St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-07
TODD EXPLAINS.
He Says He Doesn't Know Mer-
RAMS Secrets

r1amS ScCretS.
Editor Of the Globe.
Your editorial comments upon my
communication to the Redwood GaZ-
cite, published in Mondays GLOBE,
showed that you did not fully under
stand the facts. Your criticism was
evidently intended to be fair, but you
were wrong in your premises. You
say: "When one gentleman accepts the
hospitality of another gentleman, it is
understood that whatever transpires in
the latter's domestic circle during the
formers stay is to be kept a matter of
profound secrecy" This is true but
not applicable to this case. / have not
enjoyed Gov. Merriam's hospital
ity or his confidence, neither
do / know any of his secrets.
When Commissioner Bailey assumed
the duties of the state insurance depart
ment he found me alone in charge OF
the Office. 1t was critical time. Hun
dredS of reports from insurance COM
panies had been received, and were
awaiting actual examination. Thou
sands of agents were awaiting their
licenses, money was coming in at the
rate of upwards of thousand dollars
per day, and the volume OF work I'M
done was beyond the comprehension of
any one not versed in the duties. When
Mr.. Bailey, Who knew nothing what
ever about the affairs or duties OF the
department, began to comprehend the
remain as his assistant. The matter
was settled then and there, and began
to work day and night to catch
up, and | succeeded in placing the
matter for the department report
in the printers hands on time. All that
Gov. Merriam ever said about the mat
ter was to tell the reporters that Mr..
Bailey would run his own department.
This was right, and as the law provided
for the appointment of an assistant by
the commissioner. and not by the gov
ernor, Commissioner Bailey was the
only person | recognized or could recog-
nize. The latter, without the least So
licitation OH the part of anyone, re-
auested me to stay, and supplemented
his request with the statement that my
retention, under the circumstances, was
a necessity. After six months OF as
hard, responsible work as ever did Ill
my life, and an honest effort to instruct
the commissioner in his new duties. the
governor told the commissioner that he
must drop me, as he had man
for my place. Although he had said
nothing to either Mr.. Bailey or myself
about it before. his ak had been held
above my head all this time, and as soon
as he thought it safe, as he afterward
told me, in substance, he let 1t fall. The
commissioner and all the insurance men
of both cities protested, but the ak
dropped, and the governor then tried to
create the impression that the decapita-
ton act was performed by Mr.. Bailey.
This is what you termed hospitality"
but if there was any hospitality In the
case it was furnished by the other fell
low. | have no apology for the motives
which evolved my letter to the Gazette.
Ii is human nature and animal nature
to yelp when the tail is stepped upon or
when the masters boot is applied
without cause; and fortitude which
silence is not necessarily commenda-
BILE virtue. You also say: 1.-THE facts
which he (Todd) retails relating to the
methods by which the Republican
nominating convention was controlled,
and the election of the state ticket Sc
cured, were as well known to the eX-
deputy insurance commissioner six
months ago as they are now" That is
not quite true, either. The most dis
graceful things which l have learned
about Merriam's administration have
been learned since / was relegated.. l
have taken occasion to look up several
matters of late, and while perSuing my
Investigations have stumbled upon
some things which were surprise part
les. Some of them will make interest
ing reading a little later on. | never
called the charges OF boodleism
against Merriam a campaign lie, as
you say. l was not in a position
to do that. When Merrlam threatened
to sue the Daily News for libel on &C
count of its charges of bribery, thou
sands of the best Republicans in Min
nesota believed that if he began the
action the News would prove the
charges. But l could never see what
difference this made to me, for my ap-
pointment came from Bailey, and not
from Merriam. And it was not made
as a reward for political services, but
because / was acquainted with the
duties of the office. Furthermore, the
insurance Office has never before been
considered a political one. In the light
of these facts you will see that the Coy
ernor's act was an arrogant assumption,
d base usurpation; and, instead of law
ishing the wealth of his hospitality
upon me, he perpetrated an outrage
which requires peculiar talent TO con-
trive and extraordinary nerve to exc
cute. w. M. Todd.