New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1890-10-08
RAILROAD LAWYER WILSON.
His Career as a Lawyer and Legis-
lator shown up by those who
know him.
Tom Wilson, the ideal Of himself,
and the real Wilson, as Known
to Others.
Read what Follows and ask Your
Read what Follows and ask Your
selves if you want such man
for Governor.

| for Governor.
A bit of record, that quite upsets the
Democratic argument that Tom Wilson
is friend of the people, has just been
brought before the public by the watch
full Paradis of the Midway News. Pa.
raids was formerly editor of the Plain.
view News in the Southeastern part of
the state. In that capacity he had achance
to view this Mr.. Wilson, whom the
Democratic bosses have trotted out as
candidate for governor, and he is accord
'ingly prepared with little ammunition
for 'our friend of thirty years" which
! is not of the most savory nature. In
the last issue of his paper he relates the
full particulars of suit between the
Chicago & Northwestern railway and
the towns of Plainview and Elgin. 1t
| is an obscure case, but nevertheless
shows the cunning and aggressiveness
of the man who fought the battles Of
the road The two towns desired a
branch line from Eyuta. The North
western advanced the money and agreed
to accept bonds for 100000. The road
was built, but when the time came to
pay the bonds, a few discreet citizens
interfered With an injunction against
their issuance Later on however the
bonds were issued, and the same citi-
zens took the matter into the courts.
1t went through r1he lower tribunals,
and twice in the supreme court of the
state it was decided chat the bonds were
null and that the towns could not con-
stitutionally be compelled to- pay them.
1t was then, after double defeat, that
the long head of the foxy lawyer showed
itself in it's true shape. he succeeded
in having himself elected to the legisla.
ture. There, after being twice over
ruled by the supreme judges, he had
the remarkable eftrontery to introduce
bill which would enable the railroad in
q roundabout way to receive payment
for those bonds. AS the News saws, SO
deep-laid was his cunning tbat the
towns had to employ men like Gordon
E. Cole and Judge Start tqf ferret out
the snares that he might set for his un-
suspecting constituents, His bills failed
to pass of course. but Sthe record re-
mains of how he evidently endeavored
to use his position as 1 legislator to fur
ther the interests Of a great corporation.
These are Paradis' charges now, and
they are the same as have been laid at
| Wilson's door by him ever since 1880.
Wilson has never answered them but by
evasion, and probably ylnever will. He
will content himself no doabt by saying
that he has won several cases against
the railroads at a good fee, without ever
uttering word about those that be has
won for them. In a personal letter to
| the editor, Mr. Paradis further ex-
| plains this case and the character of
Mr.. Wilson. Here are the words of the
| letter:
sit may appear to you that am un-
necessarily severe upon our old friend
of thirty years. Mr.. Wilson, but would
not if you had followed him in the
courts and in the legislature, as have,
where in spite of our judicial tribunals
and the better sense of his colleagues
in the house, he has persistently sought
the ruin of two of the best towns in the
state. What more particularly in
sensed me against him as a public man,
was to have him undertake to pull the
wool over my eyes by misrepresenta-
tions and 'affectionate deceptions, and
when insisted upon proving his state
ments. and found the witnesses, to
whom he cited me, testified against
him, point blank, because would not
then engage in his support, but on the
contrary, showed by the Legislative
record, the court records and the testi-
mony of such men as Hon. G. M. Start,
Judge Collins, Robt. Taylor, Col. p. 3.
Gearey and others. that he had clearly
j prostituted his position as a legislator
to gain in the legislature what he had
failed to secure in the courts, he then
turned around and heaped personal
4 abuse upon me- The case / made
J against him Of course requires sober
i Judgment to understand, and in politi.
cal contests, passion is more llkely ste
| prevail than cool common sense q
you don't think Judge Wilson is the
most cunning hypocrite il the West
/ make study of his character in parti
cular as I have and you will find Il j,
true.'
The above is the letter, which "