The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-02-24
LETTER FROM THE CAPITAL.
SAINT PAUL, Feb. ~.

The prison labor contract is the
theme of Il good deal of discussion. |
here and elsewhere, and If the eX-
element and consequent investiga-
tions fail to discover, expose and
crush the Ring, which it is charged is
corrupting and controlling the Repub.
lican party of Minnesota, it will serve
to make further progress in this
direction Qf progress is making).
much more difficult. For the rank
and file of the Republican party of
this State, are not of the "For Sale
species. Nor are they of the kind
who are easily frightened by bosses"
If they become satisfied that Il coiored
gentleman is concealed in the wood.
pile, they will insist on Ousting him.
if the pile has to come down for it.
l. told your readers that Messrs.
Forepaugh & TarboX promised there
should be emusic 10y the entire band.
That promise is being fulfilled in Il
slightly different way from what
Messrs. i. &. r. evidently intended.
\ committee of the Legislature are
investigating the charges, and at
their first session, on Friday last.
began the inquiry, by attempting to
make the prosecuting witnesses con-
Wet themselves OF collision to cheat
the State. and expose the poor scapc-
grace who offered Messrs. F. & T.
money to keep out of the way of the
old contractors. Considerable va,ua
bic time WAS wasted in the attempt
tn make Mr.. Tarboy give the name
of the man who made the offer, but
the witness was obduratc. Enough
was elected, however, to make it
apparent that ThompSon's bid. on
which it is now attempted to secure
the contract, WAS originally designed
rs Il straw bid in the interest of Fore
paugh & TarhoX, and that Thompson
did not intend TO execute the con-
tract. il by refusing, Messrs. F. &
T. would secure the plum at their
lower offer.
Just what was to be gained by find
ing ont who it was who tried TO buy
+. d L. off, is not quite apparent. II
The committee search rs earnestly for
the meat in the cocoanut, they may
lind out the true inwardness of the
secresy in connecting. and the indie.
cent haste, if not substantial con-
tempt OF the Supreme Court. exhib-
tied by the authorities in executing
Il contract with Seymour, Sabin & Co.
Ii the investigation has put Messrs.
Thompson, Forepaugh IL Tarbox out
of the pale of sympathy. it should
not be allowed to stop short of a
thorough Notwithstanding of the other
side.
An interesting meeting of the
State Health Association, WAS held
IN this city on Wednesday and Thurs
lay of last week. Several valuable
papers were read by Ministers. Ply
sicians and Lawyers, and the discus
sions which followed were marked
Ivy good feeling and desire to Gle.
vate the standard of general health.
fulness, and keep Minnesota where
nature placed her, at the head OF the
list, il, this respect. Bishop Ireland
took the ground that the Minister Of
God should take Il leading position in
tins matter, that while he should
teach his flock the principles OF
hygiene, cleanliness, pure air, etc., the
higher forces Of prayer and faith as
curative agencies, should not be for.
gotten.
Some of the Doctors thought the
Minister might be Of valuable assis.
lance TO the physician in maintaining
the general health OF the community.
by teaching the sanitary rules which
science lays down, but when the man
is sick, he needs physician. and in
presence of bodily ills, his place is
first. The papers read, and discus
sions elected. all tended to confirm
the opinion of leading medical author.
tiles, in regard to the contagious
nature of diphtheria, Il disease which
is perhaps less understood, and more
dreaded than any to which mankind
is subject. All agreed that prompt
action and thorough quarantine
should be taken in all cases where
this disease makes its appearance.
Its spread can only be prevented in
thiSHay.
II Mrs. Ann Eliza, 18th wife of
Brigham Young, is among your
readers, she NAV be interested to hear
,hat Maj. j. b. Pond, her former
lecture agent and travelling compan.
ion. has sued FOR Il divorce from his
wife. Quien Sabe.
had intended to give you few
specimen bricks in regard To the
building boom in st. Paul, but fear
shall trench on your room to quote
more than one. X few business men
and capitalists met informally one
evening last week, and agreed that of
the 1000 additional dwellings needed
in the city, IA real estate agent who
was present gave it AS his opinion
that he could rent that number with.
in the next three months), they would
undertake to supply one hundred.
This is only the beginning of IA much
needed work.
Mr.. Editor! am modest man,