St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-30
COL. JOHNSON TALKS.
He Says Politics Is Behind the
Census Row.

He Says Politics Is Behind the
Census Row.
Col. G. W. Johnson, clerk of the
United States senate. arrived in Mime
apolis yesterday, and the air being full
of census talk, of course what he says
in connection with the census,
being fresh from the head of govern
ment business, is of interest. He
could not be found yesterday. but last
night GLOBE representative succeed
ed in getting him out of bed for an in
terview. This is whath said: '"There
is no prospect of congress adjournlng
before the 18th of August or the 1st OF
September. During the next few weeks
there will be few days when the sem
ate will not be in session, as the
tariff bill will not be taken
up until July z, and all
the other important bills, like the silver
measure, are in conference. AS L had
some important business to transact
here, and as l could get away easier
now than at any other time. decided
to come now. Moreover, my mother is
very sick, and desire to see her was
a great incentive for me to visit
Minneapolis as soon as possible.
Ny visit here is on purely personal
business. 1t has nothing whatever to
do with the census, nor with anything
besides private affairs. However, do
not wish it to be understood that l am
Indifferent to the census matter.
recognize the situation-I have fol-
lowed the matter in the papers,
but l have taken no part in
it whatever. and will take no
part either here OF in Washington. l
have not been in the attorney generals
office for six months. do not know
Mr.. Taft, the solicitor. | know Mr..
Miller only officially. have been in
the census Office but once since 1t was
opened, so you can see that L have
taken no part in this affair.
AS to this trouble, Will
say that think the action OF st. Paul
unneighborly and unfriendly. Ii fraud
has been committed. If there was any
evidence tending to show that fraud had
been committed. there were ways to
reach it under the laws which would
have been Justified. l think the effort
being made to throw discredit upon Mr..
Hay is misleading and Intentionally
SO. The purpose behind this seeming
outgrowth of local rivalry is purely po-
litical. 1t is the endeavor OF certain
Republican politicians of st. Paul to
array the political sentiment of the state
against Minneapolis. There is nothing
disinterested about it. The pretense
that this action has been taken for
the public interest is nothing put
pretense. The end hoped for is to
discredit Minneapolis before the gov
ernment and before the state. The peO'
pie of Minneapolis outnumber those OF
st. Paul by 10000 or 10000. 1t is an ef-
fort to belittle the city before the coun-
try at large, and particularly the state.
been any frauds. 1t is not nee
essary to perpetrate frauds in the
enumeration, in order that Minneapolis
may outstrip st. Paul, understand. l
don't Justify fraud. do not excuse it
in any way, and 1 believe in an honest,
fair investigation. The census of 1880,
taken by me, although denounced at
the time by certain st. Paul papers,
was absolutely invulnerable. 1t was
thoroughly examined by hostile
critics both here and at Wash
ington and has long since been
vindicated. The cry has always been,
as it was then, Minneapolis always pads
her census The falsity of the state
ment was proved ten years ago. There
should be a thorough. honest. i'm
partial investigation now. L be-
lieve the people of Minneapolis
will offer no objection to such an
investigation. speak of this matter as
man who has watched the situation,
but man who has taken no part IN the
matter at all. l will be in Minneapolis
but few days, when I will return to
Washington, and while here l shall oc-
cupy myself with private business ex-
clusively."