Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-09-21
A new DEMOCRATIC TENET.


Can Man Bel0ma to the Democratic Par-
tn and 9ote Aoatsst y. n. MoClung9-
a LSvely Letter from Assessor Beaumont.
To the Editor Of the Globe.
Isend you for publication, if You should see
fit. copy of q communication addressed by
me. yesterday, to the editor of the Pioneer
i Press. which was, by press of other matter,
crowded out this morning, but il to appear
therein tomorrow. Yours respectfully,
J. I. BEAUMONT.
ST. PAUL, Sept. 20, 1880.
TRUTH VS.. FAIsEHoOD.
To the Editor of the Pioneer Press.
Under the caption of ''Scathing Lee Davis
you publish in your issue of to-day Sunday a
letter of J. W. McClung, who evidently con-
sidering himself much abused man in that be
failed to be reappoiuted county assessor in
1877, seeks to strike blow at 8. Lee Davis,
the present Democratic nominee for the Office
of county auditor, and to that end makes a
most unwArrantahle use of my name. do not
wish to be understood as appearing in defence
of Mr.. Davis. I am not Aware that he needs
any defence. If he does, he is abundantly able
to defend himself. Iaddress this communities
tion to you to refute and deny, entirely and alb
solutely. all the statements made by Mr..
McClung in regard to there having been any
understanding or bargain, or any intimation
of any such thing. directly or in
directly, between Mr.. Davis and myself, or
between any person or persons for or on be-
half of MIR. Davis and myself, which led me to
withdraw my name "a candidate for county
auditor in the fall of '76. As q matter of fact.
I Withdrew my name as candidate for county
auditor in '76 purely of my own motion, no re-
ward for 30 doing having been promised, IN
timated or limited at, to me or to any person
for me or on my behalf, by any person or per-
sons whatsoever.
Mr.. McClung has acted on the idea that q
little leaven of truth will leayen whole lump
Of falsehood. It il true that in the fall of rs
was an independent candidate for county
auditor, that previous to tho day of election
withdrew my name as such candidate, and
that in the following spring was appointed
county assessor. To this extent Mr.. McOlung's
statements in regard to me and my course at
that time are true. but beyond this his state
ments, in regard to my course in withdrawing
from the contest for county auditor, and re-
ceiving the appointment of county assessor,
are entirely, unqualifedly and absolutely false.
.
Mr.. McOlung states positively that In the fall
of 76 s.Mr Beaumont was willing to negotiate
with Mr.. Davis, and offered to decline
and give Davis q clear field
ION consideration that Davis would vote for
him as assessor next spring." and farther on
he says, s'and in the spring he (Beaumont) got
what he asked for" unquestionably meaning
that 1 got in the spring what asked for in the
fall. Now, repeat, that these statements are
wholly false. They are false az tho thought in
which they were conceived, and in every word
in which they are expressed. They are con-
temptible, and, / have reason to think, ma
iciously false. So far was from having any
promise, understanding, or prospect of being
appointed assessor in 1877 that in the fall of
PARTIES in st. Paul, and at salary which
would have yielded me less income than the
Office OF county assessor, to go to Dakota Ter
ritory and take charge of business enterprise
which they intended and expected to under
take. which would have taken me away from
st. Paul and from my family; and fully in
tended to 60 and would have gone but for the
fact that affairs beyond their control took q
turn that caused the whole matter to fall
through. mention this fact, which I can
readily prove, to show that there'was no pros
poet before me, no thought in my
mind that L was to be appointed
assessor in 1877. SO far was I from expecting
to receive the appointment of county assessor
in the Spring of 1877, that do not think there
was man in st. Paul more surprised than I
was myself, when was appointed. I think
your readers will be surprised to learn, what is
the case, il Mr.. McOlung's statements are true,
that the appointment of county assessor lies
wholly in the hands of the county auditor,
that his colleagues on the board of appoint
ment ere mere puppets in his hands. This is the
impression that Mr.. McOlung strives to create
in his letter, and it Is false impression, false
in law, and false as a matter of fact. The law
c0ntemplates and provides, that the county
assessor of the county. shall be chosen by the
mayor of the city Of st. Paul. the president of
the city council and the auditor of the county.
The county auditor has the same voice in the
choice OF assessor either one of his colleagues
no more, no less.
And has it come to this, that Mr.. Davis is to
be read out of his party, because he saw fit to
vote against Mr.. McClung for Office. Where is
the Democratic dogma laid down, thst the DEM
ocrat whO votes against Mr.. McClung is to be
communicated ? This is new doctrine for
the democrats of Ramsey county. Mr.. Nc
Olung evidently foresaW that his statements
would be received with much doubt, and thought
best to make bold stroke at the last
end, which he did in three words. II give
simply facts. and if they are denied, afidavits
will be produced. His closing remark is the
fitting elimination of letter which for au-
dacious mendacity is q masterpiece. Truth
needs no ahddayits to support 1t, nor can all
the afidavits in the world overthrow 1t. As ]
desire to avoid being placed in false light
before my fellow citizens, ask You to do me
the favor to give this communication the same
prominence In your widely -read journal that