The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-11-30
MORE BooDLERlsM.

Republican party circles In this city have
been badly convulsed during the past Week,
with certain financial transactions OF Mr.. l..
p. Hunt, OF the FReH PRrss, relating TO the
recent campaign. l.
/ According 20 these reports, which are well
authenticated, ten DAYS or week proceeding
election. Hunt made application TO the Re
publican state central committee for money
TO assist In conducting the campaign In this
county. Afterwards he telegraphed that un.
less $500 were sent at once TO this county IL
would be lost to the republicans.
This urgent demand brought the money,
and ON or about the End day of November
check for the much needed $500 was sent To
him by the state committee. That he received
Ii there is no doubt, for he reported TO the
local committee that only 500 had been sent
him. one-half OF which he paid over ana the
other half he said he had expended In the cam
paign.
up this petty steal, by claiming that the party |
owes him for money advanced for campaign |
purposes. He has deceived no one, however, |
but IL Is said that certain prominent repuoii, |
have uncovered the $3.50 steal of state cam |
paigu funds. The evidence, we understand, Is
conclusive. but whether they have the nerve
To COMPEL him to disgorge remains to DC SEEN |
-Reriew.
The above is too good to be passed by
without giving it a much wider circula-
ton than the Rerie,G could possibly give
it, hence We reproduce il IN these col
umns, and only beg the pardon of the
readers of the FREE Press for taking no.
tice of such scurrilous onslaught.
In the first place, and we propose to
begin right at the bottom, Mr.. Hunt was
solicited by the secretary of the state
central committee to take trip into the
southwestern tier of counties and look
up the situation on the state ticket and
report to him. This he did, and put IN
weeks hard work. He rode through
the country with a team and a compan-
ion for three days-and those were the
coolest days during the season thus far.
He paid out on this trip over SITS, and
every dollar of this sum was legitimately
expended. During the time he was out
he made reports from time TO time to
the secretary of the state committee,
and Mr.. Hunt received a very compli-
mentary letter from Mr.. Heatwole in
which he stated that his trip had been
the source Of better and more accurate
information than that received from any
other quarter of the state.
Upon Mr.. Hunts return home he took
occasion to 60 to st. Paul, and then and
there saw the chairman of the commit
tee and solicited help for this county.
He gave Mr.. Hunt no particular encour-
agement, but said he would do the best
he could. Mr.. Hunt then went to the
secretary of the committee and urged
him to do what he could in the matter.
He replied that he would, and added:
"If any funds are sent into your county
want you to takecharge of them and
see to it that they are disbursed IN a
proper manner for the head of the tick
ct, as the opposition is making desper-
ate fight against u.s." The above is as
nearly the exact language of Mr.. Heat
wole as it Is possible to quote.
Election day drawing near and no
funds received, Mr.. Hunt took the lib
erty to telegraph Mr.. Newell this: Must
have help, and have it quick" A reply
was in due time received by wire, which
read: "Have sent three by mail" In
the course of time required by mail
transportation letter was received by
Mr.. Hunt from the chairman of the COM
mittee with check enclosed for $500,
which letter read: Enclosed find check
and hope the delay has caused YOU no
inconvenience"
Mr.. Hunt supposed that the secretary
and chairman of the central committee
fully understood through whose hands
these funds were to pass, as the former
had asked Hunt particularly to disburse
them as before stated, and he had at
this time expended about 500. Fifty
dollars of the amount was turned over
to the chairman of the county committee,
and the balance was retained to reim-
burse Hunt for what he had already
paid, and where he knew the remainder
could be used in securing aid for the
ticket which he had worked hard to see
come out of the contest with credita-
BILE majority.
Mr.. Hunt kept memoranda of most
of his outlay, and his memoranda is open
to the inspection of any honorable gentle.
man who desires to inspect it, and the
footing of this memoranda totals up four
hundred and Sir dollars. But this is by
no means his outlay. He paid $l7 so for
the half of the expenses incurred in tel
egrams assessed against the Republicans
for election returns, of which he has not
received one single cent. He contribu-
ted for the Republican club and toward
defraying expenses incurred in the two
torch-light rallles-in printing and mon
ey-the sum of S76. And this is not all.
He paid 1874. 55 for the fire works used
in the last demonstration, SIS for the ex-
pense of the Flambeau club, and is hold
ing for S25 to the Blue Earth City band
and $40 for the WInnebago City band.
By the way, he paid some $l2 for tele-
graphing also that still remains unpaid.
Now let us summarize and see where
this so-called "boodlerism" comes in:
expended out of the above........ 406 90
donated to ratification, club, etc.. 20 90
" paid election returns ..-............ II so