The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-04-26
is 1T A PRIVATE SNAP
Editor Free Press:

Editor Free Press:
Those who believe in the theory that "pub-
lie Office is private snap" certainly have rea-
Mayor Pfau, Of this city, during the past few
days. AS a Democrat. believing that It is the
duty of any officer or set of officers, regardless
or ss aes o
lie position for the best interests of the locai-
ties over which they are to rule, beg leave to
enter protest against the outrageous 5obbery
which has thus far characterized the administ-
ration Of Mayor Pau, and 10 urge all self-re.
speeding and honest Democrats to repudate
both the jobber and his tools when occasion
offers.
Let us begin at the beginning. The city
council new stands: Democrats, five; Repnb-
llcans, three. Bearing these figures In mind
fend the action Of the said council in selecting
Young and incompetent Republican to I'LL
the position of city attorney when Demo-
cratic attorney who has lived and practiced
law for more than thirty years In the City Of
Mankato would have accepted the positi0nT
But there Is q job in II, tits said, and what is
the job? II is nothing more nor less than a
who was base enough TO agree beforehand TO
surrender the lions share Of the salary to the
Mayer of the city in return for his tthe May
Or's) influence In working" the Office. Twas
again the "alliance OF Bll1l and Black George,
the Puritan and the Black. leg"
1t is also interesting to note by what means
the majority OF the council was lured over TO
this scheme. IL is, however, not hard to dis
Germ. II is written in lurid characters in the
report OF the committee, also appointed by bis
Honor, TO fix salaries; In the appointment OF
two members of the council to positions on
that most abominable of all denominations the
Board OF Public Works; in the addition of an
extra policeman. and in the raising Of the sal
airy OF the city treasurer. The result is that
the Mayor secures $500 OF the salary which
will be drawn yearly by a Mr.. Young, and for
which neither will render more than $500
worth OF their very valuable legal services to
the city.
But honest and respectable Democrats, who
believe I'm the inviolability of contracts,
whether made previous to an election or not,
the acts of Mayor Pau. Before the late cleo
ton and at various and sundry times since he
promised to appoint Mr.. Andrew Hanna, a
most estimable and worthy citizen. member
of the Board of Public Works. This he has
failed to do, and now seeks to creep out of his
peculiar position by promising to appoint Mr..
later. To Mr. Hanna's credit he has refused
to enter into any "deaI'' Of the kind.
AS consistent Democrat 1 feel that the
out, but they have also been insulted by man
they have in the past delighted to honor, and
further believe that unless the two or three
honest men who happen to be In the city coun.
Gil at the present time arise in their might
Mankato Is to be at the mercy of as conscience
less band of robbers as were ever given full
swing in city Of 10000 population. "A Demo
crat elected to office can only prove himself a
true follower OF the glorious principles OF
Democracy by giving his constituents the
most honest and economical administration of
his public duties possible. True Democracy
consists in, and is best carried out in good
government, and IL ought to be the PRIDE of
the Democratic party In this city to furnish
honest, capable and efficient public officers
for the city government. But, alasl How diff
ferent is the actual condition of affairs.
Mayor Pau seems to think that the Democra-
tic party of Mankato exists simply that he can
farm out the Offices for his own benefit. 1
venture to say that q more disgraceful deal
has never been executed than was carried
throughIthe city council ON last Monday night
question is, can the Democracy of this city af-
ford to shoulder the responsibility for Mayor
Pfau's political misdeeds and mistakes2 I am
of the opinion that IL cannot, and political
jobbery like political inidelity is sure to be
rebuked. In these days when every citizen
reads his paper and understands what is going
on In his municipality 1t is a very poor time
for as rotten and corrupt an administration as
Mayor Pau has inaugurated to go on without
a sure and certain punishment
But Mayor Pfau,s schemes are only beginn-
the Republican convention of Blue Earth
county meets year later and is requested TO
nominate stool-pigeon Young for county at
torney, and they will blossom and bear mighty
costly fruit for Blue Earth county when a few
Republicans with the aid OF the Mayors fol
81 elsSf fhe stfSressd 70 the
county attorney can then be raised to 81 500
per year, and the Mayor and his partner open
ldCkpOtS anu buutuL cAtTd uFy WIN Ill Ine
reckiessness that has thus far characterized
the operations of the two gentlemen in ques-
ton.
It seems to me, fellow Democrats, that there
Is but one course to pursue In this matter
and IL is to repudiate the whole business. Let
the next two years be Pau administration
and not Democratic administration. As a
Democrat, who voted for Mayor Pfau at the
late election, in common with nine-tenths OF
the Democratic voters of the city, denounce
bis administration as unworthy the support OF
the Democratic party of the city of Mankato.
The city and the Democratic party need an
emetic that will eject Mayor Pau in short or
der; and II not taken soon i fear the Pau
method of handling. the public funds will be
worse on the city treasury than was the fam
Gus army complaint on our veterans during
the late war. Respectfully.
A DEMOCRAT.