Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-11-11
Boudle in the Bad Bow State.
Chicago Journal.

that Wisconsin has political
scandal. Naturally the Democratic
officials Of that strong Republica n
State feel that their position is but
temporary, and therefore they have
been busy in making the most they
could out of their short lease Of
power. Nor is it any worse for
them TO let themselves profitable
contracts than it was for the Presi-
dent to sell foreign missions aud
secretaryships when friends were
few and calls were great. This
reform movement began at the top
and We expect that the crop Of
scandals will keep on increasing
until the accidents who were car
ried in by last FalPs madness have
passed from serving the State In
one capacity to another in which
labor is performed without remu-
neration, aud boodling is only a
memory.
This Wisconsin case is very in.
terestiug both for its effect in that
State and as a precedent for the
Democratic officials of other re-
Gently revoluuorized common
wealths. 1t is prolific of pointers
and warnings. Thus runs the story:
Tracy & Gibbs, printers, have
brought suit against Governor
George w. Peck, Clarence Clark,
who was the Governors private
secretary up to November /; Attor-
ney General James O'Connor and
J. NJ Clancy, in which it is alleg-
ed that the defendants secured
money from the plaintiffs under an
agreement that the latter should
enjoy the fat profits of state gov
eminent job. The job was not
forthcoming according to agree
ment. Therefore should the money
be returned. But this dry abstract
is insufficient. There Ia too much
richness in the details, which are
briefly, as follows.
The governor and his friends had
embarked upon the herculean task
of establishing an administration
organ and were soon short of funds.
Happily there was a big printing
contract in sight involved in the
publication of roster of the Wis.
consin soldiers of the civil war,
and it was determined that it
should 90 to the organ. But IN
fortunately few little technical
matters were overlooked State
officials may not let public con.
tracts to themselves. There was no |
bidding as was required by law,
nor were the terms of the contract
published, as was also required by |
law So great was the need Of
secrecy that an iuquisitive public
printer excited the ire Of the private
secretary to such degree that the
latter talked of the former as Van
derbilt did to the public. At this
point in the game, for cautions
sake, the organ was transferred to
young man who was neither a cap
italist nor an official, and who an
swered very well as a fgure-head.
Then the contract was made out at
prices which would have caused the
State a loss of $4,000 had not the
Governor been at last thoroughly |
informed as to whittier he was
drifting. At a critical moment he
stopped the deal, but before he did |
SO Tracy & Gibbs had been taken
in. The organ had not the facili-
ties for doing the proposed work,
and these men were TO share
a slice of the job provided they
would hand over $4,000 in the
hour Of distress. This they did,
and the cancellation of the contract
left them nothing but the right to
sue. A person Of the name Of
Dows is also said to have advanced
m oney, but it is declared that his
mouth was closed by deposit of
public moneys in bis country bank.
Other country bankers, it is assert
ed, have been working in the same
way.