Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-12-21
Dillon O'Brien's Report.

| 10 the Editor OF the Globe.
In giving the following report of the commit
tee appointed by the citizens of GracevilIe to
accompany myself and Mr.. Hodges in our pro
posed investigation into the condition of The
Connemara settlers, in Graceville colony, bee
to make few Introductory remarks
| 1t is know to you how anxious Bishop Ire
land and those acting for him were, after the
| first reports of suffering came
down from Morris that the governor should
| send up some gentleman with me to make al
| investigation. On Saturday, the 18th, had
three interviews with Mr.. Pussy, the gov
ernor's secretary, and at the last one he in
formed me that the governor had taken the
matter under advisement and would give
me his decision on the following Monday
On my way to the capitol on Monday | met
Mr. Hodges and asked him to accompany me
to the governor. He did so and suggested
to the governor the name of Mr.. Hodges as q
| good man to send up.
Here / will say that up to this there is no
one in Minnesota | had greater respect for
than Mr.. Hodges. He impressed upon me
his candor, his love Of justice and fair play.
Hodges without candor and straight forward
honesty is a shadow to me).
Finding that it was not likely that the gov
| ernOr would send up a special envoy, I>asked
Mr.. Hodges to call with me on Bishop Ire
land. The bishop asked him to accompany
me to Gracevillc to make an Investigation.
Mr.. Hodges stated that he could not 90 the
following day, Tuesday, but would 60 up on
Wednesday. 1t was then agreed that should
go on Tuesday and await Mr. Hodges arrival
in Graccvillc, when we would commence our
investigation.
left on Tuesday determined to find and re-
port the exact truth. | deemed that in the
Morris investigation Mr. Hutchins had been
deceived in the information he had received |
had no ground for questioning his good faith.
was but a few minutes in Morris when was
introduced to him and was favorably
impressed with him. l told him that
Mr.. Hodges was to be up the
next day and that was to wait for him in
Graccyile. Mr.. Hutchins said, "God, / would
like to go with you" ] replied, You can come
in with Hodges, am to wait for him at Grace
vile. | called the next morning on Mr. Moore,
the chairman of the board of trade, to whom
Mr. Hutchns' report was made, and had a
very pleasant interview with him indeed, SO
friendly did ! feel and to act
told Mr.. Moore | would read my report to
him when returned. When returned from
Graccvilc, the information | had received
changed my opinion altogether of Mr.
Hutchins.
He went to Gracevillc to investigate the
condition OF certain number of
persons ander the special charge of
Rev. Father Ryan, and he never notified him
of the fact until his business was concluded
and then in no incautious words Father
Ryan showed his Indignation at such conduct
He applied to him vile language which has
been already published once and told too Of
ten. What would be thought of
a commission who would go to
investigate charges against the board
of trade of Morris and go through it without
ever notifying the board? Can the vilest GRIM
inal be tried in his absence?
On Wednesday evening, the 18th, the citizens
OF the village of Graceville held a meeting and
appointed a committee of three and an inter
prefer who coulI speak Irish, to accompany
myself and Mr.. Hodges in our Investigation.
Subsequently it turned out very fortunate that
this was done, for it would be in very bad
taste for me to act alone, as Mr.. Hodges broke
his promise to Bishop Ireland and did not