The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-11-04
SAVED BY HIS FRIENDS
ARREST OF WASECA POSTMASTER
DELAYED FOR THE TIME
AT LEAST
CANNOT GET THE WARRANT
Man Accused of Burning Democratic
Literature Is Shielded by Re-
course to Red
Tape.

P. F. Gallagher and j. T. Jordan, prom
inent citizens and business men of Wa
SEGA, Mimi, were in ST. Paul last night
on what proved a fruitless mission.
Their psE~ence here was for the pur-
pose of securing the arrest of F. A.
Swartwood, a Republican at Waseca,
who, as a henchman of Congressman
James A. Tawney, the congressman
from the First district, enjoys the envia-
BILE position of postmaster.
The cause which actuated the desire
of Messrs Gallagher and Jordan for a
warrant was the alleged malicious de-
Struction last Friday afternoon by clerk
:. in the employ of Mr. Swartwood of some
300 copies of the ''Winona Evening DEM
ocrat," the first page of which was Civ
en- over to an expose of Mr.. Tawney's
connection with the big lumber ring
Ills denial of visit to Minneapolis and
participation in a gathering of wealthy
lumbermen from Wisconsin and Mime
sofa, held at the West hotel, in Mime
apolis, caused the Winona paper to Sc
cure picture of the West hotel register
containing the name of Mr. TaWney
while in close proximity were the names
Of he Weyerhaeusers. the pine lumber
kings. 1t also contained Mr.. Tawney's
denial of his presence and extracts from
TIE Mississippi Lumberman, which con-
nected his name with the discussion in
dulSed in. during the meeting.
The postmaster's efforts to assist the
congressman who have given him office was
discovered by some boys playing in the
rear Of the postOftice, they finding the de-.
bris from the fire and the remnants OF the
half burned papers. These were carried
to Judge Devine, who, on examination,
: found them Of late issue and addressed
TO number of people then residing in
the town. Further examination brought
TO light more half-burned papers, and
armed with these, the postmaster was
visited and asked for an explanation
NOT ALL WE'RE DEAD.
1t was to the effect that tile burning
of papers, the owners Of which could
not be found was a frequent occurrence.
AS an excuse for the presence of a num-
Der of names very much alive and pres
ent he said that these probably reached
the condemned pile by mistake.
No other information was forthcoming
and at the instance of Senator McGovern
and Jas. E. Child, the officials here were
notified, and informed that men would be
sent to swear out the warrant, and would
be accompanied by the evidence.
On reaching here last night, Messrs.
Gallagher and Jordan, in charge of a big
bundle Of half charred papers, hunted I'D
r. United States Commissioner Spencer. and
were courteously received by that official,
but he informed them that he could do
nothing, as District Attorney Evans. who
had been informed of the matter left in
strucuons that no warrant should be is
sued for the present.
A visit to Chief Postoffice Inspector
Kimball, who was found at the Windsor
hotel, after a long search, was less fruit
1ul Of results according to Messrs. Gal
1agher and Jordan, that official giving
them anything but civil reception.
They were informed, so they say. by