St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-22
IN TODDsONIAN WAY.

Ex-Deputy Insurance Commissioner
Todd finds it a difficult task to estrange
himself altogether from the capital,
and Yesterday found him meanderlng
about the corridors. Mr.. Todd's aD-
sence from the insurance department.
has produced a great change. What
was once lively, entertaining office for
state politicians. is now as quiet and
dismal as the grave. The Merriam
Todd imbroglio has had a depressing
effect upon Commissioner Bailey, who
now deems it advisable to play the oys-
ter act. The commissioner may be
lured into a talk upon cooperative IN
surance and the hazardous occupation
of missionary to the FIJI islands, but
when OIL come to
"WelI. what do you think about
T0dd'S letter on Merriam?"
The commissioner signs heavily,
seizes pen and graciously lntlmates
that he has no time for frlYolltleS.
There is little doubt but that j. w.
Todd is going to prove somewhat of
thorn in Gov. Merriam's side. He IN
forms me that he accompanied the Min
nesota editors on their recent trip to
Chicago, and in conjunction with Editor
Pease. of the AnOka Herald, sounded
the editorial pulse as to the probability
of Gov. Merriam being the Republican
nominee at the next gubernatorial cleo
ton. The ''feeling" process was done
in manner not to excite suspicion, ana
there was not one outSpoken declaration
in favor of Gov. Merriam. Opinion was
found pretty well divided, though it was
freely admitted that the three most
likely candidates we're Knute Nelson,
Lieut.. Gov. Rice and State Auditor
Braden. Knute Nelson was acknoWl-
edged the choice of Northern Mime
sofa, but the man all the editors eX-
pressed a strong leaning for was capt.
Braden. He would give the state, not
only a business administration, but
would conduct its affairs with tact and
discretion. without falling into bad odor
in connection with the filling of petty
offices under his immediate Jurisdiction.
Such an expression of opinion from
the state moulders Of public opinion is
significant enough, but yet it must 90
for naught. There is good stretch
from now to the next election, and many
mortgages will have become due in that
time.
What! is this Joel Heatwole-the sup
porter, the friend, the confident of Gov.
Merriam-WhO has given an lnd0rSe-
ment to W. NJ. Todd? Read: Joel
HeatWoEe told me that beyond a certain
angry tone, he Endorsed my letter which
Overhauled Gov. Merriam'S admlnlstra-
ton" These are the words OF MI.
Todd, and presumably they are correct,
when that gentleman was led to under
stand they would be published. 1t would
be no gain to him to state anything I'M
true. when he knew that Mr.. HeatWole
would have the opportunity to dlSavoW
their paternity.
Poor Merriam! that even his prOtege
Joel should turn round and administer
gentle reprOOf.
The country weeklies have made long
comments upon the Todd letter. and IN
reply Mr.. Todd has this to say:
| have been much amused by the
comments of the state press upon the
communication. Some OF the papers
have roasted me, while others have
commended the article. [ have had
several personal letters, some from
strangers, in which the writer's said
they Endorsed all that | said. The
author of one Of the letters relates his
experience in trying TO see Merriam one
time when he didn't see him. 1t is quite
noticeable that not one of the papers
which roasted me attempts to deny or
controvert my statements. They say
Pm sOrehead, etc. That has nothing
to do with it. Pm not on trial. The
impeachment is against Merriam, not
me. | admit Pm prejudiced, not be-
cause | was fired, but because of the
methods emDlOyed.
When man causes the arrest OF an
other for assault and battery he tells his
story in court. OF course he is preju-
diced. but that cuts no figure if his
statement is undisputed. But how
would it sound for the judge to say
to the complaining witness: "IhiS
comes with very bad grace from you,
my friend: you are Sorehead. Iou
have been pounded and now you are
Squealing." The question should not
be whether I'm sore or not. but whether
my statements are true or not. If they
are untrue, why doesn't some one deny
them? One of the papers which tried
hard to roast me, and really Supp0seS
it has roasted me, SAID substantially
that it presumed my statements were
true, but that had no business to pub
iish them.
lam not, never was and never will be
under the least obligation to Gov. Mer-
Tiam. was not appointed by him, and
the only reason he not interfere sooner
was because, as he said, he could not do
so without friction. | didn't write the
communication because | was fired, as
some seem to suppose, and | only re-
ferred to my removal by way of illus
tration. l claim Merriam is no more fit
to be governor of this state than is an
iIliterate sport. never saw man who
would not admit that Merriam would
never have been thought of in the posi-
ton he occupies had it not been for his
money. As soon as this is conceded, it
must be further conceded that the fact
that he is occupying the position con-
stitutes a disgrace to this state. This is
a fact, and whether said by one who
has been removed by his chicaneryship
or not makes no difference.