The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-11

THAT SCH0O1r LAND TRANSACTION.
State Auditor Dunn will doubtless have
occasion to reflect to some advantage on
the value of well timed and judicious adj
vocacy when he reads the address deliv-
cred by Gov. Lind Minneapolis on
Tuesday evening.
The facts which Gov Lind brings out
with such telling force regarding the pc
culiar fashion in which former Repub-
lican state administrations safeguarded
the interests of the people in the school
lands of the state are all known to the
state auditor He understands them in
all their significance. He came into the
office shortly after that transaction which
resulted, as Gov. Lind points out in
loss to the state school fund of an
amount approXimating the total sum OF
that fund. 1t is fair To assume that no
man in the state in public or private Of
OF official conduct which made such
huge piece of public robbery possible
than Robert A. Dunn He is himself an
upright men and official, dashing, open
minded fellow, who instinctively hates
and is hated by the thief and marauder.
1t was the thief and marauder in public
and private life alike who managed that
gigantic piece of robbery. The man who
is officially mainly responsible for the
transaction is in his grave, and charity
may be invoked with all humanity to
shield his memory. He is beyond the
| agencies Of public criticism or condem-
nation, and he is not here to defend him
| self against what may be said in con-
demnation of his completely or his
neglect. But the political party whose
champion and defender Auditor Dunn
has made himself, coupling his advocacy
and defense by sweeping condemna ton
of the existing administration, cannot
| and should not be allowed to escape the
consequences Of that transaction.
The investigating committee, part OF
| whose work the governor quoted, did not
accomplish that work as completely as
4
other facts behind the transaction which
for years have been a subject of common
| talk among we'll Informed citizens. Had
| Justice been done when that transaction
| became known certain men would be In
the state penitentiary perhaps today, who
have reaped the pecuniary benefits of it;
/ and justice would have been done had
there not been completely among those
who at that time Were. responsible for
the administration of state affairs
1t Is quite up to the standards OF pub
lie morality which find expression
| through certain of the leading advocates
of the Republican machine to make a
| great cutlery at this time because the
| predecessor OF Mr.. Dunn In office is dead.
But no one will be deceived by any such
| pernicious doctrine as that cutlery en-
| bodies. The transaction remains a blot
upon the good name. Of the state, and
| will ever remain sad reflection on the
immunity which may be secured through
the force Of party political attachment.
| We are being told that the existing adj
ministration has failed in its duty toward
| the people; that it has failed to protect
! their interests where protection was
needed and demanded. Those who are
| loudest In these unsustained assertions,
| and among them State Auditor Dunn,
know well that were 1.-THE of the public
wrong embodied in that transaction
traceable to any one or more Of the OFF,
Gals of the present administration, that
administration should be and would be
| whipped in disgrace from It's charge OF
public interests It Is Auditor Dunn and
others associated with him in assaiing
the present state administration who
have invoked comparison between the
consequences to the people Of Minnesota
of the administration their affairs by
Republican officials with the administra-
! ton of those affairs during the past two
| years by Democrats. They must abide
| by the consequences of that comparison;
and they are not to be allowed to shield
themselves behind either the false repu-
tation OF the living or the grave-mound
| of the dead.