The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-11-24

In loUUeI III ldSO eN6uluS > HeCt6O.
Judge M J. Severance, of this city,
states that it was he who wrote the
article headed Timely Suggestions"
and signed Citizen which appeared
in the RevieaU some time ago, and to
which article the FREE PRESS took
vigorous exception, believing it to
contain misrepresentation OF the
facts in the case, and it's publication
in any event illadvised. We are free
to say that we were surprised when
we ascertained who was the author of
the article, and would not have believ-
ed it had he not avowed himself. We
were the more surprised, knowing
how valiant champion of the school
the writer of the article has been. 1t
will, of course, be admitted by all that
the writer was actuated by the best of
motives, and his fidelity to the inter
ests of the school and of MankatO
will not be questioned. But the fact
remains, and will not down, that the
publication Of such an article had a
tendency to inlure the school. 1t
must be source of wonder to all that
a gentlemen with as wide an eXper-
fence with human nature as Judge
Severance possesses should choose to
spread before the world throughthe
columns of a newspaper so sensational
an article as he admits the author
ship OF, when the same purpose would
have been equally we'll accomplished
by personally approaching those hav-
ing the power to rectify any defects
he might have thought existed in the
plans Of the building. While just as
much or more would have been &C
complished by this latter method
he would not have been the
means of setting all Southern Min
nesota agog on the question of the
building in question" Even very
casual investigation must have pre-
vented the writer from making
criticisms that were ext remly unjust.
His assertion that those who contro.
dicted "CitiZeD" were playing after.
thoughts to contradict the truth OF
his article. is unwarranted and un-
just. Had he taken the trouble tC
examine the plans and specifications
or to ask a few questions about the
future arrangement of the half com
pleted structure he would have learn
ed then what has since come out
After building has been erected, its
plans and specifications can hardly be
called after-thoughts.
Judge Severance says that he wishes
in the near future to pay his respects
to some of the gentlemen who have
attacked him. We are not aware that
he has been attacked by anyone, un.
less he refers to the criticisms made
npon the article signed by then un.
known "CitiZen"-a signature more
often used to conceal the insignifi
canoe of the writer than made use OF
by gentlemen whose own signature
woul give the article more weight as
in this case. So far as this paper is
concerned, it has done what it truth
| fully could to demonstrate that the
Normal building is safe and that
there is no reason why any student
should fear to attend the school, We
believe that it is the general wish of
our citizens that the profiGless wrang-
ling be dropped where it is, and haV-
ing done what we believe to be our
duty, we propose to drop the subject,
and let the responsibility rest upon
those who seek to continue it. But
let it be understood by all concerned,
that personal abuse and the calling of
names reflects less upon it's object
than upon him who makes use Of IL.
Personal abuse of those whose on y
fault consists in patriotically standing
by home institution will not be up
held by the citizens of Mankato.