Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1882-07-12

county to remember that ours is the First
Congressional District. Mr. Dunnell,
who has represented us for ten years, is
an able man, so conceded by friends and
enemies. He has now a national reputa-
ton, and is one of the few men who can
be heard in Congress upon any great ques-
ton. Our man stands at the head of the
Minnesota delegation. Do we want to
be promoted from the head to the foot?
1t is worth a great deal to district to
have representative who is an acknowl-
edged leader in and out of Congress.
MIR. Dunnell has served US we'll for ten
years. We have paid him, as agreed, the
value of his services. That makes an ev-
en- score. We don't owe him anything,
and he don't owe us anything. But we
still want servant in the same capacity
Shall we discharge faithful and compe-
tent public servant and employ an un-
tried one? We would not do so in prl-
vate business. Our own interest is the
thing to consider. He can live and be
happy whether we continue him in our
employ or not. The country will not go
to smash whether he is elected or not.
But our interest is to keep him; let us
not stand in our own light.
One of the misfortunes of public life
is that government office-holder is a
target for every man who chooses to fire
calumny at him. Mr.. Dunnell haa not es-
capped this misfortune. But while his en-
emies have persistently tried, what have
they found against him? Two years ago
when there was warm and acrimonious
campaign, there was no mean thing that
could be alleged against him. What is
there now?
A great hue and cry has been raised
lately about certain whisky bill, which
was passed by the House Of Representa-
tives and failed in the Senate. What
was this bill? In the first place, Mr.. Dun
nell was not the father of the bill. He
was instructed by the Ways and Means
committee, of which he is member, to
report the bill and ask its passage. This
he did. Now, it has been paraded under
glazing headlines, as great fraud at
tempted that would rob the treasury of
millions. Look at the facts and let Mr..
Dunnell stand or fall by his record.
The present law permits a distiller to
keep whisky in bonded warehouse for
three years, at the end of which time he
must pay the tax ninety cents per gallon,
whether it is sold or not. The bill which
Mr.. Dunnell was instructed to report by
the Ways and Means committee, was sim
ply to extend the time the whisky might
remain in bond. Whenever it is taken
out the tax must be paid. The effect
would have been therefore that the gov
eminent would wait little longer for its
tax. Yet Mr.. Dunnell is posted as
thief almost because he reported this bill
as he was instructed to do.
AS usual, there is a root to this meas
ure. Last spring when the committee
were considering the question of reducing
internal revenue taxation, a, majority of
the Ways and Means committee favored
a reduction of the tax on whisky from
ninety to fifty cents gallon. This Mr..
Dunnell earnestly opposed and defeated.
To him belongs the credit for defeating
this proposition for reducing the tax on
whisky nearly fifty per cent. Now it is a
maxim that the devil should have his due,
and even a member of Congress is enti-
tied to as fair chance. Mr.. Dunnell
has labored to have the tariff reduced on
the necessaries of life, but has never ia
vored reduction of the tax on whisky
and tobacco. Now, if you believe the
supplements sent out by every anti-Dun-
nell paper in the district, you would be-
lieve Mr.. Dunnell deserved cat-o-nine-
tails rather than seat in Congress. But
see how plain tale puts them down. No
notice would have been taken of this
matter, if it had not been for the fact
that Mr.. Dunnells name had been men
toned in connection with the Senate.
The true inwardness of the matter is that
Mr.. Dunnell must be killed off as sena.
torial candidate. Now, suppose he had
an ambition to reach the Senate before
he retires from public life, would that be
wicked?
Mr.. Window, after some dozen years
in Congress, became candidate for the
seat once warmed by Mr.. Wilkinson and
afterwards by Mr.. Norton. He has held
it ever since, except while he was in Gar
fields cabinet. Does he own it? He is
good Senator, but no better Senator than
Mr.. Dunnell is Representative. Let
that matter take care of itself, and the
man who has the longest pole knock the
highest persimmon. The interest of the
people of the first district is to keep NJ.
81. Dunnell in Congress. If he is willing
to serve us, let us elect him. Don't let
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