The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-17


wish to remain, although he had been
flirting with the Connecticut people for
two weeks, or as far back as the time
of his trip East, which was made os
tensibly to purchase prison material
the capitol, and when Gov. Lind told
him he would be treated fairly it didn't
take him two minutes to make up his
mind he would stay.
But the newspapers weren't satisfied
with the facts which were f1attering
enough, in themselves. With the pos
sible exception of the saltwater paper,
which had Gov. Lind sending for War
den Wolfer two or three times, I'll Z
Minneapolis Journal took the hardest
fall out Of the truth. 1t represented
the governor losing sleep over the like
lihOod Of losing Warden WOlfer'S Serv-
Ices and even, editorially, it said among
other things: He (the gcvernor) went
further and assured the warden that
he would recommend to the legislature
$4,000 to 81, ,500.''
The Pioneer Press, with less excuse
than any Of the other newspapers. be-
cause 1T had an official version Of the
affair, tried what it could do at distort-
ing the facts. 1t printed a dictated
statement by Gov. Lind which it head
ed up ''Wolfer Stays by Lind's Advice"
Not word of advice in the article Not
q request to stay, not a promise of an
increase in salary, If he chose to re-
main he could do so. Here is the state
mcnt of Gov. Lind printed in the Pho
nser Press:
II told Mr.. Wolfer,' said Gov Lind, Chat
had had no time opportunity to give the
state prison situation any consideration; that
| had not thought Of any change SO far as
he was concerned; that if in his Judgment 1t
was better for him to accept the better pay
ana terms offered him in the state of Con-
necticut, had nothing to say and certainly
did not feel justified in dissuading him from
accepting the position OF from leaving our
state, although, Judging from the face of
aHairs as they appeared to me, his work had
been well conducted.
If. on the other hand, he chose to remain.
be could be assured that so long as he dis
charged his duties efficiently and faithfully
he should not be disturbed on account OF
political or partisan considerations: that If
he chose to remain he might regard him
self as the appointee OF the present admin
istration from this time, subject to the same
obi1gatfonS OF mutual confidence and coop
GRAFTON that ought to exist between the ad-
ministration and Its appointees.
On the question of salary, 1 stated that
would not recommend any increase. If,
however. the legislature, In its discretion
should deem it proper to accord the uosi,
tfon at Saltwater the same salary that the
law authorizes to be paid to the salperin
no objection ''Au
Gov. Lind, speaking about the mat
ter to a reporter for The Globe. SUBJ
sequent to the publication of this IN
terview, said when Warden Wolfer
called at his office in the capitol and
told him he had an offer to go else
where that he thanked the warden for
the courtesy of communicating with
him before he had accepted it, In the
conversation which followed Mr.. VOL
fer was informed substantially as
above.
Il did not urge him to remain: did
not even ask him to remain" said the
governor. .I told him had no preju-
dice against him on political grounds
and that If he wished to remain as
warden of the state prison he could do
so with the assurance that he would
not be removed without cause
AS to an increase Of salary told
him that If the legislature chose to
raise his salary to the figure paid the
superintendent of the reformatory 1
had no objection. But would not ask
to have it increased"
Gov. fLind's attention was called to
the fact that in the statement hereto
fore printed that good deal OF stress
was being laid on the statement that
''he might regard himself the appointee
of the present administration
Yes replied the governor, "but
there was provision with it, which
means simply that If any irregularities
or evidence of incompetency should de-
velop in connection with any of my
| appointments why then, of course,
some action would be taken"