The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-24
LETTERS P pRom rHn
THE STATE PRISON MIDDLE.
j. s. O'Brfen Talks at Length of
His Controversy With Gov Lind.

j. s. OBrfen Talks at Length of
His Controversy With Gov Lind.
To The st. Paul Globe:
While the public may not be very much
interested in the controversy between Mr.
Lind and myself, yet Mr.. Lind having in his
Office charges which I know are unwarrantsd
by the facts and which I cannot meet be-
fore any other tribunal, 1 want to trespass
upon your good nature with a statement of
the facts concerning this controversy; for
whatever my legal rights might be. there il
no way in which 1 can meet the charge that
Mr.. Lind has made before any tribunal except
the public
The next day after Mr. Lind's speech in
Saltwater, during the campaign, he stated
to me that 1.-THE prison management was a
bad mess; that Wolfer was not so much 10
blame as Lemon, and that If he was elect
ed there would be a general cleaning out"
l told him that he could abuse the manage
ment to make votes, but if he was elected
1 would show him that he was mistaken;
and If he could show me 1 was mistaken
would help to right any wrong that existed.
L next met Mr. Lind in Minneapolis after
election, and mentioning the matter of sur
veyor general to him. he said he did not
want me to talk about it, because Mr.. Rosing
had asked him not to say anything about It
until he and Mr.. Mosier had seen him; as
soon as he could Mr.. Rosing he would
let me know. At that time he talked about
the question of reducing salaries l stated
that the offices of surveyor general and oil
inspector had been financial aids to the party
in power. He stated that he thought latter
any of those holding those offices had re-
ceived fair salary the rest should be given
to the campaign fund.-
About Jan. l. meeting Mr.. Lind in the
"a ha fod To
much at the capitol. 1 went up there and
we took up the Wolfer matter He asked me
why | had not told Wolfer what he Q.ind)
had said to me after election, viz. That he
had had change OF heart toward Mr.. Wolfer:
that he thought he was all right and that
everything was running all right there. so far
as Wolfer was concerned I said: "You
never said any such thing to me-" He in
sisted that he had. He then expressed him
self as feeling more favorable toward Mr..
Wolfer. and asked me to bring Mr. VOTER
over the next Monday. AS l was leaving h5
asked me what salary the position of prison
chaplain paid, saying that several applica-
tons had been made especially one for Mr.
Thelander, and asked ME If I knew about
him. I spoke favorably: of Mr.. Thelander.
and Mr.. Lind said: You think he would
fill the position Satisfactorily" I replied Il
know no reason why he would not"
MR WOLtER RETIRED.
We came over the next Monday Mr. Woifer
and the governor had short interview. when
Mr.. Wolfer retired aud Mr.. Lind and myself
took up the matter He first admitted that
he was mistaken in his claim that he had
conversation with me about Wofer soon after
election that the talk he had referred to
as with me was with John O'Brien He then
expressed regrets that Wolfer was going away;
stated that he was willing to raise Mr. VOL
fer's salary to equal the offer from Con-
necticut; although he afterwards denied this
In an interview with The G ODE. He want
ed Mr.. Wolfer to wait forty-eight hours and
keep it quiet to prevent annoyance from
applications. AS we were parting 1 said to
Mr.. Lind: II hear you are going to appoint
a surveyor general at once" He said: NO 4"
l said l would like a hearing before he made
the appointment. He said he would not make
an appointment for week, and not make
1t at all until he gave me a hearing. That
was all that was said that day about that
office.
The next day the board met Mr.. Wo.fer
did not resign, and, receiving a telegram
from Connecticut announcing htl appointment
and asking him to telegraph his acceptance.
reminded him that we had agreed to walt
ty-eight hours
The next day we went over to see Mr..
Lind He called Mr.. Rosing in | stated that
MT. Woller could be retained or not-juSt as
the governor saw fit-and that l wanted to
do what he wanted in the matter. Mr.. Lind
replied: L feel Just as did when talking
with you on Monday; want him to stay. and
will do just what said would; only will
not recommend raising his salary but will
transmit the bill to the legislature and sign
1t II passed" Mr.. Roslng said: LAS far as
am concerned, do not urge him to atay.''
said: How can I get him to stay without
urging him? Now say just what you want"
Mr.. Lind replied: II want him to stay, and
will do just what 1 said, and will uye him
as an appointment of my own" / went
out and saw Mr.. Wolfer, who consented to
stay IL the board would recommend his salary
to be raised. l went back and told Mr.. Lind
and asked him If that was what he wanted,
and told him if he had any objection to make
1t then. He said that was Just what he
wanted.
MESSAGE FROM MR. LIND.
Jan. 10 Mr.. Lind telephoneI me 10
come over. l met him as he was leaving the
capitol and we walked down the street 90
gether He mentioned the surveyor generals
Office; said That he was. perhaps. not person
ally, but through others. under obligations