St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-05-01
PURITY ON A SHELF
INDEX of THE POLICY CoNTRoLL-
ING THE REPUHEICAN NUM-
ICIPAL CAMPAIGN.
REFUSE TO co ON RECORD
IN FAVOR OF AN ENFORCEMENT
OF THE CORRUPT PRAC-
TICE act.
CORRESPONDENCE ON SUBJECT
That Suggests a Number of Pertinent
Queries as to Where DOran's
Men Are At.

The correspondence hstween ]. G. Michael,
chairman of the Dsta raz-sic GitIzens' city
committee, and Theo7ore L. Schurmeier.
chairman of the Republican city committee,
which is printed below, is, perhaps. as good
an index as can be found to the policy that
controls the conduct of the Republican munic-
ipal campaign. In explanation OF this cor
.respondence, it should be said that the ex-
ecutive committee of the Democratic-C Citizens
head organization resolved, about ten days
ago, to request the executive committee of
the Republican party to unite with it in is
suing notice, to be published in all the
local newspapers, and conspicuously posted
throughout the city, containing certain ex-
tracts from the corrupt practices act the
notifying of persons that the two committees
would unite in the enforcement of that act,
and in a vigorous prosecution of all persons
in any way violating any Of its provisions.
This request was accordingly made Of Mr..
Schurmeier, the chairman Of the Republican
city committee. =
Mr.. Schurmeier, when first approached,
seemed to be heartily in favor of the plan,
and agreed to submit 1t to the Republican
city committee. When next seens however,
this was upon April %, Mr. Schurmeier's
Ideas had undergone q sudden and unex
planned change. The explanation of this
change may, perhaps, be found In the fact
that Mr.. Schurmeier is a thoroughly honest
and reputable man; man thoroughly In
sympathy with the movement for improved
conditions in municipal elections; while his
subordinates on the Republican city COM
mittee, who really control the conduct Of the
campaign that Mr.. ScHurmeier makes re-
spectacle by the loan of his name, aim only
at party success, ACCOMPLISHED by whatever
methods may be necessary.
Whatever the facts may be, Mr.. Schurmeier,
when approached by Mr. Michael, upon April
o. seemed reluctant to enter upon the mat
ter at all, and stated that the Republican
city committees had desired him to suggest
that the cityssclerk be requested to publish
such a notice as had been suggested by the
Democratic committee. To this Mr.. Michael
agreed, with the stipulation that the notice
should include statement that the same
was issued with the approval of the executive
committees Of both parties. To this Mr..
Schurmeier reluctantly agreed The city
clerk promised to issue the statement, and
both he and his assistant agreed that this
statement should be included In the notice to
be published For some unexplained reason,
however, thesnotice, when published, did not
include any such statement, nor any an
houncement that the cpmmittees would unite
in prosecutions OF violAtions OF the law. I'M
rnediately upon disccYering that the notice
published by the city clerk was not that
which had been agreed upon, Mr.. Michael
addressed to Mr.. Schurmeier q letter Of
which the following sis q copy:
Hon. Theodore L. Schurmeier, Chairman
Republican Executive ComMfttee, City-Dear
Sir: Enclosed herewith send you subject
matter that 1 suggest be embodied In the
circular to be issued as We discussed yester-
day in reference to corrupt practices at cleo
-uon.
omitted from the notice issued by him tne
executive committees OF all parties, as ne
agreed to do, our committee desires that the
enclosed notice be pubitshed In the neVspa-
pers of the city over: our Joint signatures,
and also be. printed in circular form and be
posted and distributad in public places
throughout the city IN order that the same
may receive as great notoraesy m as POSSIBLE ID e
and honest election. ISf1dly advise me as
soon as possible IL you approve OF same, and
If SO, please. sign the same and will see to
its publication and distrlbution at our JOINT
expense. Very truly yoqrs,
Chairman DemocratIczC Citizens Committee.
The notice referredsto as enclosed in Mr..
MichaePs letter was the following:
CAUTION AGAINST BRIBERY AT ELEC-
TIoNS.
The executive committees Of the Repub-
lican and Democratic Citizens city commits
tees hereby call attention 70 the provisions
Of chapter 277.: General Laws 1895. being an
act to prevent corrupt practices at elections,
as follows:
Section q The following persons shall
also be deemed guilty Of bribery at elections,
and shall be punished as in this section pro-
yided. ~. Every yeter who shall, before
or during any election, directly or indirectly,
by himself. or by any other person on his
behalf, demand. receive, agree or contract