The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-10-02
COME TO CLOUGH's DEFENSE.
Young and jacobson on the Land
Grant Bill

Senator E. T. Young, Of Swift coun-
ty, and Representative J. F. jacobson.
of Lac qui Parle, who were active in
pushing the Hastings & Dakota land
forfeiture bill, passed at the last ses-
sion of the legislature, have signed the
following statement concerning the
same:
Representing the counties where the land
involved is situated, I'VE were the joint au-
thors of the bill; and the fact that no inquiry
has ever been made Of either of US about the
facts of the case, by the authors and pub
fishers of this groundless story shows that
they didn't want to find out the truth.
Solely in justice to Gov. CIough. we de-
sire to make this unsolicited statement for
| the benefit Of those who care to know the
facts.
Under land grant made to this state in
1866 by congress, for the benefit Of the Hast
ings Dakota Railway company, about 60 600
acres of land in Swift Chippewa, Big Stone
and Stevens counties were set apart for Gin
demnity" purposes. conflict between this
and another grant delayed the government
adjustment of the matter till after 1887
1t must be borne In mind that the state
never had any interest, title or claim to this
tract as state land. It was simply a grant
to the state in trust for the railway com
pany, and the only question involved was
whether the lands should go to the Hast
ings & Dakota company or be restored to
the government. for the benefit of the set
tiers who had "squatted' thereon.
The congressional grant provided that the
lands. when earned and properly selected by
the company: should be certified to the state
by the secretary OF the interior. and it was
thereupon made the duty of the governor
without any option or discretion on his part
to deed the lands to the railway company.
The Hastings & Dakota COMPANY lost its
charter In 1887 for failure to operate It's line
of road-haviEg sold the same to the Chicago
milwaukee, & st. Paul eompany-and was
given by law three years thereafter in which
to wind up It's affairs and dispose of its
property. Within that time It sold all its
property, and assigned all its claim to these
uneert.fied Indemnity" lands to its vice
president. Russell Sage, of New York
Commissioner Stone. the last Republican
commissioner Of the general land Office had
decided that the Selection" made by the
company before the assignment 10 Sage was
invalid. Acting upon the strength of this de-
eision and competent legal advice, for the
purpose OF aiding the settlers thereon to get
sage. Of TIE bill whereby, because Of said
invalid selection, the state virtually refused
to receive those lands under the grant or
geed them to the railroad company, or to
sage as Its assignee, and directed the gov
ernor to PeEnquish the lands on behalf Of
the state to the government. But In the fall
OF 1894 Hoke Smith, the Democratic secre-
tary of the interior. overruled the former de-
cisfon of Commissioner Stone. and in No
vember Of that year certified to the state a
small part, about 5000 acres, of this tract
Tor the exclusive benefit of Russell SAGE
under the old grant. The Democrats audi
tor OF state certified the list to the goyernor's
once to be decided to Sage, and 1t thereupon
became the imperative duty of the governor
in obeying the law to sign the deed This
was the state of affairs when Gov. Ciough
took the Office in January. 1895. There was
no secrecy or concealment about this matter
a! any stage. These facts were notoriollsIy
OF record, and well known to everybody In
terested. The only people concerned. the
residents on the land, knew that it was the
Democratic administration at Washington
ana not Gov. elough, that had turned them
down In the matter Of this tract of 900
acres, and they also knew that Gov CIough
DEED when he did for that tract
a, AS soon as the forfeiture bill was passed
Ciougn promptly relinquished for the state
Lhe remaining 5000 acres but the same
Democrat1c secretary again ruled against the
settlers. He absolutely refused to let fhe
state relinquish, and declared that he would
certiiy all OF these lands to the state for
the benefit of Sage. whether the state was
Wliing TO receive them or not and thus de-
priye the settlers of their homes.