The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-10-19
A Comparison of consistency" Be-
tween The Democratic Postmaster
of Good Thunder and He of The Coli
lar Persuasion of MankatO.
Who Got The Doodle, and How rluch?
The Review Editor Scored by The
Good Thunder Chief.
From The Good Thunder Herald.

From The Good Thunder Herald.
AN OPEN LETTER TO EDITOR WISE.
In your issue of October 9th you
say "The Review has not and will not
question cur right to independence OF
thought and action in dealing with
candidates Of other parties nominated
by the county convention" You &C
cuSe us of opposing nearly every Demo
cratic local nominee and lnslnuate
that for monied consideration we
have discarded all principle and are
pursuing a course inconSiStent With
good ,partisanslYip.
Recognizing the source from which
the allegations come, it is worthy OF
little notice, and yet it places our
position in such light that to be sus-
tanned we feel called upon to make a
few remarks, and in doing SO, are I'M
der the painful obligation OF showing
up to the public in its true light that
we are no less consistent than our
would-be calumniator- yourself.
As to the local county ticket, we
have always maintained that parti-
sanship should not be carried into the
selection of officers, but rather select
the man most competent to ill the Of
flee irrespective of party affiliations.
Sympathy with the party is not so
much a consideration as is merit and
ability for the. position, and yet, were
we SO allied to party as to recognize
party as a duty-we could not con-
sistently support some OF the noml-
nees. County Auditor Randall has eX-
pressed himself to US as dissatisfied
with the present Democratic admins
tration. Judge Torrey has openly
avOwed that fusion was necessary Tor
the election Of one county Office. Ihe
evidence here is plainly seen that
these gentlemen did not consider the
party, so much as their own chance OF
an election, but were quite ready to
trade off the principles OF the party
for the achievement OF their own ends;
Did YOU sanction the deal? Yes And
for what? We will not be as disre-
spectful as Yourself and say it was for
monied consideration, and yet will
openly allege that it is nevertheless
for Doodle. Doodle being furnished at
the expense of the county, by your be-
ing the recipient of the county's
bounty in being permitted to receive
outrageous prices for services per-
formed. Your patronage during the
81 900, our patronage less than $50,
which is evidence sufficient to think
ing public that you are Influenced
more through mercenary motives than
through party fealty. Again, within
one hour after the adjournment of the
Democratic convention member OF
the Reuaeu staff, John G. Wise, Jr.,
told me personally that the legislative
4 hoI a
not think he could or would support
it. May respectfully ask Mr.. Wise
if retainer of 500 has caused
change of front in this position.
The allegation that we oppose nearly
every Democrat nominated is as err
rOneOuS as are your other statements.
Besides supporting the entire state
and congressional ticket, we named
We stated why auditor and probate
schools w. r. Thompson, stated to us
on the day of nominees committee
meeting that he had little chance of
an election and intended to withdraw.
The remaining two, Pope and Pfau,
are conducting campaign irregard-
less of the party by whom they were
dllu do OuOI VIC lCCl uhuOl
no obligation to support them, Our
position has been duly considered and
taken irregardless of influence or
mercenary motives, and we can
honestly say we are supporting men
who have not even asked for support,
and this in cases where the opposition
have offered US a liberal retainer. We
don't profess to be perfect, but as re-
CARDS principle and consistency we can
not recognize you as our peer. A short
catechism and | am through. Are
you familiar with the Democratic
platform?
Can Democrat consistently support
three Populist candidates for legiSla-
tive honorS?
Will the supporting of Populist
legislative ticket support the Demo
cratic nominee for governor?
Will not the liberation of un-
principled fusion be the degeneration
of the party?