Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-01-08
NEHEMIAH IN A FIX.


Fixed upon Him ?-1enersl Mann and
the Potter County Organization.
Chicago Inter Ocean, 4th.
In the Inter Oceans Washington dis.
patch of Wednesday morning there ap-
peared an interview with Governor Ord
way, in which the latter sought to create
the impression that the recent develop.
ments affecting the organization of Pot.
ter county were IN the nature of delib.
erate attempt to assail his reputation and
good name, in the face Of the facts and
at the expense of decency.
There are two sides to every question,
and Governor Ordway has the happy fac.
| ulty of stating his side of case in very
plausible manner. A reporter for the
litter Ocean was in position yesterday,
however. to obtain further information
relative to the Potter county deal, which
makes strong showing for the other
slde-that of the people of Dakota, as it
would appear-and sheds some more
| light upon matter in which the Inter
Ocran is interested in having thoroughly
and fairly ventilated.
In his Washington interview of the
first Instant Governor Ordway says that
he decided to appoint as commissioners
ieneral Mann, of Gettysburg; General
Gilchrist, Of Appotomax, and Mr.. Shaw
of Forest City, but that General Mann,
desiring to retain his residence in Obi
ago, declined to serve as commitsio -
General Mann being found IN the cit.
was interviewed by the Inter Oceans
representative, who asked him to max.
statement of what he knew concerning
he organization of Potter comfy, anG
OF . hat had passed between Governor
Ordway and himself in reference to his
appointment as county commissioner
General Mann, it will be observed,
directly refut-s some of the governors
.tatements, and accuses the latter OF
having promised his per1o onal char
acter and official position. Tue general,
who, by the way, is now u citizen of Pot
Ter county, SAID:
81 saw the Interview with Governor
Ordway in the Inter Ocean this morning
and about all have to say ls if he is
correctly reported be has drifted faI
away from the facts in the case.
"The tact is never asked to be ap
pointed commissioner, nor did any one,
30 far as know. ever ask Governor Ord
way to appoint me.
'The governor wrote me in September
stating tLat he did not known whether
was in condition to serve in case he
concluded to distribute the appointments
fairly over tue county.
"To this replied that I was ip con.
dition to serve SO far as citizenship va.
concerned. but as the people in tn.
central part OF the county had already il
their petition asked to have others ap
pointed, preferred to have him take on,
of them to represent Gettysburg and tina
locality. also expressed by approval o
the plan, as suggested by him, to dis
tribute the appointments fairly over the
county.
"On the 10th OF November I rode will
Governor Ordway op the cars coming
down from Milwaukee to Chicago, and il
} short talk We had on the subject, til,
governor referred to his letter to me, anl
suid that when he wrote me he did no
know that was in situation to serv,
or not. l again said to him in substanc,
J what had written him.
HE said he had not yet appointed tn,
commissioners for Potter county, bu
had about concluded to appoint Genera
Gilchrlst. He believed Gllchrlst was
good man, and he was very anxious t,
get good men to serve, who we're actua
residents aud would act for the best in
terests of the entire county.
Il then said to the governor that if i
was to be fair deal. and the men wer
to be taken from the east, the central
and the west parts of the county, I woul,
serve, if he thought best, but I had full
confidence in any one Of the three me,
We had asked in our petition to have an
pointed.
> II further said I believed General Gil
> christ to be good man, but, of course,
f some one was appointed as third maj
. who lived near or west Of Appomattox-
Gilchrists town-the commissioner
3 would certainly locate the county seat a
= Appomattox. Governor Ordway quickl,
t said: oh. the county seat will not b
r located at Appomattox,' and here ou
j, conversation ended. the governor leavin
> me with the remark that on his retur
/. from his eastern trip he would make tt
appointments, and he hoped they woul
q be satisfactory to all parties.
"a few days later ! found that th
commission had been issued ON the ct
: of November, or four days previous t
]. the conversation I had with the govern
b or"
The interview was continued rs TO
8 lows:
J: "Do you know anything about til
! young man kretchner, appointed in you
! place according to the governor, and NJ
e Shaw?"
9 II never met Mr.. Shaw. met Kretcl
s ner once or twice at Pierre last summer.
] "ls he resident of Potter couniy?"
}. II never heard that he was until latel,
and do not now think he ever lived
day III the county. have taken tk
!. pains to find out that he voted IN Pierr
Hughes county, on Nov. 9th, which ",
: the date OF his COMMISSION. hard
>. see how he could legally hold residens
:, in both counties on the same day."
"WLat will the people of Potter cou
:, ty do III the premises"
"My advice has been to attack the e]
q gibility of Kretchmer, and think su,
,e proceedings have already been institute
n 1 believe that the good people of Pot,
= county would have Yielded gracefully
> the location at Forest City if all Il
commissioners had been legally appoir
ed, although that location is on the We
west line of county nearly or aui
u. forty miles in length, with no rallro,
10 now or in immediate prospect of reac
- ing to it."
80 General Mann had no personal know
70 edge Of any facts bearing on the corru
is tion case Of Commissioner Shaw.
,e had been told a good deal CONCERN,
the bid which it was understood Fore
'e City had made, and hoped the procee
~ ings ut Blunt would throw some light
III the subject, although he hardly thoug