The Saint Paul globe., 1899-07-31
CHIEF GRAIN INSPECTOR SENDS
HIS RESIGNATION TO WARE
HOUSE COMMISSION
TALKED WITH THE GOVERNOR
AND LEARNED HE COULD EXPECT
NEITHER SUPPORT NOR SYM
PATHY FROM HIM
POSITION CALLS FOR BOTH

So He Decided to Resign-Gov. Lind.
in a Statement, Says He Is NOT
Surprised-LabeIs Another STATE
ment of the Dispatch as False
Had No Talk With Gen. BecLer
I About Ex-senator Refshus.
A. c. Clausen has resigned He refuses
to continue, under the circumstances az
| the head of the grain inspection denartx
ment of the state. He has made good the
! declaration. frequently made to his
| friends, that he would not accept the po-
sition of chief grain inspector under the
present administration without an assur-
ance of the support of the warehouse com-
mission and Gov. Lind The develop4
ments of the last few days showed him
that he hadn't the unanimous support of
| the commission, and a conference with
| the governor Saturday afternoon further
| convinced him that he could not expect
| the support and sympathy from the chief
| executive that he believes to be neces-
sary for the head ofthe department to pos-
sess in order to most successfully per-
form the duties of the office So Mr..
Clausen decided to resign He accord
ingly wrote the following letter, which
will reach the commission this morning:
MR.. CLAUSEN'S RESIGNATION.
Office of Chief Inspector of Grain, st.
| Paul, Mimi, July 49, 1S99-The Railroad;
and Warehouse Commission. St. Pan1
| Minn.-Gentlemen: 1 herewith respectful
| ly tender my resignation as chief inspect
| or of grain, to take effect at the end Of
| the crop year, July 81, 1899.
In taking this action 1 wish to assure
| your honorable board that it is done onlyi
atter careful deliberation and with theI
| full conviction that it is the only wise and
consistent course to pursue under exist
| ing conditions.
The work of this office is extremely
| arduous and exacting even under the
most favorable circumstances. Without
| the cordial support of the states execu-
| tive am satisfied that it cannot be sue
cessfully administered.
After a conference with the governor,
during which the whole subject was care
| fully considered, 1t became evident that
| he would not consistently extend that
support and sympathy which would be
necessary to insure satisfactory admin
| istration of this office at my hands
What my actions would be in the event
| ly understood by my Immediate friends
for several weeks. Much as | might de-
| sire to continue with the department in
view of your loyal and generous support,
| which was manifested in my recent ap-
| po1ntment, l am firmly convinced that it
would be not only unwise but unjust to
i
| In view of the situation presented.
During the fifteen years of my connec-
| ton with this department I have endeav-
| ored to discharge my duty honestly and
impartially, without fear or favor. 1 re-
| gret that my administration has not met
| the approval of all parties or a all times,
! although that is the ideal which I have
| endeavored to approximate.
That have enjoyed the full confidence
and support of your honorable board, as
! also of the preceding commissions, and
| the several governors under whom have
! had the honor to serve during the past
! fifteen years is the most gratifying of all
| the pleasant recolections which 1 shall
carry with me in retiring from this posi-
| tien.
In closing this communication I cannot
refrain from referring to the faithful
services rendered at ali times, and often
under trying circumstances, by those
| who have been connected with me in this
work With their experience and careful
! lie servants, and it would in my judg-
ment, be little less than public calamity
! to overlook them in any reorganization
! of the department which may take place
| in the future. Very respectfully yours,
"A. G. Clausen.
| When Gov. Lind last night, was adj
vised of the action of Mr.. Clausen he die
tated the following statement for the
| G o b e:
"Nfr. Clausen called at the capitol Sat-
| urday afternoon. He stated to me in
| substance that he had labored hard for
| many years, and, as he felt, successfully,
| to establish Minnesota wheat on a sound
! basis in the markets of the world; that
| it had been a difficult task to administer
| the inspection system satisfactorily and
| that 1t would continue so nOtwithStand-
| ing the fact that justice and fair treat
| ment had been accorded all interests That
! while he was conscious of having done
his duty and gratified to have the ap-
| proVal of his work by the commission,
| as evidenced by his appointment he did
| not feel disposed to continue in the service
without feeling that it was my wish that
he should remain. For he said it is
difficult enough to do the work in this
department with the cooperation of the
executive. That he had accordingly con-
cluded to resign, notwithstanding the ac-
t1on of the commissioners and their ex-
pressed desire that he should continue
He further assured me that he stood
ready to aid his successor in familiarizing
himself with the duties of the position
and to render him any other service in
his power.
PRAISES MR.. CLAUsEN.
"Mr. CIausen's action in resigning NAV
have been a surprise to the commission
but it was not to me. / expected that it
would be forthcoming. 1 have had no
communication with him since last
March, but I reasoned, and, as it proved
correctly, that man of his recognized
ability and experience in handling grain
could not afford to continue in a position
where he was not wanted. While he has
been severely criticised, the fact remains
that he is regarded as one of the ablest,
if not the ablest wheat man in the United
States today. The position that he has
occupied is, as he says, difficult one.
No one holding it can escape criticism. L
do not expect that his successor will be
able to. The chief Inspector has to an
swer not only for his own mistakes, if he
makes any, but for the errors of large
force of subordinates, and worst of all,
he is made the scapegoat of the local
buyers
''It is the easiest thing in the world for
them to throw the blame on the inspec-
ton department when the farmers are
dissatisfied with the local grading I am
hopeful, however, that with the establish
ment of the board of appeal and careful
supervision of the local buyers the farm
ers will have little cause to complain
hereafter.
81 might add in this connection that the
statement which appeared in the Dispatch
to the effect that 1 have said that Gen.
Becker promised to vote for Mr.. Reishus
is, as might have been expected, false
Mr. Reishus came to st. Paul at my
quest some three weeks ago. After con-
Continued ON Eighth Page.