St. Paul daily globe., 1890-04-27
KlEFER IN A CORNER.
He Is Confronted by a Wit
ness to His Political
Methods.
The Gallant Campaigner Is
Again Given a Chance to
Explain.
a Rousing Democratic Rally
to Indorse Aid. John F.
Gehan.
Candidate Reed Getting Very
Weary Of His Political
Venture.

Did Col. Kiefer use his Influence
against A. p. CroonquiSt in the election
of 1881 when the colonel was running
for clerk of curt, and Mr.. Cro"nqulSt
for register of deeds?
This is a question asked Col. Kiefer
by the GLOBE several-days ago, when
it printed the statement of Mr.. Groom
ouist, in which the colonel was point
blank accused of betraying the
Republican candidate for regis
ter of deeds in the memorable
county campaign. of 1881. after he had
given that same candidate his pledge
and word of honor that he would pull
straight on the whole ticket. This IN
tervieW with Mr.. Cr0onquiSt was pub
Iished on Tuesday morning. ard Two
davs later the globe again ''calied
time" on Col. Kierer. and promised. in
case Col. Kieier denied the accusations
of Mr.. Croenqulst. that man would be
produced who would substantlate every
statement made hy Mr.. Co0nquist.
Answered Col. Kiefer has not. al
though he has tried 10 do SO through
a carefully wnrded affidavit by one
Ghorkiid Wilson, who is not now. as ne
certainly was not in 1881, the keeper OF
Col, Kiefer's political conscience and
morals. This aswer. which is i'll fact no
reply to the charges made by the
GLOBE and Mr.. Croonqust. because
Col. Kiefer has very artfuily and
wisely evaded saying that he dld
not betray MIR. CrOonquist in the canI-
paign Of 1881, shall be met, as promised
bp the GLOBE Thursday, 10y the test-
sc fff fh.,l Loo ~
Republicans of the First ward-a man
who knows that Col. Kiefer basely be-
trayed A. z. Croonquistin 1881, because
Col. Kiefer. himself, handed him the
documents which prove it and stamp
Col. Kiefer'S wOuld-be defender as one
totally Ignorant of the events 10 Which
he has sworn.
Il believe that 10th Col. Kiefer and Mr..
Cro0nquist would have been elected Ill 1881
if it had not been for the combination mace
by Col. kiefer and the tickets distributed oy
Kiefer himself " hich did not contain the
l'"':~ Of n. 2. Gro inquist for reglst vi
deeds"
...s is pretty strong language. but it
came from man whose word Is as g0Ou
as his bond. and the latter would be ae-
cepted for good round sum by those
who know him in the city of St Paui.
His name is MObery, and he resides at
where he owns valuable business block.
In the fall of 1881 Mr.. Mobery.
who was then, as now, an ardent. as
well as a strong Republican, lived i'll
New Canada. He was Il friend of A. L.
CrOonquiSt, and was working for him
with might and main. In view OF Col.
Kiefer's semi-denlal of the charges pre-
ferred against him by Mr.. Croonquist.
the story of Mr. Mobery becomes inter
esting.
''1his matter happened so long ago
that do not care to rake 1t up noW."
said Mr.. ohery, in answer TO queS-
ton of GLOBE reporter. Il worked
for Cot. Kefer when he was first
elected, and believe | got him great
many votes. L know that Col. Kiefer
did not pull straight in that campaign.
because he himself gave me tickets for
distribution in New Canada as Repnb-
lican tickets which contained the name
of the Democratic nominee for register
of deeds instead of that of Mr.. Groom
quist. The way he happened to do this
was that on the day before the election
[ camd to st. Paul to get q supply of
Republican tickets for use in the elec-
ton. [ went to Col. Kiefer, then clerk
of court. and he gave me a bundle of
what purp0rted to be straight Repub-
lican tickets. l at once noticed that
they did not contain the name of A. L.
CroonquiSt. the regular Republican
nominee for register OF deeds. but III
stead the name of the Democratic can
ddate. | then asked Col. Kiefer why
CrOonquiSt'S name was not Oh the ticket
and his reply was that should take the
tickets; that they were all right"
This pretty effpctually clinches all the
assertions made by Mr.. Croonquist. but
it isn't all of it, by any means.
"What do you suppose | did them"
asked Mr.. Mobery with merry twinkle
in his eye. The GLOBE man remarked
that he was too good q Republican to
distribute such a ticket and Mr.. Mobery
continued:
81 just took one of those tickets and
showed them to couple of my friends.
and together we spent all of tine night
before the election in working against
Kiefer, and | believe getting out that
ticket cost Kiefer over LOCO votes and
am sure that it defeated both Kiefer
and CrOonquiSt. Atthe election in New
Canada there were eighty-tWo votes cast,
and Mr.. CrOonQuist received fifty-four of
them."
''lf they deny this, let them come to
me and will prove it to them" said
Mr.. Mobery in conclusion.
The statements of Mr.. Mobery were
confirmed by his son, Charles Mobery.
weIl-informed and bright young busi-
ness man, who manages store near his
fathers residence. .'Father told me
about this some time before Mr.. Groom
quist's statement appeared in the
GLOBE" said the younger MObery.
Now, Col. Kiefer. in Fridays Dis
patch you said: II have been called
upon to answer MIR. .CrooHquist's charge.
and here is my answer" and you pre-
scented the affidavit of a man who knew
nothing about the matter as conclusive
proof OF your Innocence, while deftly
evading making al answer for yourself.
What is your answer to Mr. Mobery's
statement?
Did you. Col. Kiefer, hand Mr.. Mo
brey as straight Republican tickets the
day before the election of 1881 ticket
containing upon it the names of all the
Republican nominees except that of A.
z. CrOonQuIst for register OF deeds, 10
whom YOU had solemnly pledged your
word as a man that you would ''pull
straight"
What is your "answer" now. Col.
Kiefer? The public is interested in
learning your answer to these charges,
and all answer is demanded.
Another point. too, Col. Kiefer. Your
followers, and in particular one M.
Dienstag, your future private Secre-
tary (?). has gone about the streets as
serting that suits for damages would be
commenced by you against Mr.. Groom
quiSt and others who dared to say that
you 'threw" A. Z. CroonquiSt in the
campaign of 1881. Does this DienStag
speak by the card?