The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-04
Why KING MIS- THROWN
ENMITY OF SENATOR DAN SHE'LL,
EXERTED TO PREVENT HIS
CONFIRMATION
SAYS DAN D0DGED HIS TAXES
Mobiles County Editor Talks of an
Ancient Political Feud and
the State Board of
Equalization.

The action of Senator Dan Shell in
successfully protesting against the con-
tirmatiOn of John E. King, of Adrian,
as member of the board of equalization
did not cause q great deal of surprise
here where it was known that Senator
Shell nourished a personal grievance
against Mr.. King. Mr. King is the editor
OF the Mobiles County Democrat He was
asked by a G o b e correspondent for
a statement of the grounds for Mr.
Shells action.
This is what Mr.. King said:
For many years the Democrat was
the only Democratic paper in tbs cornar
OF the state, and it has always been ag-
gressiVe. Naturally. few of the Re
Publicans in control of the party organi-
cation in this county have at divers
times run the gauntlet OF severe c:iti-
cism.
About seven years ago, when Senator
Shell was proven guilty of lodging
very considerable portion of his personal
property taxes for a period Of years
the proof offered by the Democrat was
so convincing that the charge was
neither denied or refuted, either by
Senator Shell or by any of the news
papers presumed to be IN political and
personal sympathy with him. AS a re,
suit of this exposure three years ago
this district, with g normal Republican
majority of 700 reelected Mr. Shell bv
paltry 200, notwithstanding the Demo-
cGat-Peop.es' nominee was without GU s.
ton the weakest candidate the opposition
TO the Republican panty could nave
named. The many years of political
nghting has engendered @ lack of adj
miration which is thoroughly mutual.
Senator Shell and the Democrat editor.
whether warranted or not, have usually
been credited with being the leaders of
the opposing political elements, and uron
tnem to an extent has fallen the odium
OF defeats and the palms of victories.
But there is another side of the sto:y.
WHICH is less personal Senator SheYs
influence with due Difference to it's
m1ghtiness) was not the only force at
work. If all of the Democrtic appointe g
had been confirmed the equalization
board would have been evenly balanced
TINS fall, as between Democrats and Re-
publicans. Mr.. Thomas Lowry. the
lumber barons and the mining kings OBJ.
Jected to taking an even chance in the
adjudication of the tax schedules Thew
want high, low, jack and the game.
Democratic equalizers have the perrfc-
10us habit Of compelling these gigantic
interests to disgorge quite literally to
the public eXch~ qucr.
Personally, the matter is Of small mo-
ment. I Shall expect to continue to live
and support my family 11om the rev.
eaGes of a country newspaper. and life
Is not made up wholly of yesterdays and
todays. There are few tCmorroyvs
Perhaps after a sea-on the state will
somehow be Ieconciied to the sudden
termination of my Official relations
herewith but in passing I desire to en-
tend my thanks to Senator Johnson.
WHO, unasked and unknown to me,
cLampioned my cause on the floor of tn
senate and to the little band of sturdy
democratic and Popuiist senators. who
gave the full weight of their sunport and
vote. And none the less do 1 thank
Senators Miller, Brewer, Halverson ana
RoNerud, all Republicans, who rose
above paftisanship and voted with the
minority for continuation"
MY heart was badly affected NV an o.