New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1898-02-16
DAY POLITICS.
~. .i1. Is, i
Interesting Incidents Recalled by Alex.
Harkin and James Robinson. /.

James ,Roblnson, one of the pioneer
settlers of Nicollet county, came down
from West Newton tie forepart Of the
week, says the St.Peter Herald, tospend a
few days with.h1s old friend Alexander
Harkin. During his visit, the writer en-
joyed pleasant chat with the two and
many were the tales of old times they
told. For years in the early days these
two pioneers controlled the political af-
fairs of the upper country, where Squire
Harkin was the standing chairman of all
political and civil gatherings, and jim
my Robinson was as surely the regular
secretary. They posted notices, held the
primaries. elected the delegates, can
vassed the returns and ran whatever Of
the machine there was to run. The only
difference in the methods employed by
them and the methods of modern ma
chine politics was matter of honesty,
and those who know the two would be
glad to have them in charge of the poll
tics of the present era. Many amusing
incidents occurred up there and Squire
Harkin told of an election held when a
large quantity of liquor had been brought
to the polls. The Squire saw trouble
ahead and deemed it wise to swear IN
five extra constables to preserve order
and decorum. Toward evening the con-
fusion was so intense that twas deemed
necessary to move the polls and books
to another place, and during the melee
which was in progress, this was attend
ed with some difficulty. Robinson
and himself took charge of the books
and papers, sand, as they left the old barn
which was used as the voting place, they
walked over the prostate forms of four
men who were INDUCING in quiet sizes
ia and incidentally sleeping off their
drunk. The Squire made an examination
and found that the four were constablesh he
had sworn in that morning. Two of the
election judges were in like condition.
The returns were brought in just the
same. Mr.. Robinson. also reminiscent,
told of his early acquaintance with Judge
Flandrau, now one of the leading law
yers of the state. During the county
seat fight between Traverse and st. Peter,
in which St. Peter was victorious, Judge
Flandrau was an Indian agent, stationed
at the agency. He was a resident of
Traverse and interested in her cause.
On election morning he left the agency
for Traverse and voted at every polling
place on the route. Above Fort Ridge
ly he had much difficulty in persuading
the judges that the soldiers had right
to vote. He laid down the law in the
matter and claimed that the statutes gave
soldiers the right to vote. The judge
obstinately refused to accept that as law,
but agreed to 60 with Flandrau to Fort
Ridgely to look up the statutes. Major
Randall was sutler at tie fort and, at
Flandrau's expense, the two spent sever
al hours getting acquainted with Mr..
Randall and his "dew." The Judge of
election soon was IN no condition to in
terpret even the law of the Piutes and
Flandrau sent messenger to the polling
place, saying that the judge of election
had decided that soldiers could vote on
county seat matters. 1t is claimed that
Judge Flandrau voted no less than twelve
times at as many places that day ami the
record still stands so far as Nicollet
county is concerned.