St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-10-24
How DunneH Hopes to Make Cam
paign Capital.

Special 10 the GLOBE
SPRING VALLEY, Mimi, Oct. %
On the fourth page of the GLOBE, Oct.
16, under the head of ''Dunnell Is Los
ing" find these words: 1.-The whole
thing goes to show Just how desperate
Dunnell'S cause is. and to what depths
he will go (even into the sacred pre-
cincts of the church, to secure his cleo
tiOn.''
81 am.nOt surprised to learn NJ. Dun
nell is appealing TO his Baptist brother
to save him. This is not the first time
he has gone into the sacred precincts OF
the church TO further his ends" said a
good BAPTIST brother, after reading the
above. Il remember when he took the
old Minnesota state railroad bonds into
the Minnesota State Baptist association,
held in the First Baptist church in st.
Paul in October, 1919. He helped draft
the resolution introduced by Horace
Thompson, and appointed committee
to report the following year as to
whether, in their judgment, those bonds
should be paid have taken pains to
l.ok up Mr.. Dunnell's record. and find
that Mr.. Dunnell advocated the pay
ment of the bonds, that he occupied the
chair when the resolution was intro
UUGCu Nv HIS llltilO IiiOAllpSOlIf anu
that he appointed the committee which
was to Investigate and report at the
next session. Here is the resolution:
Whereas. The public press at home and
abroad are frequently calling attention TO the
indebtedness of the state of Minnesota Oh
account OF bonds commonly called 'rallroaG
state bonds, and charges have been made
injurious to the character OF the state for
honesty and justice, because she mas failed 10
nav interest upon said bonds according TO
contract: ana
Whereas. 1t is the duty of Christian mem
bers of state 10 inquire into matters involv-
ing the fair fame of The commonwealth in
which they live: and
Whereas The divine injunction to 'render
INTO Caesar the things that are Cesar S is as
binding upon communities as upon 1ndiYid-
uals therefore
Resolved. That committee of ten be ap-
Dointed 10 report at the next meeting of this
convention whether the charge so made upon
the credit and good name of the STATE OF Min
nesoia has any Just foundation. and If so
what duty rests upon us as CHRISTIAN mem
bers of the state TO arouse the public mind
and conscience 10 the necessity OF removing
the stain of reputation.
The old Minnesota Staterailroad bonds.
like Banquo's ghost, will not down, but
continue to bob up in the least expected
manner. | knew that Mr.. Dunnell had
been connected with the back pay steal,
the Austin post0ffice scandal. the school
book deal, reducing the bond of the
whisky holders in 1882, aud various
other notorious and questionable trans
actions. but was hardly prepared to
hear his name mentioned in connection
With the unpopular railroad bonds.
But in looking up his record find it
has an ugly look. to say the least. VIII
he explain?
The people of this state, and espe-
cially of Fillmore county. have good
memories. and let US see how they
viewed the payment of those bonds.
In the spring of 1871 there was
bitter contest in relation to
the payment of the bonds, and
Fillmore county was considerably
excited. A proposition was submitted
| to the people and decided in the mega
tive by majority in the state Of II, 206.
| On the 10th day of April, 1877, public
| meeting was held in the court house at
| Preston, to discuss 1.-The old bond swim
| die" as it was called in the notice for
! the meeting. Resolutions were intro
| duced in which the citizens of the
| county protested against violating the
| constitution, and that the proposition of
| the legislature to submit the question to
| a vote of the people at special election
| is a RECKLESS violence peTpetTated upon
| the constitution" Fillmore county pro-
! tested most emphatically at the election
against paying the bonds by casting
| 3.155 votes against and only 17S for.
| Many of the towns in the county did not
| cast single vote in the affirmative.
! Mark II. Dunnell could not have known
! the feeling in this county or he never
would have lCb1ied that resolution
| through the State Baptist association.
| for il has been demonstrated it was the
| entering wedge, and Mr.. Dunnell as
! sisted to drive it home. Mr.. Dunnell in
| 1865 was state superintendent of schools,
! and in October of that year held a state
| teachers association in Preston. and was
present at that time and visited this
! county frequently in the discharge of
! his duties. and should have become
| familiar with the wants of the people.
In 1916 the State Baptist association met
| at OWatOnna, Mr.. Dunnell'S own home,
! During the year he doubtless held many
| a conference with the committee he had
! appointed, and so fOrcibly did he impress
! upon the minds of the committee the I'M
| portance of saving the flair name and
! fame OF the state that the committee
| at the annual meeting in October
"made full and exhaustive report, -
which was received with unusual in
! I6feSl. cue. AllcI 1ulI ana 1re6 QlS-
cussiOn, and after listening to the
| arguments, Mr.. Dunnell taking prOmi-
nent part i'll the discussion, the follow
ing resolution was adopted and signed
| by the committee:
First-That the Minnesota state railroad
bonds are legal and moral obligations
| against the state.
| Second-That until such time as the state
shall provide for the payment of the interest
on said bonds, the charge of practical repudi-
alton is sustained.
Third-That it is the religious duty of
every Christian member of the common.
wealth to do all in his power, by his voice
vote and pen to arouse the public mind and
conscience 10 the legal and moral obligations
of the state to provide for the honorable
settlement Of our suspended Indebtedness.
Mr.. Dunnelfs interest in the old bond
Swindle was commented upon at the
time, and much hard feeling engendered
in the First district. and not alone among
the members of the Baptist church
MOny VOW was registered at the time
to lay him on the self. together with al
who were instrumental in lobbying
through the passage of the bill looking
to the payment of the bonds. How wei
they kept their promise was shown il
1876 and 1878, when Mr.. Duunell came
| ND for reelection. and when his MAORI