The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1890-10-03
BAKER AND DEMOCRACY.

Thursday evening wiser man than when
he came to Mankato. Hefound Wilkinson
stubborn, unpurchasable and unwilling
to withdraw from the Congressional
field in accordance with the dictates of
the st. Paul combine, which includes
Doran, the Democratic State Central
committee, Thos Wilson and the man
ageInent of one of the greatest railroad
corporations in the Northwest. He
found that the leading Democrats of
Mankato, who are standing solidly by
Wilkinson, are not the fools they had
supposed, and the opposition to Baker,
developed in the meeting of the faith
full, was found to be of the rankest kind.
And RICH, here it might not be out of
place TO say that the Democrats are in
possession of come facts connected with
Jim's ra lroad commissionership reports
which are damaging in the eyes even of
some of the Bourbons, for the claim ia
made that be has record longer, and
of a deeper color than any Of. the cattle
of the thousand hills" recently trans
fered to Oak Cliff. 1t is this record that
has attracted the attention of the st.
Paul combine to his support land made
suspicious the leaders of the Democracy
IN the Second district In the annual
report of railroad commissioner Baker,
made in Dec. 1883, speaking of one of
the great systems of railroads in Minne-
sofa he says: 1.-THE Board of Directors
OH the 18th OF April last authorized the
stockholders to purchase the new con-
solidated mortgage bonds of the com.
paay to the amount of 90 per cent. OF
their holdings, at 10 per cent. of their
par yalue, which privilege the stock
holders have availed themselves of"
Some important questions
arise out of this action, which will be
fully presented by the commissioner in
his next report" AS the capital stock
of the company referred to at the time
was about $4,000 900, Misrepresentation
OF 30 per cent. at 10 per cent. par value,
was clear coniscation of S9,0O0,00O
from the public. whose interest Railroad
Commissioner Baker was paid to guard,
according to his own statement, and his
threatened presentation of "some i'm
portant questions" in his succeeding re-
port was looked for with degree of ex-
pectancy which the importance of the
promised expose would seem to war
RAM. But il never came. jim must
have forgotten" al about his promise to
present the important questions" to the
public. He did not, however, forget
10 put IN the winter lobbying with the
members of the legislature two years
ago in the interest of railroad legislation,
and this fact may account, IN degree,
for his failure to keep faith with the
people, for Donnelly, you know, says it
(the legislature offered rich field for
such labors Now that he is candidate
for Congress on the Farmers Alliance
ticket, it may be among the possibilities
that Jim will explain what he meant
about "some important questions" that
were conveniently concealed from pub
lie gaze. There are those uncharitable
enough to still think Baker is not immac-
ulate regarding his railroad connections,
but however that may be there Is little
doubt in the minds of most people, at
all familiar with his 'peculiarities,"
that the railroad combine, with
Doran and Wilson as the fine work
ers," engaged him early to secure
hold on the Farmers Alliance and have
instIgated and aided his Alliance Con-
gressional nomination, and with the
aid of Pau have done all within their
POKER to secure place on the Demo-
cratic ticket for his name. But this last
effort has failed utterly and completely.
The Combine is not looked upon with
favor By those who are in control Of the
"mercheen" in this neck o. wood and
Baker must paddle his own canoe. A
man close to the General remarked the
other day that Baker had no hopes of
an election-that his main efforts in the
campaign would be put in against Gov.
Merriam. And for what? Simply be.
cause that gentleman refused to make
him railroad Commissioner. The very
fact that he is now doing the Fifth
district proves the correctness of the
assertion. Bakers speeches. when the
motives which prompted his desertion
of the Republican party and his close
alliance with railroad corporations and
Democratic managers are understood by
the people, will have no influence with
the masses. He Is IN close communion
with the worst element af the pemoc-
racy-the element that will scruple to
to gain "a point-and while os-
tenablY working for the Alliance ticket,
be j. in reality doing all in his power to
aid The election of Thomas Wilson. And
If Wilson should be elected, Baker will
be d member of the Railroad Commits
sion of Minnesota. Mark that. How
do the farmers of the Second District
like the pool into which they have been
drawn? VIII they be made the pliable
tools of the worst political combine ever
organized IN the state, or viii they drop
the scales from off Their eyes and behold
these schemers as they truly appear?
The Y1lnf xxvaa daora laid and wall rlan