The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-12-28
A Letter fipnl Senator Hodge EndOrs-
ing lis Work and Promising
Support.
NOTHING TO BE CONCEALED
Secretary .art Says . Full Report
Will BE Made to the Legislature
and the Public.

81. PAUL, Dec. 2S. "A few Of the
Pine City people still continue thei1
attacks on the members of the state re-.
lief commission. In the last issue Of
the Rush City Post the editor OF that
paper says that Senator-elect #. A.
Hodge twas very enthusiastic over the
stand taken by The Post. = He then
goes on to show by the census that
there were In all 1000 people i'm Pine.
Mile Laos, Carlton and Otter Tail
counties entitled to relief, whereas the
commission states that 2,00O people
were given aid.
Secretary Hart Of the state reliet
commission spoke Of these charges and
in relation to Senator ELECT Hodges 90.
titude handed the reporter this letter.
Senator Hedges Laetar.
pine City. Mimi, Dec. IL, 1894 -
Hon. H. H. Hart, Secretary State Re-
lief Commission-D Dear Sir: I have
Just received your favor o9the 18th
inst, asking whether in my Judgment
the people or this county approve fn
general of the work of the fire relief
commission so far % IL has gone, and
win endorse 1t to the Legislature
hasten 20 answer and say tc you that
in my opinion thepeople Of this county
win approve the work ofs your commits.
sion and endorse IL to the Legislature,
and that my opinion may be taken for
kwhat Il is worth, it il but fair for me
20 say that since the middle Of Septem-
ber ] have had but little personal
knowledge of the work. That of those
Conversant with the matter with whom
have talked, some have shown dis
position to criticise and find fault, bat
by far the larger number, and those in
whose Judgment and fairness I have
the most confidence,
Have Given It Their Approval.
and that this opinion In based ON the
confidence have that the report your
commission submits will indicate that
It has executed its trust in . manner
worthy of the distinguished gentlemen
constituting its membership, and the
knowledge have of the good sense.
kind hearts and fair Judgment of the
citizens OF this county and the deep
sense Of gratitude felt toward those
who have so generously contributed TO
their relief. The prompt and wise ac-
tion of Governor Nelson in selecting
this commission liz universally COM
mended. 1t is well understood that
the high standing OF the gentlemen
composing il commanded the conf.
dence of all, and this increased by
thousands of dollars the amount Of
contributions. i understand that the
plan pursued by the commission in dis
fribution of funds in their hands was
approved by 4 large majority OF the
donors, and know that the members
{ of the commission in accepting this
trust and generously giving their VAL
uable time TO its execution, must have
been actuated by the kindest and most
charitable motives, and I presume ex-
pected their most satisfactory reward
in the approval OF their consciences.
trust they will continue the work in
the same spirit, and I cannot doubt
the legislature will approve their work
7and reimburse them for the funds they
have so generously advanced. Yours
very truly, FRED A. HoDGE."
The Number Relieved.
"The state commission, added Mr..
Hart, twill make q full report of it's
doings. The commirsion has nothing
to conceal. and its doings will be given
TO the Legislature and to the public.
The commission has no exact number
sof people registered at Duluth, Pine
City and Hinckley, but ! understandSit
ID something over 1000 people, which
Includes some people who did not live
bn the district burned over at the time
ipf the fire. but who were dependent on
those who did live there and so lost
their means of subsistence.