state than there are in northern and north central Minnesota. From Duluth on north the roads are superb.
   The North Shore is getting gorgeous with maples, the oaks, the birches, all starting their annual beauty show--the mountain ash with their bright red berries adding to the picture and in the background the eternal pines. It is a real beauty show in the raw.
   Cook county has neither a grain elevator nor a railroad. Years ago that community was supplied by steamboats; now the trucks have taken over.
   Stopping at Hibbing on the way home we saw a change in the deep pit mining. Ten years ago one saw countless steam locomotives chugging away dragging six or seven cars of ore to the top. Now trucks load up at the big shovel and purr over to the hoppers, dump their load the ore goes to the top on a series of endless belts. The coal age is gone in the mines.
   Saw three slot machines running on the trip and they were located in a post office. The town is located on an Indian reservation and evidently the treaty with the U.S. permitted the Chippewas to do as they pleased.
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October 7, 1948

   We're living in a topsy turvy age. In spite of the government supported price the following appeared in the Edgerton Enterprise last week: "Potatoes at 75 cents a bushel, H. DeGroot, Edgerton." Up at Grand Marais last week we bought twenty cents worth of potatoes: that's up in potato country, yet the potatoes we got were raised in Idaho. ---
   Truman accused the Republicans in Texas of being nothing but Wall Street capitalists and money grabbers. Over in Oklahoma he said that Stalin wants the Republicans to win: versatile cuss ain't he. ---
   While farmers reaped an abundant harvest this year they will not make as much money as in former years. Tumbling prices in stock and grain markets will cut deep into their profits. ---
   Heard a man ask the price of a manure spreader one day last week. The dealer told him $395.00. Besides almost stunning us, that price pushed our mind back to the days when we lived on the farm north of town and we hauled out the fertilizer on a home made sled that cost about a dollar and a half: time does bring a lot of changes. ---
   Sat in a parked car recently across from the school at Pipestone. There were "School Stop" signs on both sides of the streets and every motorist obeyed the order, but the kids spewed out across the street, cutting diagonally across at the corners and walking out and in between the parked cars as nonchalantly as a cock pheasant crossing the road. Kinda strange it was to us. Making adults obey the laws and letting the youngsters violate them. Not one of over 100 school children obeyed the pedestrian laws: a fine opportunity of missionary work by the Safety First League. ---
   What a wonderful season this has been. Farmers say it is the finest on record. Since March the growing weather was ideal for all kinds of growing grain and stock. The weather too has been tops: no tornadoes or hail storms, not even a heavy wind. Thanksgiving Day next month should be one of thankfulness: thankfulness to the Lord for the blessings of 1948. ---
   The decline in the price of butter at this time of the year is rather unusual but the experts say it is due to the increased use of the soy bean crop. Soy beans declined $1.36 a bushel. These beans enter into the price of oleomargarine and the price of that product dropped to 35 cents a pound in New York last week. The use of oleo has increased enormously during the last three years and evidently is going to continue in popularity. Seems like a battle between the farmers who are in the dairying business and the farmers who raise vegetable oil crops. ---
   Most of the trouble in Berlin seems to have started over the U.S. issuing its own currency. If this is true, why not the four powers unite and organize a bank that would satisfy all of them? Money still seems to be the root of all evil: that's probably why so many of us are as good as we are. ---
   Hunters should bear in mind that the hunting season both on ducks and pheasants begins at noon this year. ---
   Several Democrats were telling us that the reason Humphrey did not get as many votes as Ball was because many DFL's voted for King in the primary: looks like there was something in their statements. It is claimed that over 40,000 DFL's voted for King. ---
   Another week of fine weather has just passed and according to local weather experts we have still our Indian summer in the offing. ---
   Advertisers paid $2,500,000 for advertising in the last month's issue of the Ladies Home Journal: and there are still a lot of people that don't believe in advertising. ---
   The flowing wells acted up again last week and while the service was not overly curtailed it was dangerously low in case of a fire. One thing must be done soon and that is get more water. If a cold siege strikes the tank next winter when it is half full or less it will cost more to get it thawed out and get the system in running order again as it would for a new well: we've had that once, let's try and avoid it in the future. ---
   Henry Wallace will throw his support in Minnesota to Humphrey for senator this fall but Humphrey says he does not want it.
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October 14, 1948

   The most important question to come before Murray county voters at the coming general election is not who is going to be president or who is going to governor. The question in which this county is interested is in the building of the Memorial hospital. This is one thing on which we should agree.    The project has been held up for three years by continued rises in labor and materials but the board felt that it could wait no longer so they asked the county commissioners to submit a second issue of bonds which they felt would carry them through.    There is no need of telling you of the necessity of the hospital: everyone in the county knows that the only thing to do is to get out the vote and get started on the hospital as soon as possible.    We would suggest however that when news items are available that they be given to all the newspapers in the county simultaneously. The hospital is not a Slayton project. It is a Murray county project and as long as we are all paying for it we should at least be entitled to learn of the progress made on the new building.    No county in the state is as illy served by hospitals as Murray county. ---
   In behalf of the many baseball fans we wish to express our thanks to radio station KMHL at Marshall for the fine job they did in giving us the broadcasts of the World Series. ---
   See where Humphrey made a wonderful speech on "Education" at Mountain Lake recently. From the way the vote went in Minneapolis last week he should have been talking for education in his home town. That city faces another shutdown of schools next year on account of lack of funds. No wonder the Communists smile while we tell them of the benefits of civilization. ---
   Too bad Worthington struck such evil weather for its Turkey Day festival. They had a wonderful program prepared: even had Miss America, but the weather man spoiled it all. Man with all his scientific learning, his captains of industry, the manufacturers with their diversified lines, etc. never realize how puny he really is until he runs up against the weather man. ---
   Some research men have been putting a damper on coffee drinking in Minnesota by disclosing that hot coffee irritates the stomach and that stomach irritation can cause cancer. If that is true how come there are any Mexicans left? We ate some of their dishes that had power enough in them to sear their way through a two inch plank. ---
   Gloomy Gus Bierman tried to imitate Connie Mack last Saturday, and masterminded his Minnesota team to a defeat that should have been a victory. Over in the big leagues, baseball players cover up the open spaces for men like Ted Williams. Bernie failed to do that and the Wildcats took advantage of the lapse in defense and passed to a victory. One man thought the other day that perhaps a younger coach would pep things up at Minnesota. Remember he only "thought" that, if he had given utterance to the idea he would have been surrounded by members of the Grand Order of Cultured Intolerant Society of Penguins, who would have literally stared him into the dirt with withered smiles and haughty stares, reminding him of the Golden past. We're not living in the past, and we know that it is rank heresy but even Babe Levoir was saddened by the way the team was run last Saturday and once in a while he would criticize but he always apologized for his nerve in speaking the truth, something that is not often done in college football. Even the reporters stand in awe of the Penguins. Writers that call spades, spades in professional baseball games get as tame as kittens in reporting college football games. You can gouge, kick, punch and knee the kidneys out of a guy in a football game and that's "unnecessary roughness." In baseball it would mean headlines and booting the offending player out of the park. The youngsters on the team play for the sheer love of the game and it would be nice if they only had some to love. ---
   Mothers, if you have any children that use the school bus, won't you see that the weeds are cut along the bus route so as to prevent snow drifts during the winter ahead. Would ask the men but they're always so busy.
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October 21, 1948

   They say a few men and a lot of women talk too much and that some would-be columnists write too much. Looks like we would be guilty to being one of the violators.    Back in early September in giving our impressions of Miss Bebe Shopp of Minneapolis who won the title of "Miss America," we casually wrote after reviewing her many talents: "These contests should include baking an apple pie, making a beef stew from cheap cuts of beef and be able to iron a man's shirt collar without as many wrinkles in it as there is in a prune."    We thought nothing of it until we received the following letter on September 25th that really pleasantly surprised us as it would even you. ---
   Minneapolis Tribune and Star    Minneapolis, Minnesota    Dear Mr. Forrest:    Your comments in "Roaming in the Gloaming" in the Lake Wilson Pilot concerning Miss America attracted our attention.    It occurs that a lot people would like to know if Miss America can bake an apple pie, make a beef stew or iron a shirt collar without wrinkles like a prune. Miss America says she can do all these things but wouldn't think of doing them without you as her guest in Minneapolis when she does them. Because all this would be too much fun to be restricted to the two of you, we'd like to have a photographer there to record this drama for posterity.    We want to develop this picture for the Minneapolis Tribune roto section.    Sincerely,    Chas. MacFadden    Picture Editor    Minneapolis Tribune    = = =    Dear Mr. Forrest:    Bebe Shopp, Miss America, is inviting you to dinner October 20th. The meal will be at her home in Williston Park near Minneapolis.    You plan to be in the Minneapolis Star and Tribune offices in the editorial department on the third floor at 2 pm October 20th. We'll get a photographer and go to her house. I think she plans to start cooking the stew and bake the apple pie around 3:30 or 3 o'clock. Also bring a shirt to be ironed.    Sincerely,    Chas. MacFadden    Picture Editor    Minneapolis Sunday Tribune ---
   Where do you think the Roamer was yesterday? ---
   Watch the Lake Wilson Pilot next week for, as they say in the movies, "The next chapter of this thrilling episode." ---
   The community spirit has never been more thoroughly exemplified in this section as it has be the folks of Lake Wilson and the farmers who live in this vicinity. For years there has been a crying need for better fire protection on our farms. The Lake Wilson Fire Department gave willingly all the assistance in their power. But the equipment was getting old and worn and the members of the fire department and the farmers got together and started the groundwork for better fire protection. The members of the department selected a canvassing committee which went to work with a vim and their results disclosed the fact that the farmers were not just talking about insurance, they really meant it. They showed their good intentions by subscribing nearly $5,000 to a community truck which arrived here last week. The members of the department and the officials of the Community Club are planning only having a Community Day in the near future at which time demonstrations of the ability of the new truck to do its part in keeping down fire losses in the community. ---
   President Truman in a speech at Springfield, Illinois last week in referring to Mr. Dewey said: "Dewey has lined up with some queer characters." That seems to be a failing with presidential candidates. By the way Harry, who were lined up with several years ago? If you can't guess we'll help you. The name started with P.
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October 28, 1948

   It is seldom that a paper with the circulation of the Lake Wilson Pilot is asked to send a representative to dine with an interview one of the most famous women of our times, but the invitation was accepted nevertheless and it was our privilege to meet "Miss America" at her home. Miss America is not what we call a ravishing beauty, she has more higher talents than a pretty face, she has character, dignity without stiffness and that "it" that some people have, what it is you can't describe but when she shakes your hand and looks in your eyes, you know then that she above the average. She does not smoke or drink, but hold a minute, I promised the Star and Trib. men I would not write my story until next week, so goodbye until then. ---
   The roto sections of every big newspaper in the midwest is printed in Chicago and they require two weeks time. They said the pictures would be out Nov. 7th (next week). ---
   While football and politics occupies the mind of some, the main question is, "How long are the present conditions going to continue?" Not only the farmer but the banker, the laboring man and the small businessmen are wondering when the powder in the rocket is gone, where, what and who are going to be affected. Who will it hit first? ---
   By the rate the corn is being picked it looks like a poor winter ahead for pheasants. ---
   Right now is the time to discuss the coming vote on the Memorial Hospital. If the election fails to carry it may be ten years before we get a hospital. ---
   Pheasant hunting season opened up Saturday and a lot of hunters got their limit: the limit was only two this year. There are about five times as many hens as males this year. If all the males are killed off, our pheasant crop will hardly be as good next year. ---
   Outstretched hands are not only found in a starving Europe but in some of the larger cities as well. Every time a traveller turns around there's an outstretched hand pleading for a little tip. Even the Red Caps collect 15 cents apiece for even looking at your baggage. ---
   No doubt most of our readers know that the village of Lake Wilson was started by Jonathan E. Wilson, one of the founders of the Wilson Bros., makers of men's furnishings, etc. We met the grandparents of Bebe at the home in Williston Park and visited with the old gentleman: he is two years older than the Roamer is, but we got along fine. We asked what he worked at and he said, "I'm retired. I worked for Wilson Bros. Men's furnishings for thirty-three years." Mrs. Shopp, Bebe's mother, also worked in the store for a while. I sorta surprised them when I told them about Lake Wilson and J. E. Wilson whom I knew and how there was only one Lake Wilson in the United States. Small world after all. ---
   It is doubtful if farm work has ever been as far ahead at this time of the year. From Minneapolis down the Minnesota valley to Murray county most of the corn is picked and a lot of the plowing done. ---
   Can't remember the time when politics has been further in the doldrums as they are in 1948. On the bus round trip and while in Minneapolis we never hear the word politics only once and that was some guy who is running for state senator, met him in the hotel lobby and he said, "Can't you get three or four votes?" Rather doubtful, I said as we are not in your district. ---
   The Michigan-Minnesota football game last Saturday could be described in the words of the late Confederate General Forrest: "They got the mostest men there fustest." ---
   Had planned on visiting Cedric Adams, but as usual he was out. He's just about one of the busiest men in the northwest with his Stairway to Stardom, radio broadcasts and M.C.'ing efforts several nights a week: is worrying more about his income tax now that his beefsteak. Many folks who think they have the "in" say that he draws down more filthy lucre than any other man in the state, that is, in which one individual only puts in his talent and time. Quite a jump from the Old Whiz Bang to being one of the most popular and powerful men in Minnesota. A lot of men don't care for him, but the women, that's a different story.
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November 4, 1948

"The All American Girl"
   Eight months ago a care free high-school girl playing in the school band, getting hoarse with joy when her basketball team won and bawling her head off with the rest of the kids when the team got beat: now she is Miss America, a United States celebrity. When Cinderella awoke she found it but a dream but Bebe Shopp awoke and found out it was true. Only in American could this happen. ---
   The Shopp family live in a neat comfortable home on a five acre tract of land in Williston Park. There were no ball rooms or picture dresses the day we were the guest of Miss America. She wore a cotton house dress and a neat apron and thus attired she prepared the dinner that the Roamer insinuated should be a part of the requirements necessary to acquire the title of Miss America. ---
   She went to work with a smile and a vim that showed she was no amateur when it came to cooking, all of which she did herself: we know, as we were in the kitchen most of the time. She got the beef stew ready, it was the kind that old guys like: plenty of carrots and onions in it and the gravy was rich and tasty. Then she got the potatoes ready, then started work on the apple pie, one of the kind that didn't need either ice cream or cheese to buoy it up. While the pie was baking and the meat cooking, she whipped up a batch of graham buns and then came the coffee and when that was ready we sat down to the dinner table with Bebe, John Cool, write up man for the Star, and Powell Kruger, a top photographer from the Sunday Tribune and Bebe's grandfather and grandmother and yours truly. The table looked very neat and the dinner was delicious. After dinner she said, "Where is the shirt?" She got it and started ironing it. Of course she did not get a fair show on the shirt as it was not dampened but she did a fine job. Then after the laundry was completed she asked the Roamer out to the porch where the vibraharp was and played several selections. ---
   During the afternoon Powell Kruger, the cameraman, was taking pictures and there was a lot of them; he surely can't use all of them. Kruger is one of the ace men on the Trib. staff. Rode the Truman train. Finest subject he ever had was James Farley. Jim stood long enough so that his dinner got cold before he could get the snap he wanted. Wilkie was another man he liked to photograph. John Cotton of the Minneapolis Star picture desk assisted in making the pictures. John is a Des Moines boy, coming to Minneapolis after Cowles bought the Star. ---
   Miss Shopp came from Scandinavian ancestry: both of the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Anderson of Chicago, Ill., are Swedes. Her mother's name is Mrs. Edward Shopp. Mr. Shopp is associated with the Cream of Wheat Company and was not at home that afternoon.    The atmosphere in the home at dinner was just about what it is in your home. There were no finger bowls or fancy didoes. Miss Bebe is neither stage or radio struck. She plans when her year as Miss America is over to enter the conservatory of Music at Northwestern University, one of the best in the U.S. She is attending the McPhail School of Music at present. ---
   The Shopp home was somewhat cluttered up, not account of lack of good housekeeping but with the gifts Miss America has received. There are trophies, boxes of candy, gifts from many states and scads of cards as well as letters, a lot of them from Europe and South America. There were at least ten letters written in German from Germany. Every desk, table and bureau was loaded with them. ---
   Mrs. Shopp, Bebe's mother, is a striking looking woman, tall, inclined to be stately and must have been a beautiful girl. Didn't see the father so will have to give the mother credit for Bebe's success.    At the rear of the home is a chicken house. Saw the chickens running around and se asked Bebe, "Do you take care of the chickens?" She answered, "I used to." We then asked, "Did you ever set an old clucking hen?" She said, "Yes, and waited with eagerness for the first peep from the new chicks." ---
   It was a real pleasure to met Bebe Shopp. Nothing uppity or snooty about her, cool, quiet and plenty of poise, friendly without gushing, still can blush if the name of a certain basketball player is mentioned, does her work in the kitchen as she does everything else, with grace, deftness and modesty. She does not gab about dancing, movies or fellows. She has pretty eyes and a soft winsome smile that you can remember the next day. In fact she is the kind of a girl you would like that girl of yours to be. ---
   Someone asked us why did you go up there? First of all we published a newspaper for 43 years. The whole aim of any newspaper, wherever it may be, is publicity. This was a wonderful opportunity to give publicity not only the Lake Wilson Pilot but the village as well. The Sunday Tribune has a circulation of over a half million. Furthermore these pictures plain and simple as they may be to you will be in many big city papers throughout the United States on Miss Bebe's appearances. Secondly, we were kind of curious to know the type of girl chosen as Miss America. ---
   We want to thank Rodney Smith, publisher of the Pilot for his financial interest in the trip taken.
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November 11, 1948

   Mighty proud are we of the fine vote given by Lake Wilson on the Memorial hospital. For the hospital, Yes: 170, No: 10. Best record in the county. ---
   Public opinion polls we in disrepute after the debacle of the election. It will take many years to regain any degree of confidence among the people. According to the way the vote ran the pollsters only polled the white-collar voters. ---
   Some old fool of a judge out in Washington pulled a real boner last week. A couple who had undergone several arguments during their period of wedded bliss came before him seeking a divorce. The couple had been divorced and remarried each other four different times. The judge was peeved and he told them, "If you promise never to remarry again I'll grant you a divorce." What a shame. Just think of the four happy courtships they must have had, the joy of making up their many spats over trivial things, the pleasure of planning new weddings, the making of the wedding cake, the picking of the bridesmaid and the selecting of the new furniture: what a happy and exciting life they must have led compared to the many couples who have their differences and live years in gloom and criticism. ---
   After every election the losing party always has a group that wants to blame someone and Minnesota is no exception to this rule. What do these new John the Baptists want to do? They can't blame the old guard. Minnesota has been under the domination of Stassen and Harold certainly received in the jar in the late unpleasantness that should sink in. A few short months ago he was purging the party urging the eradication of congressman O'Hara in the second and the election of Berlin in the 8th district. What happened? O'Hara won out by 40,000 votes and Berlin was beaten by 50,000 votes. The old guard in Minnesota, Mike, Julius, and Burnquist, came back as usual to hold the republican party together: pretty good men to have in the backfield in any political game. ---
   The Methodists had a fine crowd at their bazaar and supper last Saturday evening and the ladies added a goodly sum to their treasury. Everyone seemed to be there and there were good sized groups from the Catholic, Lutheran and Presbyterian churches which gave the even a community background which all these gatherings should be in the small villages. If Duncan Hines had been there he would have said the oyster stew was superb. It was the old-fashioned kind, plenty of oysters and butter: both filling and satisfying. ---
   No one could have beaten Truman this time, not even his own party. The cards were stacked for him. The farmers were enjoying their greatest prosperity and most of them were saying, "Why should we change?" Laboring men out here in the sticks were getting from $10 to $15 a day and they said, "Let's hold to what we've got." The small businessmen are enjoying their best years, at least you never hear of a failure any more. Liquor men are selling more liquor and at a higher price and the licenses are paying off the debts in many a Minnesota town. Fewer oil stations are closing, machinery men are doing right well, and auto dealers are not reserving any rooms in the poorhouse, and so it does in every line of endeavor. Ask the people and the answer is invariably, "Why change, why kill Santa Claus?" ---
   All is not gold that glitters: heard the other day that some purchasers of those high-priced autos could not make their payments; keeping up with the Joneses has already become a luxury. ---
   The republicans are not the only ones to eat crow. In congress a negro will head one of the most important committees and on that same committee are many negro haters from the solid South. How will they act? ---
   People are funny. Take Wallace, for instance. No man did more for agriculture than he. He called the attention of the nation to the need for farm control when he started the little hog kill. He followed up with the AAA and then the ever-normal granary plan. No man in your time did as much for agriculture as Mr. Wallace; yet if your name would have been on the ballot you would have received as many votes. ---
   From the Slayton Greenhouse last Monday came a box of American Beauty roses by special delivery. On the card was, "To the Scotchman that eats his words." Thanks a million. Roses have lots more beauty and sweeter fragrance before one's number is called. ---
   The republican party should not be a nagging party in the next congress. We are going to need the full strength of the U.S. welded together, perhaps all too soon. ---
   Isn't it about time that the State Safety First Committee should recognize the many accidents occurring the corn fields in southern Minnesota each year. For the few days it is the field the corn picker causes more injuries than the automobiles. ---
   The first snow of the season for this section arrived here on the afternoon of November 7th. Last year the first snowfall occurred on Thursday, November 6th. ---
   Jeffers voted $8,000 in bonds for a new well. From the looks of things every bond issue in this section of the state carried. ---
   To the man who contributed or rather who made the apparent prosperity in this country, you would not give a dime: his name is Adolph Hitler, and then there's that backlog of two hundred and fifty billion in bonds. Who ever thinks of the backlogs these days: on with the dance, the future will care for itself.    These items were crowded out last week. We put them on the back of the stove until Tuesday. ---
   Had a nice visit with Joe Amundson last Saturday. Joe who is an old timer in western Murray county came here in 1891. He has been a patient at the Home hospital for the last six months suffering from a heart ailment. He had a fine birthday party one day last week, "Had an angel food cake and lots of cards." He also wished me to thank the folks who had sent him cards and letters, and to those who had called on him. If you get a chance drop in and seem, you Lake Wilson folks. He started to tell me of his ailments. We countered with ours, adding that we were just like an old Ford, creaking at every joint. Joe wryly added, "And an old Model 'T', at that." ---
   Saw by Herald that Leslie Weld had passed away. Leslie was the oldest son of the late B. I. Weld of Slayton and was one of the very first to volunteer in World War II. He was a very popular young man and has a large circle of friends throughout the county who regret his untimely death. ---
   Got a new way to cook pheasant the other day and it came from the oldest trapper and hunter in this section, Charley Aspeline who lives in the Bear Lake timber and is happy with his cows and chickens. Charley says, "Put a lot of butter (he has cows) in the skillet, then put about a tablespoon of fine chopped onion in it until it browns, dip your pieces of pheasant in milk, then in corn meal, then gently brown. After browning put a cup of cream on top and set back on the wood stove until "done." Charley has killed more muskrats in this section than any other man living: sold some of them for 3 cents. ---
   At the Community Day last week among the attractions was a miniature railroad train made in the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe shops. It was complete in every detail, burned coal, etc., carried passengers which were not confined to kids. John Tutt who rode it said, "That was the first train ride I've had in thirty years." He also added that he has his first bus to ride in. ---
   Stop, Look, and Listen, you males. Last week the wife of an editor in West St. Paul carved her husband up so that he died that same night. The coroner's jury said she was a much abused woman and pushed her out into the world again. In St. Paul a woman evidently tiring of her unlawful love mate stabbed him in the neck with a knife and he went over the hill in a short time. That woman should go to Mexico and get a job as a bull fighter. A Seattle woman last week shot her husband twice and when he was down in self-defense she grabbed a cleaver and split his head in two. No wonder there are more females in the U.S. than males.
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November 18, 1948

   The dry spell during the early fall months brought some of the prairie lakes to a dangerous low level for fish life and many a lake including Lake Wilson will no doubt be open to the taking of fish in any manner during the winter months via the use of hook and line and spear. ---
   The pollsters, some of whom suffered severe financial loss by getting too far out on a limb are trying in every way to explain just why they were wrong. They said that Johnny Q. stayed at home or that he had to take care of the kids while Mama went to bridge club. They have more excuses than a dog has fleas. When the hit the jackpot they got round-shouldered carrying the medals they had pinned on themselves. The medals are on the other shoulder and they will be the recipients of sneers for a generation. ---
   Over in Wisconsin conservation authorities are trying to get the legislature to pass a law whereby game and fish violators can be sentenced to jail. Aren't we going a little too far on game and fish law violators in these days? Hunters get a heavier fine for shooting a duck a half hour before time to shoot than they would for shooting up a town. For having a hen pheasant in their possession he is fined heavier than he would have been had he jumped an enemy and disfigured and pounded the life out of him. We all believe in conservation but let's keep it sensible. ---
   Brought up the bonus question to four service men. The four said that the sales tax would be the best way to raise the money. They dreaded the bonds; one said they felt that bonds were a sort of a mortgage on their property. ---
   Some of the wise ones are saying that Russia is not prepared for war: could be but she acts like a kid spoiling for a fight with his pockets full of good round throwing stones. ---
   The west spends time and money on the top shots in the east over the recent election. They blame the pollsters, newspapers, financial leaders, correspondents, etc. We should not blame anybody except ourselves. We followed blindly, never did a bit of thinking or even a bit of questioning for ourselves: we took everything for granted and should have nothing to say. ---
   About the first thing congress will do is the repeal of the federal tax on oleo. A bill has already been prepared by Senator Fulbright: not particularly good news for the dairy farmers in Minnesota and Wisconsin. ---
   A recent report by Herbert Hoover says there should be a revamping of the postal department in an effort to cut down the yearly deficit which amounts to $3,000,000,000 and over yearly. Why not cut out the practice of the department printing stamped envelopes at a loss? Give this work back to the printers where it rightfully belongs. It would be a start in the right direction. ---
   No wonder mink coats were high last year. John Trapp of Avoca, well known trapper and fur buyer, was telling us that he paid as high as $67 for mink last season. This year he says fur conditions in this section are the worst for years, in fact the worst he has ever seen. Mink that have been plentiful the last three or four years have never been as scarce as they are this season or the quality is poor. The outlook for muskrats is even worse. Not for many years have muskrat houses been as scarce as they are this fall. There is still no settled prices on fur and buyers and sellers are just finding their way around. Next year if you want a mink coat it won't cost you as much money. There was a large carry over last year and the storage houses are full. ---
   Murray county as well as Slayton is to be congratulated on the "New Murray" theater. The new house is modern in every respect. While a modern touch is noticeable in the decorations it is not garish like so many show houses. The seats are roomy and comfortable, the sound outfit is perfect and the acoustics are satisfactory even to those whose hearing is slowing up a little. A "Milk Bar" is part of the equipment of the theater and it seems to enjoy a good patronage. The lobby is wide and roomy. In fact, besides being the best in the county it is big enough and good enough for a town three times the size of Slayton. Oh yes, if Princess Elizabeth comes over this summer she can take the young prince into the "crying room" and both the mother and the audience will be able to enjoy the show. Congratulations to Buck Roundhorst. ---
   Are we going to continue on our regular routine foreign policy with China: too little and too late. ---
   One of the real sensible things in the Hoover report is that postmasters should be appointed for life. Splendid idea, one that should have been in force years ago. These hapless officials have been milked by democrats and republicans alike. They were supposed to hustle for the party and then pay for the privilege out of their meager salary. The postal department has been and doubt is now in the same position as Congressman Thomas is today, both guilty of a form of petty larceny. By the way why didn't Mr. Hoover put his ideas into law when he was president? ---
   One of the busy farmers in this section is Simon Van der Lee. Simon milks 41 high grad Holstein cows day and night and the care of that many livestock keeps him on a steady grind. Of course milking cows in these days is not always a losing proposition. His milk check is over $800 a month during the months when both butter fat and the cows were jumping over the moon; his check ran as high as $1,100 a month. Simon sells the milk and buys his own butter. The milk goes to Sioux Falls in tanks. He says it keeps him fully occupied and has had to give up most of the farm work. But perhaps one of the most important features of dairying is that Mr. Van der Lee will not need to worry about soil conservation on his farm. ---
   Have you noticed the different trend since election? In the east the stock marketers lost over $40,000,000,000 in an attack of the gitters. Out here in the west Doug Weld who handles a lot of Murray county soil during the year tells us that he sold more farms during the two days following election than he did the three months before. "East is East and West is West and Never the Twain Shall Meet."
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November 25, 1948

   The lack of warnings from the weather department foretelling the recent storm would indicate that the recent election upset has stopped even the weather man from predicting. ---
   The Grange, the oldest farm organization in the U.S. has joined with labor in the movement for the repeal of the federal taxes on oleo. The Grange wants some legislation so that butter can be distinguished from oleo: first thing you know labor will ask that it frees itself from all coloring matter. ---
   The government intrusion into the sales of autos means that there will be a cut in auto prices. While the investigating committee is at work they should pry into the collusion between the auto manufacturers and the salesmen. It is evident that the manufacturers have never made any attempt to stop these growing prices and the same can be said for the manufacturers of farm machinery. ---
   The so-called war is more of a financial war than anything else. The trouble in Berlin started when the U.S. started its bank there. Some commonsense statesman should propose a joint bank in Berlin backed by the four powers. As yet neither the U.S., Britain or France have ever proposed a joint bank and a lot of folks are beginning to wonder if big business is not at the bottom of our trouble. ---
   The many coupons distributed by the manufacturing concerns would indicate a lower trend in some lines of business. The 2 for 1 sales while supposed to be advertising means a substantial reduction to the consumer. Among the lines that tumbled last month was the Personna shaving blades. Hereto these blades said to be the tops in the shaving market sold at 10 cents each now they are being sold at 5 cents: an admission that they are trying to get rid of the high priced goods at a real reduction. ---
   The entire school is in high gear these days. They're all getting ready from Supt. Sundell down to the newest six year old, for the 2nd annual school carnival on December 2nd and everyone in town is supposed to do their bit in helping the kids raise $1,500. Kids are using every ounce of their brains to raise the amount. They all have some scheme for making money. One plan has been overlooked: the youngsters could make quite a neat sum towards the fund if they only try and get jobs for getting the snow from many a sidewalk. This would have a three fold purpose, improve the looks, make walking easier, and would give those basketball players just the exercise they need. Do what you can to help the kids along. ---
   Every week brings notice that influential daily newspapers have cancelled the Gallup poll column: losers whether in sport, politics or poll taking have about as much standing as a bewhiskered gentleman at a ladies aid meeting. ---
   While the deer hunter tramps the woods during the deer hunting season with their coats and caps of red did it ever occur to you that the precaution does not fully insure the hunter against accident: some of the hunters no doubt are color blind and like most amateur hunters shoot at anything that moves. ---
   A couple of Austin grocers are charged with selling groceries below cost: farmers did that for years and years but we never heard of any of them getting arrested. ---
   Halsey Hall who broadcasts the football games each Saturday afternoon asked his listeners last Saturday to write and thank the sponsors, the Standard Oil Company for the broadcasts, so in behalf of the Lake Wilson fans who wanted to but never intended to write, this column extends not only to the oil company but to the staff who worked at the games. But Halsey get a new pair of specs, quite often you had the ball on the twenty yard line when it was on the thirty: pull the hesitation stop until you're sure, as you are as liable to go off half cocked as any one else. Thanks anyway for the broadcasts. ---
   The heavy snow last week sounded the death knell to many a fish in Murray County. The lakes are extremely low and it was hoped that a decent winter would help sustain fish life. The snow coming so early dampened those hopes and we anticipate that every lake in the county will be open this winter both for hook and line and spear fishing. ---
   The heavy snowfall, up to nine inches some folks say, balled up the streets but three members of the council were right on the ball. Fraser, Don Johnson and Joe Reha were there with snow removing machinery to clean up all the streets and their prompt action was highly appreciated by the tax payers. ---
   Don't worry about the Truman administration. Candidate men are a lot different than elected men. Few men get as radical as their most ardent followers would like. Responsibility brings heavy burdens, but don't think the country is going to the dogs just because he got elected. ---
   Now is the time for Lake Wilson to start hustling for that Christmas business. The old saying, "if a man makes a better mouse trap, the world will make a beaten path to his door" is out. Lake Wilson is not manufacturing mouse traps but it does have a lot of energetic business men that have large complete lines of merchandise and the prices are always right: that's what makes us keep on growing.
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December 2, 1948

   The passing of John L. Sayer in Minneapolis a short time ago closed the book on one of our interesting and eccentric characters. Sad to relate not a friend from here, where he lived for over thirty years and it is doubtful if any relatives were present at the last scant rites.    A sad ending, but typical of an ever changing world in which humanity means but little unless it is publicized either state or nation wide. In his day John was an honored and respected citizen of Hull, Iowa. He was postmaster, editor and lumberman and was an influential man in his county. He moved to Murray county over thirty years ago, settling on a farm in Leeds township and after living there for several years moved to Lake Wilson where he opened a general merchandise store. His wife passed away and since that time John has been a waif in the economic and social world. He lost all he had, with the exception of his will and while he lived for a while in cellars and hovels he would come out jauntily in the spring reminding one of Mr. Macawber in David Copperfield, "Always waiting for something to turn up." He was kind to the kids and courteous to the fair sex. He was obsessed with the law and politics and never was prouder than when he was elected justice of the peace. Queer duck he was. We remember one year when he asked us, "Why don't you ever assess me?" All he had was some old books of law that he had picked up and were worthless. He wanted to assess them for $200. Not a bad man morally. He did no harm to anyone and had his personal and culinary habits been as good as his morals, he would have stood better, with a lot of the folks. He was taken several times to boarding homes but always managed to get back "home" to Lake Wilson.    Seems that in a country that spends billions of dollars abroad it could afford to erect an old folks home in each county, where derelicts could find a haven of rest, peace and companionship. They gave their best for the country in their feeble way and should be spared the ignominy of spending their last years in bitterness and humility. Peace be to the ashes of John L. Sayer. ---
   Every air disaster is followed with a lot of investigations: more lives might be saved if the investigations were made before the accident. ---
   These severe winter storms with drifted roads, brings back the thought that every school bus should be equipped with a walkie-talkie radio. It would save mothers a lot of worry and perhaps lives of children, should the bus be overtaken and stuck in a snow drift. The walkie-talkie radio could be tuned to the central office and the news broadcast throughout the country served by the school bus. Help could than be secured promptly. ---
   Worthington high school boys are again in the limelight. This time they are accused of destroying over $200 worth of property in a vacant building where they held their "club." If some those kids don't watch out they'll be doing time in St. Cloud. There's even an end to what money and influence can do. Some Worthington folks are throwing slurs at the new Youth Center here. Put the blame squarely where it belongs: to the fathers and mothers who brought the kids into this world. ---
   "Saw an article from the Pilot in the Minneapolis Sunday Tribune last week and the name of the Pilot brought back memories of Lake Wilson," so started a letter we received from Maui, one of the smaller islands in the Hawaiian group. It was from Miss Janet Spaulding who taught school here a number of years ago. "I have traveled a long road since I left Lake Wilson. After a share of the mainland I cam to the island over a year ago. We've all heard of its paradise and that is what it is. Words can't tell you of its enchanting beauty, charm, strange customs and languages of the possible 49th state. Most of the pupils are of many racial backgrounds. Some are Chinese, Filipinos, Hawaiians and a few white. Quite an experience I assure you. Am looking forward to a visit back home next year. Give greetings to the Lake Wilson folks who remember me and to my former pupils and the teachers with whom I taught. (Ed. Hamren who is still teaching here was on the staff with Miss Spaulding.) Sincerely, Miss Janet J. Spaulding, Lahainaluna, Maui, T.H. ---
   Edgar Hornby died at his home at Frandeea last week. To the old timers few men were held in higher esteem. He "traveled" this section in the early days for a Pipestone grocery house. But he was better known as a baseball fan. He never missed a Lake Wilson Farmers Day nor a Murray county fair in the days when baseball was the main event. Kindly, courteous and gentlemanly he made many friends in the old days and only a few remain to say, "There passed a real guy."
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December 9, 1948 [first part missing]

   Cedric Adams in a recent item said that a cup of lemon juice contains as many calories as a slice of bread. Can't get it. What kind of calories does he mean? According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, bread has 1,186 calories and lemon 123 calories in a pound. Top calory givers are margarine and butter with 3,327 each. Next comes medium fat sliced bacon with 2,840 calories, then comes peanut butter and then unsweetened chocolate. These four are the top energy givers. Lowest in calory giving are cabbage with 93 energy giving calories. Oatmeal according to the department has more than beefsteak. Cheese also has more energy giving calories than beefsteak. So you see you can be just as healthy with cheap food as you can be with sirloins, etc. But who would want to live on oatmeal, cheese, margarine and such common foods? ---
   The best gift we can give China is to send over a couple of atomic bombs. ---
   Reading of the visits of the old man with the scythe to elderly men who shovel snow, Don Nash and Corbin Packard came up and removed about 12 tons of wet snow from our yard. A good deed but don't think you're entitled to a Carnegie medal for saving the life of an old man. ---
   Worst story of the recent storm comes from the Lake Benton News. A Lake Benton business man was hurrying home late on the Thursday afternoon ahead of the storm. He saw on the road ahead of him three small children, fighting their way home through the storm. Weather conditions looked bad and he stopped and picked up the little ones. On getting to the driveway of the farm home he stopped again. Snow was drifting badly and the kids might have had a hard time getting to the house, so he turned into the driveway and made the house, landing the children safe and sound but he got stuck in a drift. The father of the kids was induced to get his tractor and get the car of the drift. He pulled the car out when the Lake Bentonite asked him. "How much?" he said. "Four dollars!" The business man paid it but on the way home bucking the drifts and trying to stay on the highway no doubt he found a little time to dwell on the frailties of human nature. ---
   Another line of business that was opened up by Wm. Steffes of Iona is proving a success in Lake Wilson. Steffes opened a livestock buying agency in an office at the stock yards and is kept busy most of the time buying livestock but mostly hogs. He has built up a good business and enjoys the confidence of the farmers. Up to date he has handled over 8,000 hogs which shows that farmers find it to their advantage to sell in Lake Wilson. ---
   Another chapter in the Bear Lake ditch history was closed last week when the county commissioners made final acceptance of the job which by the way was one of the cheapest in years, total cost for the clean out was around $40,000. The clean up revealed several shocking discrepancies in the original ditch. In some places the ditch had never come within five feet of the original plans of thirty years ago. Allison Bros. of Ottawa, Iowa did the work.
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December 16, 1948

   When a man or woman approaches the hundredth anniversary of their birth, there is generally some interest in the locality where they live: parties are given and celebrations are held in their honor. Next year, Minnesota, your land: the land where your parents lie and where perhaps some of your children started on the long journey, will mark the hundredth anniversary of its birth. This is your land, the land on which you have prospered and whose inhabitants enjoy the greatest luxuries ever known by any people. In no land has God greater blessings, yet are we mindful of the past of our great state of Minnesota. Evidently Murray County is not. Every county in this section of the state has a historical society and these are busy arranging programs to commemorate the hundredth birthday of Minnesota. Has the history and romance of Murray County followed the buffalo and passenger pigeon into oblivion? Public spirited citizens and organizations in the county should endeavor to organize a historical society as soon as possible so we can join with the other counties in paying our tribute to the gallant men and women who a hundred years ago pioneered there way, into what then was a wilderness and laid the foundation for the privileges we no enjoy. ---
      We'd like to see the government send MacArthur a couple of billion dollars and tell him to start building up a Japanese army that some day would become the real keystone for defense against Communism in the east. Japs always seemed to do well in their bouts with Nationalist Chinese armies: they would do better against the Reds. ---
   Don't send that Christmas gift that you have wrapped up so carefully in gay tinsel, gaudily colored ribbon and bright colored prints unless the Christmas spirit is wrapped up in your heart as well -- in the gift. Too many packages have lost the Christmas thought and are given in the spirit of formality. ---
   Twasn't so much the humiliation of losing the basketball game to Slayton a week or so ago, it was the lack of both seating and standing room for the spectators that galled the home folks. Every inch of space in the gym was taken and over a hundred had to be turned away. Athletics have become a very important part of our school system and while a lot of we oldsters with memories going back fifty years or more think it is all a lot of folderol, they are here to stay, as they really do encourage and stimulate the work in the schools. We should all get behind a movement that will give us better gymnasium facilities. The building could be used for any public gathering or any organization. The town sorely needs it as we have no place suitable for entertainments, shows or gatherings. It will take some time to get results so let's get going now and let's quit worrying about the taxes, let the coming generation worry about that, they seem to be willing. Just as farming has changed from the walking plow days to motorization so has there been a change in our school system. By the way we have lived in the county for over sixty years and we can't remember of any monument being erected to any one for saving taxes or trying to halt progress. ---
   The St. Paul woman who stabbed and killed her love got twenty years. Another St. Paul woman who stabbed her husband to death was set free: and as Abe Stebel used to say, "and you call this a government." Some day there should be a closed season on husbands. ---
   Culture and polish is being brought to this section by a series of entertainments held at Pipestone. The first show went over pretty good and some that came to scoff remained to praise. The last number however did not go over so good. It was a cello program and while the artist was a finished performer one guy from here said it got pretty monotonous sitting for two hours listening to only a "bull fiddle." No matter how hard you try there is always some one that is out of step. ---
   Theo. Christensen, one of the most vigorous governors in the history of Minnesota, died last week at Dawson. He was a leader among men and many of the progressive laws now on the statutes in Minnesota were placed there through his impressiveness and ability. ---
   A great how-de-doo is being made over lobbyists these days and a former congressman has been indicted because he lobbied without registration. A lobbyist is a person who tries to influence votes. What about Truman and Dewey last fall?
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December 23, 1948

   Life, one of the popular magazines, looked more like a Distillers Guide last week than a family magazine. It had thirteen full pages of whisky ads and a bunch of beer and wine ads. Just about the wettest national magazine we have seen: it almost took hip boots to read it. ---
   Folks who are nearing the end of the journey are realizing with gratefulness the part Congressman Harold Knutson played in reframing the new income tax law. Couples that are over 65 are now allowed exemptions amount to $1,800: just another of the advantages of being old. ---
   Years ago the wife of one of our well-to-do merchants went to Rochester for an operation. She wore her oldest dress and petticoats that were patched and frayed. Somehow the act didn't work. When she got her bill she found out the clinic folks were in the habit of reading a book called Dunn & Bradstreet. Mrs. Chiang Kai-Shek tried the same stunt on President Truman last week. She wore a last year's coat, told the last year's story and even left off the lipstick. She also lost out. Mr. Truman had been reading a book that said that the American arms and ammunition somehow found their way into the Communist camps and the money only made the few rich men in China richer. ---
   We've been doing things all wrong again. Experts now tell us that the proper time to smoke that restful pipe is before a meal and not after. Your stomach should go to the food fray calm and resigned and not in a mad gulping rush. While on the food question isn't it time to have an ordinance passed changing the serving of the Christmas dinner and other big dinners. At a dinner table crowded with folks and viands you start stuffing yourself. You're supposed to eat a portion of everything that's passed to you; if you don't the hostess gives you a funny look. After you've loaded yourself to the Plimsoll line, out comes the dessert: generally the richest part of the meal and you don't dare turn it down. We suggest that pumpkin pie with whipped cream, the mince pie and plum puddin' be served first, then one could adjust their stomach sights accordingly. There's a lot of pleasure in eating but one should not get overloaded and then sit several hours in a torpid state. At that, it's better than overdrinking: never heard of a man killing his wife after eating a hearty meal. ---
   Most of us in the country think that city folks never cared much for the ruralities. We'll admit that we thought they were stony eyed and when you get into a street car you often thought there was more friendliness in a car of livestock. Last fall we sorta changed our idea. When in Minneapolis we had occasion to go to the First National Bank. The hotel porter told us where to go. When we got there, there was no bank. We asked a kid if he knew where the bank was. A lady heard me and said, "The bank is on the second floor." We walked in, and she was right behind me and said, "This is the elevator you take." Next forenoon we asked a colored lad if he could direct me to the Star-Trib. building. He did, but I had not gone ten steps before there was a tug at my elbow and a man about our age said, "Pardon me, but that young man was wrong," and he gave me the right directions. Before we left for home we visited one of the big variety stores. It was Hallowe'en days and there was a crowd. We picked out some little stuff and walked over to the place where the clerk was supposed to be. We waited and waited and crowd around the counter grew. The girl finally drifted in an started waiting on a customer across the way. A matron standing beside me said sharply, "This gentleman (that was me) has been waiting here the longest." It got results. There's a lot of the milk of human kindness left in Minneapolis. We'll remember those three kindly gestures long after the big white ways, the bustle, the crowds and the tall buildings are forgotten. ---
   The fine work done by the business men of Lake Wilson in putting up the Christmas decorations and lights on the streets brought back to the Roamer the days of the "Farmers' Days" when all would work the village and none for fame or gain. The present group of business men are the best bunch of village boosters and workers since the days when even the women would get out on the baseball diamond with hoes and rakes to get the diamond in shape for the coming game. ---
   If you go anywhere on Christmas Day, drive carefully. Don't turn a day of gladness into a day of sorrow. ---
   Every girl in the state has an opportunity to become queen of Minnesota and reign over all the doings of the Centennial program next year. Remember girls, the day of the girl with the good looking legs, or a pretty face and an empty head is gone. In the contests of today you must have charm, poise, intelligence and a smile. ---
   This is the season of the year when the air and the mails are full of collectors for charities. Some of these are worthwhile but the cost of a dollar gets up as high as 60 cents. Minnesota has a lower average. The large cities raise a community fund each year. Only one drive is made and proceeds divided among the charities. Why can't we do the same thing in Murray County? ---
   Noticed that the Honeywell company has just received a contract for gadgets for airplanes and the Continental company has a big contract for new engines for tanks. Not a bad idea. Teddy Roosevelt's pet saying was, "Talk softly and carry a big stick." ---
   Some of the stores that have "Serve Yourself" and "Help Yourself" signs have customers that take the signs too literally. Some customers forget to stop at the counters after they have helped themselves. ---
   Too bad that we can't have the Christmas spirit spread out a little. It's too thick in December and too thin during the rest of the year. ---
   A Madison, Wisconsin political correspondent writes, "You can't buy elections with money any more." You're right, brother. Even this dark feature in elections has gone modern: but it's there just the same. ---
   Pin an orchid on the U.S. Government. At long last the North Dakota Indians are being given all the surplus potatoes they need. We notice that Canada shipped into the U.S. over two million bushels of certified potatoes and 1,500,000 bushels of table potatoes this year and that the U.S. Government bough 1,500,000 bushels of surplus potatoes in the Red River Valley--don't get it.
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December 30, 1948

   We get an attack of nostalgia (that's a $2.00 word for looking backward) every time we see on the fancy modern Diesel trains. They go a-squirming along like a big yellow angle worm with a meek fog horn whistle. In the old days there was no grander spectacle than the big heavy snow plow pushed by a couple of engines. Thick heavy black smoke belching from the stack, steam a popping from the safety valve, a bell you could hear and a whistle that brought real thrills. After a heavy snowfall and the railroad had been blocked for several days we used to watch for the big snow plow. We could watch them for miles. Watch them take off for the big drifts, then the slow down and the smoke would go straight up: we knew then that they were stuck. They kept on bucking the snow and when the plow finally arrived in town everybody was down to the depot to see it come in covered with snow and the engines with their windows battened up with boards. When the smoke and the coal and the powerful whistle was cut out of railroading, the romance went with it. ---
   "Saw where one oil station attendant said that it took more time to take care of the rest stations than it did to take care of the pumps," we heard an oil man say the other day. He added, "That ain't the half of it. The public asks for clean rest rooms and they do their best to keep them dirty." Men supposed to be a mild type of pig are bad enough, but women are dirtier than the men. When they leave a rest room they leave a mess and one often wonders what kind of a bath room they have at home. You wouldn't believe the story he told. For a finisher he said, "When a woman leaves our rest room, we move right in and clean up, so the next woman guest that comes along won't holler about dirty rest rooms." Looks as if Emily Post should get out a new set of rules. ---
   There should be no criticism on raising the president's salary: any man that can pitch as good a game as he did last November is entitled to a raise. ---
   There's a strong sentiment in this section favoring an increase both in auto licenses and gas tax, provided it is used to aid neglected state highways. ---
   Hear "Home, Sweet Home" on the radio one night for the first time in years. Home is a forgotten place in this day and age: sort of a restaurant and sleeping place and inhabited nights by baby sitters. ---
   You may not subscribe for Look, Life, Saturday Evening Post, Better Homes and Gardens but you're paying for them just the same. Last year the post office department went into the red on every class of mail with the exception of letter mail, the three cent variety; the rest went into the hole. On the class that the above magazine monstrosities belong to, the loss on handling the things was$207,000,000, so you see you are paying the postage for the guys who take the magazine. If Congress has time to get away from the smell of Red Herring it should see that all classes of postage with the exception of first class are raised so that they can honestly pay their way. ---
   From the way criminals have been on probation the last few years looks as if that place ought to be filled up by this time: about the only crime you can't be put on probation for is shooting a pheasant. ---
   Looks as if the Dutch got in Dutch last week.
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   Legislators are wiping their furrowed brows these days over coming legislation in Minnesota. Legislatures have been raising salaries and making more appropriations each year and now they're faced with a tax raise. Why not, everything has been raised, why not taxes. Everybody dislikes a raise in taxes but they're all expecting it. ---
   The fine winter weather continues and we have had one of the finest in our memory. Only three bad days: we all have bad days.
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   The U.N. seems to be slower in getting started than a glacier. ---
   The Roamer wishes that you enjoy a healthy year in 1949.
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