St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-25
ROASTED TO A TURN,
Eric Olson Receives a Tongue
Lashing From John Day
Smith.
The Little Scandinavian Has
Been Critieising the In
vestigators.
They Resent His Charges in
Language Anything but
Mild.
Attorney Erwin Is to Receive
a Few SimoleonS From
the State.

1t was hail Columbia at yesterday
mornings session of the wheat investi-
CATION. Eric Olson, who had just planted
himself III convenient spot for taking
the voluminous notes he uses i'll writing
articles for the State, suddenly took
his eyes off the paper and the motion Of
his pencil stopped. He was being
talked about, and John Day Smith was
the talker. The introduction of the af-
fair was resolution offered by Senator
Sevatson. 1t reads thus:
Resolved That this committee condemn
in the strongest terms the unfair and parti-
san course of THE State, in its issue Of
June Is, as shown III an editorial of said
paper attempting to mislead the public and
bring into discredit the office of the attorney
general and certain m embers of this commit
tee, and for publishing the dirty, scurrilous
articles written by one Eric Olson.
MI. Moore wanted ia amend by con-
demning all the newspapers for their
attitude toward the committee during
the investigation. Then it was that
JohE Day Smith, the inceptor of noe
turnal hanging bees, arose in his wrath
and Smote MIR. Olson hip and thigh.
He had noticed the unfair course of that
paper, the State. 1t had been the eX-
pOnent of scurrilOus views of a scurri
lous writer, whose character could not
be sullied by contact with the lowest
vagabond who craWled the gutter of the
earth. The paper in which these arti
cles appeared assumed to represent the
grain growers association, but Mr..
Smith knew full well that neither Gen.
Barrett nor Mr.. Hall would be party
to such attacks as those made in the
columns of the State. What this man
Eric Olson said amounted to little. He
had been hanging about ever since the
committee organized, trying to get en-
ployed. Both he and Muller, who had
been in the employ of the State, were
beneath the committees contempt.
While he was being thus scored Mr..
Olson took notes intently. Mr.. Smith
wanted him to
Get Every Word
down, he said. and when he had COM
pleted his remarks Mr.. Olson could not
do better than take himself and his
notes back to the wilderness. Mr..
Sevatson spoke in favor Of the resolu-
ton. Assistant Attorney General Childs
asked for the exclusion from the reSoiu-
ton OF the attorney generals office, as
he cared nothing for OlSon's attacks.
The original resolution was carried by
a vote of 3 to 2. Messrs. Smith, Zelch
and SevatSon voted for it, and Messrs.
Moore and Barrett against it.
The editorial in the State which gave
rise to the scene in the committee room
yesterday attacked the assistant attor-
ney general and Messrs. Smith, Zelch
and French for permitting the witness
Scott to testify before the committee,
and accused all the members of being
mixed up in huge whltewashing job.
In regard to allowing bill to Attor-
ney w. w. Erwin for his services, Mr.
Barrett moved that he be allowed SIS
per day. MIR. Moore seconded the mo-
ton. Mr.. Sevatson thought that it
would be best to ascertain what Mr.. En-
win charged, as it might be less. Mr..
Smith said he was opposed to paying
Erwin anything; but, # they did pay
him anything, it should be lump sum.
Mr.. Zelch was opposed to paying En-
win anything, as he was not the attor-
ney of the committee. Finally, Mr..
Sevatson moved to allow Mr.. Erwin
| $400, and the motion was adopted by a
vote of to 2, Messrs. Moore, Geissel,
| Caswell, French and Sevatson voting in
| favor of the motion, Messrs. Zelch and
| Barrett voting against it, MIR. Smith re-
| framing from voting.
AT the afternoon sessionsMr. Erwin
Opened the Ball
by asking that the books containing the
screening accounts kept by the ele-
vator companies be produced. Mr.. Sev-
erance objected to this, saying that the
matter could be fully explained by the
defense through its witnesses.
| The committee turned to the state
| ment submitted by the experts. The
figures show that 279,095 bushels have
| been shipped out without Inspection,
but the claim of the defense is that
200, 600 bushels of that amount consists
of the burnt wheat shipped out
with the permission of the grain COM
mission, and that the remaining 1905
bushels can be accounted for in a salts
factory manner. The elevator men are
| not at all disconnected by the figures,
claiming that all discrepancies can be
explained.
Mr.. Erwin urged that the elevator
men be asked to produce their private
books for examination, A shipment OF
$4,000 bushels of screenings appeared
upon the railroad books, and the at
torney wanted to make sure that this
was not good wheat.
Mr.. Severance asked that the defense
| be allowed to proceed with its case al
once. A prima facie case had been
made out against them, and they
wished to be heard.
Assistant Attorney General Childs
said if it was necessary to call for the
books he would do so.
The committee decided to hear the
case of the defense first. and if 1t wa:
found necessary to have the books pro
duced to cali for them at that time.
Mr.. Severance wished to cross-exam
inc Expert Willis, so the latter took the
stand. The witness said that in check
ing the books he had not searched fo
an explanation for any apparent dis
crepancy, but merely copied the book.
and presented what was shown OF