The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-02-01
A PERSONAL NATTER.

We promised last week to publish
Capt. Nelson's letter. It is as follows:
Editor Representative: Pardon me
for trespassing upon your columns and
good nature to make this explanation.
feel it is due the Midroad state CEN
trail committee, and in justice to myself,
to explain why 1 was not with them at
their annual meeting in this city Dec.
% last past
Must I say it? Yes, I might as we'll
own up. While was present and act
ing president at the annual committee
meeting in St. Paul, JAM 8, '99, that
made the appointment for your meeting
in this city Dec. ~, had forgotten all
about it. No one ever mentioned it to
me from that day until you had been
here and gone home. One would ma
turally suppose the secretary who kept
the dates would have mailed me a card
of notice, but he did not. 1 am credibly
Informed the committee who were in at
tendance were so notified. This would
not seem so bad if the secretary had not
taken pains to notify some of my neigh
bors, who were not committeeman, to
be in attendance. Then Jan. Z 1 got
letter from our amiable secretary, say
ing he was ordered by your honorable
body, asking if would continue to act
with the committee. Saying if 1 did
it would be necessary for me to send an
early contribution, and do certain work
which he named.
90 not believe for one moment the
committee ever placed me in H. B. Fay's
charge, or gave any such orders as he
claims. They are gentlemen for whom
have too much respect to believe they
would issue such an imperative order
to me, through Fay.
Then why this malignant conduct of
Fay towards me? I will tell you. At
the January meeting of the committee,
in st. Paul, one year ago, the committee
very properly called for a financial re-
port of the treasurer and secretary for
the past year. I, as treasurer, made a
verbal lump report, saying it would not
vary more than a few cents either way,
which was that I had paid out nearly
S. more than I had received from all
sources.
You will remember Fay refused, for
long time, to make report, but final
ly yielded and the matter was settled
that Fay and should make an itemized
report the next morning. It was
thought it would take us two DAYS to
finish the business that was before u.s.
but to the surprise and delight of all,
We rushed the business through SO we
were able to adjourn between II and IL
O'Clock that night, and the finance re-
port that had been ordered for the next
morning was not made. I believed that
we were in honor bound to make that
report, az ordered by the committee, and
a Jew uays later published an itemized
report in The Representative, as treas
urer of the committee, of all money 1
had received and paid out during the
campaign, which showed I had paid or
ders of something over Sc more than
the money 1 had received from all
sources during the campaign. A few
days after this publication in The Rep
resentative 1 got letter from Fay,
asking me to call at his Office ION i'm
portant business" When I got there he
scolded and insulted me because, as
treasurer, I had made the report. Nor
have received one cent since from him
or any source. We did not quarrel, but
have not been in his Office since, for l
have had no business with him. What
I have stated is the cause, and only
cause, Fay has for neglecting to notify
me of the meeting. If the committee
approves of his conduct, then l must
ask to be excused. Something must be
done If the Peoples party makes much
prograss in the state this year.
Very respectfully yours,
A. H. NELSON.
We sent copy of Capt. Nelson's let
ter to c. J. Arntzen, of Wegdahl, who
was chairman Of the subcommittee
which examined DR.. Fay's accounts, and
Gas we are informeO reported that they
were all straight and right, and asked
him to reply to the captain. The result
is that we have received the following
letter:
Wegdahl, Mimi, Jan. &C. 1900
Editor ReE resentative, Minneapolis Mimi:
Dear Editor: 1 got today manuscript of
"Capt. Nelson Explains for your next is
sue of the paper with request to me to
send you answer to it, I was chair
man on the investigating committee. I will
not, to do so would violate rules and
13 of Minnesota plan of organization. II
Capt. Nelson has any grievance let him
state them to the state central committee,
when they meet this winter some time be-
fore March 10, and l for one will assure
him that he will have notice of the meet
ing and that he will be heard when he
comes there.
On the other hand, If he will not abide
by the rules, but rush into print with mat
tiers that pertain and belong to the com