Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-11-29
VICTIMIZED BY BAD ADVICE.
Another Chapter in the Sensational ROSTER
C0ntrqct Dam3gA Suit at Madison.

MADISON, Wis, Nov. 27.-Gov. Peckto-
day filed his answer in the suit brought
by w. A. Tracy, Z. F. Gibbs c. A. Van
Nelzer, II. A. Miner and w. J. 2. McFail
against Clarence L. Clark, George w.
Peck, J. +. O'Connor. James M. Clancy,
George Dow, Jr. and Robe Dow.
The answer denies that the Madison
Times was especially devoted to the pro-
motion OF the political interests OF the
defendant, and that this defendant was
in any manner financially interested in
the paper and that he incurred any
financial obligation by reason of its pub
Ication.
The answer then takes up the matter
of the board of deposits. 1t admits
that the board met August s, 1891, and
then at subsequent meetings deslg-
mated and approved certain banking
institutions as state repositories, OF
which a record was kept by the sec
rotary of state. This defendant ex-
pressly denies that prior to the
organization of the Times Printing Com
pany, or at any time he requested A.
Woodward, president of the Citizens
Bank of Clinton to make application to
the BOARD of deposit to have his bank
designated as state depository, and
expressly denies that any such request
was made to Woodward by or with the
knowledge or consent of our defendant.
Defendant further expressly denies that
there was any understanding or agree
ment with this defendent or on his be-
half or with his knowledge or consent
that Woodward, as president of the
Citizens Bank of Clinton or otherwise,
should loan any sum whatever to
said corporation or to any person
or persons whatever for any pur-
pose whatever The defendant adj
mits that $4,000 was deposited in the
bank, and that S., 600 was subsequently
drawn by the checks ofthe state treasur-
cry. The defendant denies that the
$4,000 or any sum was loaned by the
bank to him or to any firm or corpora
ton in which he has an interest.
The answer admits that on or about
SANITARY 10, 1898, at the request Of and
for the accommodation of Clarence l..
Clark, his private secretary, he, with
f. T, Prouefit endorsed a note of the
Times Printing Company for $500;
that the note matured before April %,
1898, the date the plaintiffs claimed
to have advanced $4,000; that the
note was never demanded of the de-
PENDANT nor protested, and defendant
supposed for a long time after its ma
turity that it had been fully paid The
pressly denies each and every allegation
IN said complaint, alleging conspiracy or
participation therein by this defendant
to injure, cheat or defraud said plain
tifs."
The defendant alleges that a roster of
Wisconsin, volunteers had been pub
lished by the state at cost Of 3. "A
volume, the state furnishing the paper
which was p cents volume, making
the total colt 1896 a volume. The COM
plant continues: This defendant was
at the time informed that a contract
could be entered into with the Times
Printing Company for the printing and
publication of the revised roster at a
cost of S1.90 per volume, including the
paper used therein. This defendant
previous to becoming governor of the
state Of Wisconsin, had been mayor of
the city of Milwaukee, and while serv
ing as such mayor became acquainted
with the fact that in the charter of the
chorter of the city Of Milwaukee there
was a provision forbidding certain Off
Gals of the city from entering into
any contract with the city of Mil
waukee, and suggested that in
view of the fact that the above-named
defendant, Clarence L. Clark, was, as
herein before alleged, the private sec
~etary Of this defendant In mis- office as
governor Of the state Of Wisconsin,
there might be some legal obstacle to
contract with the Times Printing Com
pany, IN which Clarence L. Clark was
pecuniarily interested; the defendant
was then informed that the above
named plaintiff, w. J. P. McFail,
had purchased the Madison Times
and its equipment, and that
any such objections suggested by this
defendant did not exist. The defend
ant then inquired whether any legal
ground existed for objection by the
state printer to the letting of the con-
lract to the Times Printing Company,
and thereupon and by reason of such
inquiry the adjutant general of the
state Of Wisconsin addressed and
caused to be delivered to the above
named defendant letter asking him
whether the governor had the
power to contract for the publica-
ton of second edition of the roster Of
Wisconsin volunteers with some party
other than yAo state printer. In reply
to this letter the attOr ey-general wrote
that the governor had the undoubted
right to do SO. Both Of these letters
were submitted to this defendant and
he believes that contract let with the
Times Printing Company would be legal
and save the state 81 per volume. Then
folloWE the story of the canceling Of the
contract and denial that the Governor
had any pecuniaIy interest in the con-
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