Daily globe., 1882-09-28

have signed those affidavits know, that am
in position to know the residents of that
section, and when say that there are many
more actual residents there than the law
requires for election precincts, no one of
you will dare to dispute my word. The
petitioners are citizens and its all wrong
to try to prevent the granting of their
requests. Mr.. Clough then took
up the petitions and pointed
out the names of those whom
he knew to be citizens, commenting upon
the afidavits as he went along in way as
amusing as it was caustic, and winding up
with the statement that there were many
lumbermen in Minneapolis actually oper-
ating in the localities who could and
woald corroborate him, if time were given
them. The other witness was
MR.. E. euro,
resident of Pine river and one of the sign
ers. He saw over dozen of his men,in his
regular employ, and many others whom he
knew to be residents, sign the petition,
pointing them out and stating
their occupation. Mr.. Bartlett
keeps the post-ofice, has
hotel and good farm, employing to 10
men the year around.
To Mr.. Gordon he said the petition was
handed him by W. W. Hartley, to whom it
was returned. He emigrated from Maine
to Stearns county. From there he went to
Perham and removed from Perham toPine
river two years ago and had lived
/ pTrcr
est III Perham now was some wild land.
He was now engaged in numbering. He
had a homestead and was opening it up
for farming purposes and others were
doing the same.
THE PETITIONS.
In explanation of the late day in which the
petitions were received MIR. W. w. Hartley
said that they were first commenced under
the impression that regular commissioners
had to be appointed to locate the districts
and appoint the judges. After the mistake
was discovered, the time was so short that
in sending out the new petitions directions
were given to make no effort
at the loss of time, to get
the signatures of more than ten legal vot-
ers. Had there been time the signatures
could easily have been more than
doubled.
WRECKED.
Mr.. Billson, addressing the governor,
said the affdavits had been completely
wrecked by the statements of
Mr.. Clough and Curo, both
actual residents. As to the man Hackett.
who walked through the county with the
air of conqueror, destroying all the resi-
dents but here and there a solitary man,
he was greatly to be pitied, and he would
not add anything to his discontinue by
inviting further attention to the falsity of
his statements.
Mr.. Billson then briefly argued that the
petitions were presented in ample time.
The statute was directory not mandatory,
and the neglect to present the petitions
sixty days before the election did not in
validate them. Referring to the country,
he said it had been almost transformed in
the last few months by OPP
erations upon the Duluth g. Winni-
peg railroad, and many people had gone
i'll there and taken up homesteads in antici-
patton of the rapid development Of the
country that would necessarily follow the
completion of the road
GoRDoN's CLOSE.
While Mr.. Gordon claimed the right to
close the debate, he proceeded instead to
make a plea for further postpone
ment until he could produce more testi-
mony for his side of the house. He was
not certain he could get it, but he thought
he could. He then briefly touched upon
Mr.. Billson's point that the statute was
directory, not mandatory, taking the op-
posite of course, and closed by
advising the governor, before
deciding, to submit the whole
matter to the attorney general, the law
officer of the state government, and abide
by his decision.
! Mr.. Billson in answer to the plea for
further time said he did not doubt Mr..
Gordon could procure many additional
affidayits of the character already
procured but he thought
sufficient evidence had been heard
to satisfy the minds Of all reasonable men
80 ~ viz Ju7I1iOSo VI HCLIIIOuSfo CldIiUS,
and asked for prompt decision.
Col. Johnshn thought it came with bad
grace for the party arguing that the peti-
tions were already too late to ask for further
time, and thus attempt to furth-
er jeopardize their standing.
The proceedings SO far were unheard of
before. But they had been had, and most
reasonable time given the objectors to pre-
sent their case, and he hoped there would
be no further delay.
Gov. Hubbard, after waiting moment
made the announcement: Gentlemen. if
you have nothing further to offer at this
time we will consider the testimony and
argument closed, and I will take the mat
| ter under advisement."
With this the parties interested, the re-
porters, the governor, Secretary Jennison
and spectators took their departure, and
thus ended this most remarkable effort to
deny the franchise to a large, prosperous
and intelligent constituency