The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-06-18
Reasons for Supporting Hon. j. B.
Wakefield for Congress.

Editor Free Press:
Six years ago, while Mr.. Dunnelps
connection with the salary grab measure
was so notorious In this community, after
strenuous opposition he was rc-nominat-
ed, and in public speech acceptin said
nomination, emphatically declared that
he simply desired u yindication, and
should positively decline TO be u candi-
date for Congress in tho future. In spite
| of said positive statement, Mr.. Dunncll
has since not only used all the machinery
of his office for denomination, but even
in the present compaign has scattered his
| letters by the hundred all over the dist
\ rict, informing, in the most emphatic
manner, his postmastcrs and collectors
that their retention I'm office depends up
on their Jealous work in his behalf.
! Dunnell and his friends were lately
very Jealous opponents Of third term
for Gen. Grant, but they see nothing i'm
proper in sixth term for him. One more
term for Dunnell, was the postmasters'
cry two years ago &; one more term for
him is still their cry, and will be tor an
indefinite period in the future, nOtwith-
standing the mass of the Republicans de-
sire Il change as was sufficiently evident
two years ago, when Dunnell ran behind
his ticket three thousand votes.
Blue Earth county has u splendid
chance To redeem herself Mt this time by
supporting Hon. j. Ii. Wakefield, of
Faribault county. for that position.
With our geographical position, Blue
Earth county ought to be a political pow
or i'll Southwestern Minnesota, and yet
we are utterly without kind feeling to-
ward us from any Of the counties west OF
us; simply because of late years we have
helped Steele and other eastern counties
and have done nothing to assist our neigh
boring counties.
Conccde all that Mr.. Dunnell's friends
claim for him, he has been abundnntly re-
warded for all services he has ever done
for the party and now that Faribault
county has presented n candidate, there
are certain reasons why We should stand
by her In this crisis.
In 1868, when the State voted $3.50, 600 for
our Normal School, Mr.. Wakefield, then
u Senator of FaribauIt county, was very
| Jealous IN his support of that measure.
In 1862 when the county was honored by
the selection of Mr.. Wilkinson rs our can.
dIdatc for Congress, after Il bitter trian.
gular fight between the friends of Wilkin.
son and Stearns and Dunncll, il was only
by the honest and faithful efforts of MIR
Wakefield and the rest of the Faribauli
county delegation that we succeeded IN
securing the nomination for "A citizen o
= our county. Still later, when in 1874
Donnclly made his tiradc against Norma
schools In our State Senate and his bill
| lb 1DbllSu our SCHOOL WAS only defeated
by one majority, Faribault county cas-
that one essential vote in our behalf
Never has there been Il time when Blue
Earth county in the Legislature has ask eC
help of Faribault county that il has beeI
. denied.
Again, in the next Congressional ap
portiOnment, steele county-Dunnelr
home will probably not be in our dist
riCt-Lt least DunnGll and his friend d,
| u "A y M
/ with Faribault aud the counties west
will be all in one district. Is IL not tn
part of wisdom for Blue Earth county (,
V support the candidate of sister count,
=, now. whose influence may in the futur,
u be thrown To help some favorite son q
y Blue Earth county! In MIR. Wakefield,
. we have an accomplished gentleman,
man ofripe experience and extensive III
: formation, who has always been true {
;, his constituents in every position il
Il which he has been placed, and who, II
v the early days of our territorial life, wa
zealously working to develop our front
Ter and 10 make ii what II is, while Dun
\ nell, rs pedagOgue in Maine. simpl
-, knew by the aid of his geography tina
I called Minnesota.
With the nomination Of one of our gl0r
ious Old-time boys, the days of Oilicin
tyranny Of Dunncll will be over. ~
longer will pOstmasters be compelled L
disregard civil service orders ut the eX
press dictatiOn OF Mr.. Dunnell, but the
h will have some little manhood breathe,
into them. and become convinced tina
= upon the faithful discharge Of their Otlicia
= duties, and upon that alone, will depcn
their retention In office.
e Let Blue Earth county nj this time d
V its full duty, and support one of its oldes
: and best friends. MANKATO.