The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-06-14

In order to score a point against
us, Eaton slob bers all over Hon,
VIM. A. Fleming, our colleague
and a member Of the estigatina
committee Of which we were chair
man. Mr.. Fleming is a true and
loyal man; he was the only mem.
Der OF the committee Of five who
stood by us, and he stood by Us
manfully, and we have given him
no small share of praise but ne
more than he deserved. It was
upon him we relied for advice and
counsel. He did not fail us. The
offer Of a bride Of 81, 900 was no in
ducement for him to desert us.
Eaton has this to say in reference
to Mr.. Fleming:
Judge Fleming of Brainerd had as
much to do in carrying the contest to a
successful issue as had Dunn, and as q
matter of fact without Fleming,s in.
auence and aid it is more than likely
in spite of Dunn's ante-election prom
ises the whole thing would have drop
ped fiat. :
Here is a letter from Mr.. Elem
ing that throws some light upon
the subject:
BRA1NEBD, Mimi, June II, 1894.
FRIEND DUNN: Was awav from
home and received both your letters
and the two copies of Senator Eaton
paper together. Must say that am
surprised that a dignified senator of
the State of Minnesota should descend
to such littleness. But then I knew
that Eaton and you were not friends.
[ have no doubt but what Eaton's at
tacks on you are inspired by the
Minneapolis pine gang. Eaton himself
has always been regarded as a corpor-
alton man. His every vote conclu-
slve!y proves it. His opposition to
the Markham bill which provided for
the taxation of railroad lands has not
made him many friends in this section,
and his treachery to Davis will always
be remembered. His opposition will
help you. His contemplate attacks on
your personal character are beneath
notice and will not injure you in the
least. Let him have all the rope he
wants and he will hang himself.
About that pine Investigation, no
sane man will believe Eaton. Why
everywhere we spoke in the campaign
OF 1892 that pine deal was discussed.
In your own county especially 1 re-
member the enthusiasm that was
aroused when you pledged the delega-
ton, If elected, to investigate that
fraud. In your review of the case,
after the decision was rendered, and in
your answer to Auditor Biermann, YOU
gave me far too much praise-a great
deal more than was entitled to. You
had my hearty sympathies, and of
course stood by you. But it was you
that examined the witnesses, and
handled the case. In fact I did not
have time to give much attention to it..
The report was your handiwork, and
yours only. You conducted the fight
on the floor of the house, and ably, too,
against big odds. And then when the
friends of the auditor and the pine
thieves downed us, you refused to give
up the fight. And when you came to my
room that Sunday night with your
resolutions and that protest for my
inspection, confess / had not the
remotest idea that you would score
such signal victory in the house next
day. But your bulldog tenacity won.
Then know that you did not let up
when the session ended. That was
only the commencement of the fight.
l know how the case was fought in the
courts and the part you played. And
it was great victory, too. It was not
|so much the amount involved in that
one case-still $12, 900 or S14, 900 is con-
siderable-but Indirectly it saved the
State hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Eaton talks about Keller's committee.
He admits that it was you who set the
ball rolling. 1t was you who struck
the first blow. 1t was you who won
the first victory. What did that COM
mittee accomplish until after the de-
cision in the Smith case was rendered?
The senate committee made a report
but proved nothing. You proved your
case, then other prosecutions followed.
Then the pine barons commenced to
disgorge. It was you that drove the
entering wedge. It was you that took
issue with the attorney general when
he decided. that ''private sales" were
all right. How easy it would have
been for you to have dropped the in
vestigation and accepted the liberal
Inducements offered. Bob, if the
people of the State knew as much as
[ do about that investigation, thew
would elect you auditor by 100000
majority. If Eaton had been in YOUR
place I doubt very much if any report
would have ever been submitted to the
house.
I take it that one of the main qualifi-
cations of State auditor should he
ability to interpret the laws correctly,
and it strikes me that you have demon
strated your ability in that direction
your Interpretation was different from
that of the State auditor and attorney
general, and the courts have said YOU
were right. Honesty is another essen
tial qualification, and I don't think
even your friend Eaton will question
your honesty. You downed the gang
once and will again, and every honest
man in the State will rejoice.
Your friend,
VIM. A. FLEMING.
We do not wish to detract from
the good work performed by Sen
ator Keller's committee, nor by the
subcommittee of the joint senate
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