The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1875-01-28
INVESTIGATION
MANDED.

A~A~
MANDED. i
Various rumors have been in circu-
lation during the past week relative
to attempts made by Senator Ramsey
and his friends tosecure votes through
the use Of improper means. These re-
ports assumed a responsible form on
Tuesday, when in joint convention of
the Legislature, Representative In
gerson, of Hennepin county. stated
that, on Wednesday evening last, a
bride of $500 to vote for Senator
Ramsey was offered him in the Bill
lard Hall ofthe Metropolitan Hotel,
and the offer was subsequently re-
peated in the street the same evening,
by Major Dixie, Of Faribault, a lobby
ist Of Senator Ramsey's.
Representative Gaskill, of Olmstsd
county, on the same day made state
ment of which the following is the
substance, rs reported by the St.
Paul Press: II was in the Metro
politan Hotel, when gentleman who
had previously been introduced to me
as Judge Crowell, invited me to call
At Room Is. I was there introduced
to Senator Ramsey by Judge Crowell,
who left the room, leaving myself and
Mr.. Ramsey alone. He then stated
to mo that be was candidate for re-
election to the United States Senate,
that it was more at the solicitation of
bis friends than from his
own personal inclinations, but
now that he had started out, hs
did not want to be defeated. He said
he wanted my vote. He told me to
speak freely what desired, and that
| whatever was said or done would be
kept secret and locked in his own
breast. I told him had no political
purpose to serve that 1 believed tho
people Of Olmsted county preferred
G. K. DAVIS for Senator, and that l
should cast my vots for him, and
should be willing to wait their judy
ment."
In the case Of Mr.. Ingerson, an
affidavit is made by Major Dixie that
when he said he "would give $500 if
Ramsey was elected" he didn' tmeanit
as bride, and Gen. LIE Due (another
lobbyist of Senator Ramsey's) testi-
fes to the effect that an offer of this
kind, made in his presence, he did
not understand to be serious. But, it
is evident from explanations made by
Mr.. Ingerson that when Major Dixie
made the direct offer there was no
third party present. Representative
Ingerson sustains an enviable reputa-
ton in Hennepin county and the
most implicit confidence is placed in
his statements. His abuse by the
Press will not clear Senator Ramsey.
Only the fullest investigation can do
this, and he and his friends should
insist upon immediate action on the
part of the Legislature to go to the
root of thi. charge.
The attempt Of the Press to escape
the force of Mr.. Gaskill's charge by
declaring it 'little puff of innocuous
imbecility'' and by ridiculing Mr..
Gaskill will scarcely prove successful
with intelligent people. Senator
Ramsey, it says, admits to the use of
general language" Of a certain sort
"the mere offer of friendly service by
candidate in case he should be elect
ed" Mr.. Gaskill's statement en-
bodies good deal more than this.
Senator Ramsey's request that this
Representative should "speak freely
what he desired" was a "feeler."
The Senator is not such a blunderer
as to come out with a point-blank,
explicit offer of SO many dollars in re-
turn for members vote; but in case
! Mr.. Gaskill had proved to be as pur-
chasable as was evidently expected
when Judge Crowell suavely invited
him to walk into the parlor of the
Senatorial spider, who doubts that the
number of the supporters of Alex
ander Ramsey would have been in
creased by the addition of one from
Olmsted county?
Pooh-poohing will not answer.
These charges are too serious. SEN
| ator Ramsey should demand an in
vestigation, and if he does not, it
should be at once accorded him.
P. SAT the request of Mr.. In
gerson, Committee of Investigation
was appointed yesterday.
A SIDE.SPLITTING JOKE.