St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-10
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To the Editor of the Globe:
ST. VINCENT, July 3rd, 1884. A telegram from
st. Vincent, which appeared In your issue OF
the I'd ult., headed Washburn Us Sabin may
mislead some of your readers into supposing that
the Hon. W. d. Washbum waa interfering in
matters outside Of his District. The facts which
led to Mr.. Washburn's letter arc as follows In
1881, before the 5th District was created, the
Hon. W. d. Washburn, who was then our Con-
gressman introduced bill for removal Of the
port Of entry from Pembina, d. T., to st. Vim
cent, MINI. The bin passed in the House, but
was hung up by Senator Mcmillan in his commit
tee in the Senate, In the winter OF 1882 the
trustees Of the village of st. Vincent sent their
chairman, Mr.. j. W. Shepard, TO st. Paul, who
drew up, on behalf OF orr village memorial to
Congress to pass said bill for removal of the port
of entry to st. Vincent, which memorial the
State Legislature passed by unanimous vote ;
after which Hon. Mr.. washburn theoretically as
sisted our new Congressman, Hon. Knute Mel
son, at Washington, and their combined efforts
eliminated in the passing of the bill through the
Senate, which bill became law In March, 1888.
Since then said act has been nuifed through
the transparent collision OF Collector Book
walter with the railway people, and the port of
a
half miles outside the village limits as transfer
station, where there is neither hotel, place of
business, or residence, except farm houses,
within radius OF two miles. So pronounced is
the outrage, that in May last, the village board,
as board, the town board, the county commits
sioners, and every county official In Kittson
county, besides prominent business men and
others, petitioned Secretary Folger for an inyes
tigation, and after such investigation had been
made by Mr.. Douglas, of St. Paul, Mr.. Marvel
threatened that il the village board did not re-
scind their petition to Secretary Folger that he
would abandon ST. Vincent station, which threat
he has since carried into effect, for the purpose
we believe, that Mr. Bookwalter could report
that the st. Vincent station was abandoned.
These facts, sir, we were justified In submitting
to our truest, and oldest friend, the Hon. Mr..
Washburn, together with the further informa-
ton that Mr. Bookwalter resides outside the
state of Minnesota. That he has not q resident
of st. Vincent in the st. Vincent custom house;
that last week Mr.. Bookwater1 dis
missed from the force, without cause.
Mr.. Thos. A. Jackson, represents
tive coloured gentleman OF st. Paul. who
was highly respected at st. Vincent, being church
warden of the Episcopal church, notary public,
and who identified himself with all efforts made
for the prosperity of cur town. and who was rec
commended to the collector by the Hon. W. d,
Washburn. Mr.. Gillian and other prominent st.
Paul gentlemen. His only crime, as stated by
himself being that he was an anti-Fletcher man,
when the customs force at st. Vincent are sup
posed to be either appointed of Mr.. Fletcher or
solid Fletcher men. This letter is written, not
to vindicate Hon. W. ID. Washburn-he does not
need that-but as an explanation Of why he cor
responded with people who are suffering great
injnstice in the fifth. which was once his own
district and which letter was in answer to urgent
letters written him from ST. Vincent, aNi am,
Your obedient servant,
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