The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-15
ANDERsoN's SIDE OF 1T.
Reply to the Charges Made by
Dillingham;.

Ex-Deputy Sheriff Robert E. Anderson,
about whom certain charges were made by
John H: Dillingham; which were recently
! published in the G b e, and in the Appeal,
makes the following statement in regard to
his connection with the Dillingham; affair:
About the last of January l went to Dill
| l!ngham and told him that, a lifelong Re-
publican, prime mover in every colored Re-
publican club that we have had in this city
| for the last ten years during my residence
here | had never asked ANYTHING of the
party during this time, except the position as
deputy in the sheriff's office, which was
given me two years ago, at the enormous
salary of $50 per month, laying me off three
| months without pay during that time. /
| also remarked that l was president of the
| Colored Central Republican club which did
| yeoman service in the late campaign for the
! Republican party, and l knew of good
reason why the party might not do something
Tor me, and | meant to go to some of the
leaders, and tell them so, to all of which Mr..
Dillingham; bowed assent | left him and
number of the newly elected officials, and
stated my case and expressed my wish
to them. All agreed that l should,
by right, be taken care Of by
the Republican party, but each one found
himself unable to do anything for me at that
time as there were no vacancies and all
urged me to call upon Mayor Doran and
present my claim to him. The mayor listened
to me patiently and answered me without
reservation, in the following language: Mr..
Anderson | would like the best in the world
TO do something for you, but there are so
many calls upon this office. There are at
least five hundred applications filed in this
office for places upon the police force and 7
nave no doubt that nine-tenths of them are
good men, SO you can see how difficult it is
TO do anything. | do not care to make any
changes at this time. but | will give you
place upon the police force in March,
| told his honor if | could not get to work
before that time | should wait until that
time and thanked him and left his office
at which time | again met Dillingham; and
upon ms requests as to progress l related
me conversation which had with the mayor.
Dillingham; promptly informed me that he
wanted that position himself. | took his
remark as joke at the time. as | never
dreamed that he was in earnest. In a short
time | was informed by a friend that Dill
Hngnam was out in earnest for the place
which | had been provided saying that II
ne did not get the place himself lie would
defeat me for it. I soon heard ali kinds
OF charges made against me, purpoTting to
have come from Dillingham;; that | had gone
to Mr.. Dayton the custodian Of the court
house, and asked that he be discharged and
| be given his Dillngham's) place. that /
had no application before the mayor for
place on the police force, but was seeking
ms JOB; that had petition securing sigma
lures iof ms pace, and that | had told Mr..
Dayton about certain heater and boiler
he was having trouble over, and Of witch
trouble l was the instigator, and many other
ridiculous stories which were rot true. One
qay When at the court house looking for
Dillingham; inquired at the custodian's
ONCE for him, and Mr.. Dayton stated that
DllHngham had told him of a certain heater
and boiler which he knew about and he
wanted me to tell him about it which I
did. | also tod him that Dillingham; had
announced himself as DESTROYS of the place
which | was seeking upon the force and
that that was one of the many stories that
ne was circulating to injure me with nv
friends; that l thought that as he had his
farm, which he says is valued at 81 COO and
a barber shop and a wood and coal business
IN this city, also team which he is said
TO work in his drivers name IN the city en-
ploy upon the streets and he also holding
a job as janitor at the court house at $50
per month. that l thought it would be al
little as he could do to let me have the
small position as policeman upon the force.
A few days thereafter Mr.. Dayton sent a
coiored man to me, Butler by name who
informed me that Mr.. Dayton wanted to see
me- Mr. Dayton thereupon told me that
Dillingham; had been neglecting his bust
ness at the court house; that he would al
ways give him back talk, and that he meant
to discharge him and give the place to some
colored man who needed it more
than he did. told Mr.. Dayton
that had already been promised a place
upon the police force, and it was for that T
was looking and expecting my friends to as
sist me, Mr. Dayton remarked that he could
not see why | need have any scrup!es about
taking his place. as he was trying to keep me
out Of mine. He then added that he had
been talking the matter over with Mayor
Doran, and that l should go at once and see
him, which I did. Mayor Doran told me
that Mr.. Dayton had told him that Dillingham;
was not attending to his business at The
spending too much time attending to his
own business: that If he. Dillingham; would
attempt to take care of the one or the other
he might get along all right and from what
his honor had been informed he DILLINGHAM;
did not need the place; that he would like
for me to take the place. However. he would
like me to get as general Endorsement If the
colored people as possible / answered his
honor, telling him that ! did not want Mr.
Dillingham's place; that he had promised
me place upon the police force for which
! was looking. Moreover, many of my
FRIENDS, who were Dillingham's friends also
would not indorse me for Johns place and
l could not ask it. to which his honor re-
piled: The Swedish population is clamorinG
Tor representation. and your people are pref
ty well represented already. 1 will see Just
what | can do. I left him at that point
somewhat disappointed yet determined to
work on and press my claim in the man
ner which he had suggested, to wit, to get
the Endorsement by my people for my place
upon the police force. This is the first time
within my experience that ever witnessed
the spectacle Of ren holding positions m
der an administration and at the same time
making needless war upon it as are Dill
bingham and Mr.. Adams, the editor or the
Appeal, who is baiIin in the municipal
court