The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-09-30
THE WEEKLY PIONEER, AND DEMOCRAT.

| Twas very much disappointed at the rates
with me that the rate was too low, but he also
at once expressed the opinion that the bid
| should be awarded to 81. A. johnson u Co.,
their bid being the highest for the whole loan.
| disagreed with him, and told him that my
determination was fixed, to throw up all the
were entirely too low. / felt that 6 or per
cent. premium should have been obtained.
This difference between Baker ard myself led
to protracted discussion between us--the point
of difference being, whether under our adver-
tisement, we were bound to award to the high
est bidder. $50.
A convenient third party was called in,
who sided with BAKER, and the loan was
awarded to H. A. JHoNsToN & Go. BAK.
Frs obstinacy in insisting upon an award
so ruinous to the State is explained by the
$4,000 grease
On page $50 Of the testimony, CHARLES
STETsoN, President of the Ohio Life and
Trust Company, states that BAKER was
written to on the subject of the $4,000
''grease," and that he "made no reply"
This is sufficient answer to the statement
made by BAKER the other night, at Mime
apolis, that he had paid the note for $4,000
all but $500. BAKER knew he lied when
he said so.
One of the most convincing proofs of
BAKERS knavery, however, is to be found
TO the following extract from Judge MAT
THEws testimony
Ludlow also gave me an account of the cir.
cumstances of an interview which had taken
place at his house the evening previous to the
opening of the bids, at which he said, himself,
H. A. johnson, F. NJ. Wright, and J. H. Baker
were present. He said that he had invited these
gentlemen to dine at his house at seven o'clock,
but that Atwood who had been logging the
fund commissioners about the loan, had got
hold of them in the afternoon, and they could
not get away from him, till finally they told
Atwood they had an engagement up town and
must go; when Atwood, to their surprise, in.
sisted on going with them. The hour had long
since passed for dinner when the doorbell rang,
and he ludlow opened it himself, and found
the three there: ca that he let Wright and
Baker in, and slammed the door lin Atwooos
face. The next morning, the bids having been
opened and the loan awarded to H. A. John.
son & Co., Atwood, and Wright, and Baker.
were in the Trust Company Office in converse
ton, when H. A. johnson came in and was
about to pass them without recognition. At
wood turned to Johnson with an appearance of
surprise, and asked him if he was not acquain.
ted with Mr.. Wright, and Baker, the fund com.
missioners of Ohio, who had just awarded to
him the Ohio loan. ga Mr.. johnson then ad-
vanced and was formally introduced to Messrs.
Wright and Baker. Ludlow told me nothing
of what had taken place by conversation or
otherwise, on the previous evening at his house;
hot Po1y md
self were present, and he laughed heartily at
the selfpOssessiOn with which Wright and
Baker permitted themselves to be introduced
to gentleman with whom they had passed the
previous evening""
1t was at this interview that the whole
matter in regard to the award of the loan,
and BAKERS interest in the profits of it, and
the $4,000 preliminary grease were de-
termined upon. Having thus spent an
evening with JOHNSTON, the next morning the
loan was awarded to him at loss to the
State of Ohio of 1872, 900, and gain to Mr..
BAKER Of several thousands. But appear
ances must be guarded. 1t would not do
for the fact to be known that BAKER and
JOHNSON were acquainted prior to the
award. So the next morning, Messrs BA-
KER and WRIGHT were in the Trust Com
pany's office, and Mr.. JOHNSON entered and
was formally introduced. The scene was
laughable. The facetious LUDLOW "laughed
heartily at the selfpossession with which
WRIGHT and BAKER permitted themselves
to be introduced to gentleman with whom
they had passed the evening previous" The
reason for the introduction is obvious.
MIR. REEMEL1S, in the report, of which he
assumes the authorship and responsibility,
says BAKER was regarded as venal and
corrupt by all with whom he came in con-
tact y that he was put down on the list"
by the Wall street sharpers, with GIBSON,
the great defaulter, as corrupt )" that
g BAKER had sold himself to LUDLOW :"
and that BAKER received the whole
$4,000, and that be alone made the bar
gain with LUDLOW for contingent profits out
of the loan" We could pile testimony upon
Observation-Disclosures upon afidavits, to
show BAKERS guilt. But it is unnecessary.
His weak defence has been shattered by the
authority he invoked himself, and Mr.. Rec
MEL1Ns letter is conclusive as to the investi-
cation being unjustly conducted by BAKERS
political enemies. To escape the odium of
bribery and perjury, BAKER has involved
himself in maze of lies. which would serve
the useful purpose Traditional testimony to
fasten upon him the guilt of high crimes, if
anything further was necessary.
1t is unnecessary we should refer to the
personal villifcation of the editors of this
paper, by BAKER, on Thursday evening.
"No rogue e'er felt the halter draw,
With good opinion of the law
AS to his talk about bowie knives and re-
volvers, it is all fudge. No man who uses
such weapons, boasts of so doing. BAKERS
boasts, therefore, convince US that he is not
only perjured scoundrel, but a miserable
poltroon.