Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-10-31
wATONWAN COUNTY POLITICS.
The Contest for the District Clerks Po-
SitiOn.

The Contest for the District Clerks P0-
sition.
To the Editor of the Globe:
MADEL1A, Mimi, Oct. 9th, 1879.-Dear
Sir: Noticing an article in the Dispatch of
Monday in which Geo. P. Johnson, clerk of
court for Watonwan county, delights in blow
ing his own horn, We deem a few explana-
tons and criticisms proper. The law very
nicely and properly provides that judges of
district courts be elected for the term of six
years. By this means they are relieved from
the political strife attending the biennial
elections, and they are not required to CON-
promise their dignity by STOPPING to NEEDLE
with politics SO with the clerk of the district
court. He is elected for four years for the
same reason. We have in the person OF
Geo. P. johnson the reverse of d1gniied
official, holding the Office of clerk of the dis
trict court. In fact, we have in him polit-
ical trickster who is ready to dabble in poll
tics on every occasion and who boasts that
he is cuss in politics. coDtr bling and carry
ing in his pocket the vote of Watonwan
county. That the gentleman is cuss can
be inferred from the fact that when be
| wants little putting done he writes it him
self and sends it to The Dispatch for publ,
cation, as neither of the two papers in his
own county love him we'll enough to feed
him taffy, unless he writes it himself and
pays for printing it las notice an article in
the last issue of the Times, which Mr.. John
son paid we'll for having inserted).
The trial and conviction of Capt. Murphy
for the shooting of young Ash in 1873 has
cost Watonwan county taxpayers about ST.
500. Quite portion of this COST (about
$500 has been pocketed by Geo. P. John
son, clerk of The district court. At the same
time ne has openly and boldly espoused the
cause of Murphy by stopping down from bis
official position to. become his bail, visiting
him often while in Jail, publicly declaring
bis innocence in the streets of our villages,
(even during the triaI, and also writing let
tiers to the "Saint James Journal man. and
others to manufacture public opinion in
favor of the defendant. in
which letters he stated that
the evidence was very favorable in Murphy g
behalf, and he Geo. P. Johnson) thought
the defendant would be acquitted in any
county except Watonwan, and he believed
the county that would convict him. Some
nal are undoubtedly in the editors possession
and he can produce them Gf he willy and
verify my statements.
We now propose to make change in the
Office by electing the Hon. NJ. K. Armstrong
clerk of the district court. He is the Demo-
cratic nominee. He is brother of Gov.
Armstrong, of Albert Lea; was formerly q
resident of this State, but of later years has
resided at Yankton, Dakota, from which
place he was elected a delegate to Congress
upon the Democratic ticket, while at the
same time the vote in the Territory was two
to one Republican,. He was reelected and
served his constituents faithfully for four
years. Mr.. Armstrong is heightened gen
tleman, of correct habits and of superior
qualifications fitting him for the ofice-a
man whom Republicans as we'll as Demo
Gratis will delight to honor. Yours. &C.,
..a A WArONWAN Co. REP