The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-01-18
A BOOMERANG.

The Pioneer-Press Monday committed
an objectionable piece of business by
publishing an article over the signature
of II. G. Stone, formerly assistant re-
ceiver of the Saltwater car company, Sc
verely arraigning Senator Sabin for the
management of the affairs of that institu-
ton. and accusing him of gross personal
dishonesty. The matters referred to
and the charges made were simply
parcel of those which long ago were dis
counted and disproved by the testimony
of well-known gentlemen, and they are,
as Senator Sabin SAYS, only drawn into
the present canvass in order if possible
to bolster up the demoralized Washburn
column and brifg to the latter's support
those few legislators who may allow such
uncalled for ISLANDERS to influence their
votes. Senator Sabin sensibly says little
regarding the attack, but his friends
come forward with vindication mot a
"defense," as the PIP. meanly styles it)
so thorough that the senator may thank
Stone, or whoever else is responsible for
bringing the matter out. Gen. John B.
Sanborn addresses the PIP. letter in
which he repudiates the unwarranted
use of his name by Stone, and says:
There never has been any claim that
any fault attached to Mr.. Sabin beyond
that of being too sanguine and endeavor-
ing to build up great public enterprises
more rapidly than even the rapid devel-
Of 70 Nnrfh yocfy unt11d vryorr ny
His zeal in building up great manufac-
turing establishments at Saltwater and
Duluth and other points resulted in all
the disasters that followed, and in the
most thorough sitting in the courts of all
his acts and dealings with these corpora.
tons and the officers, stockholders and
creditors of the same, there was not o
shadow of testimony that he ever did
ANYTHING for the benefit of himself or
his own fortune to the prejudice of 9TH
ers, and the evidence demonstrated to
me that he had made greater sacrifice
of property in these enterprises than
any other party. Hence, although the
bank had, as we believed, the means of
dollar of its debts, it accepted by unani-
nous vote of the board of directors, the
compromise offered by Senator Sabin,
and so far as l know, large majority of
its officers and directors are in favor of
his return to the senate, which certainly
would not be the case if there had been
any evidence that he was personally dis
honest or in the least degree unfaithful
in the discharge of trusts.
Judge Flandreau says:
l can say that after four years litiga-
ton Originally representing creditors
pressing claims against him) l never
found the slightest evidence that he
wrongfully appropriated dollar for his
personal benefit. AS corroboratory of
my own present position can add that
most of the largest creditors Of the car
company are fully satisfied with Mr.. Sa-
bins course, and so far from charging
him with dishonorable conduct, are his
friends and supporters to-day.
Mr.. Heard, attorney of the late N. w.
Kittson, states that during months of in
vestlgation he found nothing to impugn
Mr.. Sabin's integrity, and that in all the
transactions had with the latter he never
uttered an untruth. Mr.. Heard says
the late Mr.. Kittson held the same
views, and was perfectly satisfied with
the compromise made with the car COM
pany.
A number of other well-known and
influential men who were closely inter-
ested in the matters which are wrongly
turned against Mr.. Sabin, came forward
to state their positive faith and know
ledge of his integrity.
The attack of Stone is certainly acting
as boomerang and is doing the Senator
a real service in giving these distinguish
ed gentlemen an opportunity to testify
to his uprightness.