New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1896-10-07

ne advised It merely to please Mr.. Sage.
Subsequently in 1891 Gov. Nelson re-
voked the appointment and in letter
to Mr. Lind asserted that he entirely a,
greed with him on tile subject under dis
pute. ~.
That was all he could do, says Lind.
and is entitled to credit for his good
will in tie premises, but unfortunately
the evil had been done. The unauthor-
lied selection had been made and the
lands were tied up. The selection was
sent to Washington to the general land
office, and was pending there. In parsu-
ance of Governor Nelson's suggestion, 1
drew a bill to forfeit all claims of the
company, and Of Russell. Sage to any
further lands under the old land grant.
Senator Young introduced this bill into
the legislature in 1898, and fought val
iantly for it, but the lobby in the senate
defeated its passage. At the next ses-
sion of the legislature he introduced the
bill again, and succeeded in getting it
through. 1t was between the passage of
that bill and its signature by the COVER
nor that Governor Clough made the con-
veyance tn Russell Sage of the lands re-
Gently referred to in the newspapers.
Russell Sage succeeded in having the
late Secretary Hoke Smith reverse the
action of Secretary Noble. The Latter
held that the selection made by the state
for Russell Sage was valid, aud that the
lands should be certified to the state tor
MI. Sage's benefit, and that the Minneso-
ia legislature had nothing to do about it.
In this opinion it would appear that the
attorney general, Mr.. Chlds, now con-
ours. trust that he will not regard it
out Of place to ask him what has trans
pired to change his mind on this ques-
ton. Pending this controversy, Kelly.
the agent for Russell Sage, has been pur-
suing the poor settlers with a vengeance
by various kinds of threats and represen-
tations. He has taken notes, chattei
mortgages and other securities from hur-
dreds of them for pretended relinguish-
ments, and by various devices has sue
ceeded in wripging from them thousands
upon thousands of dollars.
The selection of lands for the defunct
corporation by the state authorities, H.
legal and unauthorized as it is conceded
to have been, armed him with a weapon
for levying blood money on the settlers,
which he has diligently improved.
Compared to this ,niqu1ty Gov Clough's
! action in signing the deed to forestall
the action Of the legislature was insle-
ni6cant. It only affected comparative.
ly small quantity of land, while the ac-
ton of ex Gov. Merriam and the present
attorney general may deprive the settlers
of the state of lands worth $1,OOO,00O.
This question will now have to 90 in
to the courts. Many of the settlers will
be dead before final adjustment is reached.
Others will buy their peace at from SO
to $19 an acre.
1t is surprising that men who have con-
Quoted the affairs of the people in this
manner ''stand together" to prevent a
disclosure of their misdeeds?
! Are you surprised that Moses Clapp
or Van SAINT or ex- Mayor Eustis could
lot be nominated? The clique that has
been running things in this state could
not afford to take the chances of leaving
5are estate secrets" to new and untrIed
! men,