St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-27
Senator Hompe Denies an In
tervieW Credited to Him
Yesterday.
He Will Vote to Seat the Man
Flee ted in Washington
County.
Col. Daniel Aberle Nails Sew
epal Wild RumopS in a
Convincing Manner.
The Republican One Hundred
Not Friendly to Gov.
Merriam.

The feature of this week in the state |
senate will be the O'Brien-Searles con- |
tested election case from WaShin gtOn |
county, which has been made the spe-
cial order for tomorrow at II o'clock. |
The committee on elections, composed
of two Democrats, Senators Mcmillan
and Keller: two Republicans, Senators
Eaton and S. D. Peterson, and one AL
lance, Senator Mayo, after hearing all
the evidence in the case, unanimously
decided that Mr.. O'Brien was entitled
to the seat, and SO reported to the SEN
ate. This body then ordered the testl- [
mony printed and laid on the desks OF
the senators this morning.
But notwithstanding this unanimous
report morning organ of this city
sometimes Republican. sometimes
Democratic-came out with an article
claiming that the Alliance senators
were prejudiced against Mr.. O'Brlen
and pretending to quote Senator
Hompe, of Otter Tail, to the effect that
there were a number of Alliance Sena-
tors in favor OF Mr.. Searle and attribut-
ing to him the statement that unless the
evidence is overwhelmingly in favor OF
Mr.. O'Brlen he should vote for Mr..
SearleS.
To those who know the eminently
fair mind of Senator Hompe no denial
of this interview is necessary; but to
those not so we'll acquainted with him 1t
is only fair to give his version OF the
story.
What did say said Senator Hompe last
evening, was that had not heard the evil
dence, and proposed to vote for the man L
thought elected BY the people. II Mr.
OBrien was elected he ought to have the
seat and certainly shall vote to seat him if
the evidence shows this to be the case. The
Pioneer Press man certainly misunderstood
what | said in regard to the matter, or else
he would not have quoted me as he did yes
terday. | have no prejudices in the matter
and propose to vote as | think right as L
have no doubt every other Alliance senator
will do. CAP only speak for myself, now
ever and this is my position"
The cause of the sudden zeal of the
Pioneer Press to have the senate decide
against Mr. O'Brien regardless ct the
evidence and Of justice and right, is
generally attributed 10 state house in
fluence. and is laid by Shrewd member
of the Alliance to the governor and GER
tain members of the states prison board
who remember Mr.. O'Brien's opposition
to the purchase OF the foreign machinery
for the Saltwater Irvine plant last sum-
mer. When this committee, consisting
of Inspectors Temple, Hall, M. o., and
O'BrieG reached New York disagree
ment arose as to which system OF ma
chinery should be purchased. Hall and
Temple wanted the Belfast system,
although it cost some $1,000 more than
the American, while Mr.. O'Brien in
sisted that the Todd system should be
purchased. For some days this diSa-
greement existed, the majority finally
going ahead and ordering the Belfast
machinery. For confirmation OF this
the Alliance senators and all others in
tereSted are referred to the letter writ
ten by Mr.. Todd. of Patterson, n. j.,
after the committee had returned to
| Minnesota. 4z1-
Contemplate. however, as is this at
| tempt of a certain clique to prejudice
| the case of Mr.. O'Brien by misstating
| the facts in regard to the purchase of
! that Irvine machinery, 1T cuts no figure
| whatever in the case. the whole queS-
| ton is simply this:
! Was O'Brien or Searles elected sena-
| tor by the voters of Washington county
| last November?
mo outside questions should be dragged
| into this NATTER said the venerable DIR.
| Mayo, of Rochester, last evening. "All we
| have to pass on is who is entitled to repre-
sent Washington county in the senate.
| take no stock i'll the reports In circulation as
| regards the position of certain Alliance SEN
1 ators and / think that when they hear the
| evidence they will agree with the committee
| that Mr.. O'Brien is entitled to the seat
An evening paper of this city yester-
| day published half column of SluSh,
! intended to reflect upon the liquor
| dealers of the Twin Cities, but which
| really goes farther and is an insult to
| every member of the legislature. In
| brief, this paper stated that an organi-
cation had been effected to secure the
| repeal of that clause of the present high
| license law, referring to cities of over
! 10000, and to reduce the license in
| the large cities of the state
| from $1,000 to $500. Among the
misstatements and falSehoOds in this
article was especially offensive, which
was to the effect that corruption fund
| of $4,000 had been raised to push
through this amendment.
- Hon. Daniel Aberle, one of the largest
| wholesale dealers in the two cities, and
| well known and popular citizen of st.
| Paul, was seen in regard to this article
last evening, and was justly indignant
| that such a thing should be printed.
1T Is an outrage" he said. for any paper
| without any cause whatever,.to jump on a
body OF law abiding citizens i'll this way. L
| am i'll position to know whereof L speak,
| and | know that there is not word of truth
! in that article. Ia my opinion it was manu-
featured for purpose. The outrage is not
| confined to U.S. however. IL is an insult to
| every member of the legislature to insinuate
| that they could be induced TO pass such an
| amendment by means of corruption
| fund"
will such bill be introducedg' asked the
| reporter.
IF it is it will not come from our side"
| answered Mr.. Abenle positively. 1--WE have
no desire to interfere with legislation and
| all reports to the contrary are absolutely and
| unequivocally false in every particular. OF
| course need not say that the dealers in the
cities would not object to a reduction, but
they are not moking any effort to secure
such a thing and they will not. Sucn
| stories are calculated to injure us and are
| unjust and unfair both to the legislature and
| the men who are in the business"
To-day the Republican leaders of the
state, to the number of 100, meet in this
city to attempt to devise scheme by
| which Minnesota can be saved to the g.
O. D. in 1892. While things may appear
harmonious enough Oh the outside, a
great conflict is going on within the
| party ranks. For some reason the gov
| 6TDOT dlfu HIS dEc HUI UCiuS
| treated with that degree of conSidera-
ton to which they think themselves
entitled, and do not propose to be set
aside. The conspicuous position In this
| reorganization scheme taken by such
inyeterate opponets of Gov. Merriam as
1 Loren Fletcher, w. III. EustiS, eX-GOV.
| PillSbury and others is not relished by
| the governor and his friends, and may
cause trouble. But this is not all. Gov.
| Merriam is low tariff man. while the
| men in control of this committee of 100
| are all of the Bob Evans order of Nc
Kinley worshippers. They Will I'M
| doubtedly stand by the Eastern guns of
| the party on the tariff, while it Is well
| known that the governor inclines the
other way, and any expression on this
subject at to-day's meeting will precipi-
tate trouble i'll the party ranks through
out the state. Hosts of the rank and
| file of the $1,000 voters who
| Iirad mn ha1aind the UOVpruor