St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-10-18
THE RESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS.


In lis anxiety TO manufacture point
against a political antagonist the Pioneer
Press travels a long distance out OF its way
to find fault with Mayor AMES because OF
the attitude sustained by the municipal gov
eminent of Minneapolis toward the strik-
ing switchmen; and in doing so the Pioneer
Press demonstrates the falsity OF its own
nOsjti0n and cOnVictS itself OF an attempt to
distort the facts for partisan purposes. In
tie first place, Mayor ANIEs was absent
from the city and Acting Mayor CLOUGH,
who is a Republican. would be the re
sDonsible party if any blame was to be laid
at the door OF the municipal government.
In the next place. the Pioneer Press ignores
the fact that the duties of municipal author
tiles are TO enforce the municipal ordl-
nances. Acting Mayor CLoUGH announced
that be intended to preserve the peace of
the municipality. but did not think that it
was his duty OF the duty of the municipal
authorities of Minneapolis to undertake to
supervise the running Of railway trains or
TO look after violations of the state laws.
The sheriff Of Hennepin county and the
district attorney were the officers whose
duty it was to protect the property OF the
Hallway companies. If offenSeS have been
committed. they were committed against
the laws of the state and not in viola
ton of the municipal ordinances of
Minneapolis. The penal code of Minnesota
makes it a miSdemeanor for two or more
persons to conspire to prevent another from
exercising any lawful calling by force,
threats or intimidation, or by interfering, or
threatening to interfere, with tools, lmple-
lnents or property belonging to or used by
another. or with the use and employment
thereof" Furthermore, section 476 Of the
same code declares that "a person who dis
places. removes, Injuries or destroys a rail,
sleeper. switch. bridge, viaduct, culvert.
embankment. or structure, or any part
thereof attached or appertaining to or con-
nected with a railway, whether operated by
steam or by horses; or places any obstruc-
ton upon the track of such a railway; or
wilfuIly discharges loaded firearm, or pro-
iects or throws stone or any other missile
at a railway train, or at locomotive, car
or vehicle standing or moving upon rail-
way" is guilty of felony and shall be
punished by Imprisonment in the state prison
for not more than ten years. Everybody
understands that the district attorneys and
the sheTitfs of the counties are responsible
for the execution of the state laws in their
respective baiiwicks. The laws which we
have quoted above were passed by the legis-
lature at the request of the rail
way companies and were designed for
their special benefit and protection. Where
then. were the Republican officials of Hen
nepin county when these laws were being
violated? They were either standing
sullenly by and refusing to afford any pro-
lection to property" or they were in hiding
for the purpose Of Sinking the response
bility Of the offices which they have dis
gTaced. 1t makes no practical difference
what power the municipal government had,
Or did not have, in the matter; the fact |
remains that the specific duty of enfO1cing |
the laws which have been violated, and of |
arrestng the offenders who violated them, |
rested upon the district attorney and sheriff |
Of Hennepn county. In one instance, if |
not more. the Offense was committed out |
side of the municipal boundaries of Mime |
apolis, and yet the sheriff of Hennepin |
county has not made his appearance. |
During the Chicago riots the sheriff of |
Cook county was in command Of the posse.
The Wisconsin state authorities suppressed |
the Milwaukee disturbances. The same |
thing was done at st. Louis, and at every |
other point where there has been violence |
resulting from a strike. In attempting to |
hold Mayor AMEs responsible for failing to |
perform duty the performance of which |
specifically devolves upon the Republican |
officials of Hennepin county, the Pioneer |
Press either betrays woful ignorance of |
official duties, or it cOnvicts itself of base |
attempt to perYert facts for a partisan |
purpose.