The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-03-16
l shall always so live as to retain your
respect and confidence.

We have come to the parting of the
ways, and your kindness towards me
and answering desire to do that
which was best for the interests of
the state weighing department causes
me to regret that this is so.
That you have been both capable
and faithful in the performance OF
your duties goes without saying, and
this is Il satisfaction indeed to one
who had wished at the outset that he
might have your good will and hearty
cooperation. What l sought at your
hands l have fully received, and no
man, placed in similar position, could
expect more cordial or more earnest
support.
My period of service, covering some
twcnty-one months, has not been
without benefit to me in many WAYS,
and shall return to my old calling
with an added knowledge Of men and
OF matters in a general way that may
pAoNS uoNlol " liz luc IOlu.
In retiring now from the weighing
service shall not be idle. Other work
awaits me. That is something that
does not fall to the luck of every
man, particularly ut this season Of the
year. And this thought, my friends,
carries me back to the administration
under which you and l We're appoint
cd.
Four-tifths of the changes made
amongst the men in the present weigh
ing service took place in August,
1899, and thereafter, six months or
more after the party under the leader
ship Of Governor Lind came into DOW
er, and this in the face of the fact,
too, that large majority of the gen
tlemen then comprising the depart
ment had been in the service from five
to twelve years. l do not mention this
in a partisan sense, but in Il sense of
What l believe to be fairness and
justice to you entirely outside the pale
OF politics. If the former administra-
ton could afford to do this there seems
no reason in my mind why it should
not be done now. 10 advise such Il
course was a generous and a just act
OIL the part of Governor Lind at that
time, and trust the present railroad
and warehouse commission will have
the same broad, liberal spirit in view.
How long you will continue in your
present positions l do not know. l
wish it were possible for you to stay
three, four, five years or more. In
any event 1 would like to see each Of
you stay what might be known as a
term of two years. You would then
so out in the summer time or fall, at
a time when your rtunities for
securing other employment would be
much better than now. Many of you,
also, came into this department. after
having met with reverses and natu-
rally your finances were at an ebb,
and, it is fair to say, have not yet
reached the flow.
leave the department in prosper
GUS condition. Every branch Of it has
heen in excellent hands and we have
moved along in a quiet way without
any friction or discord. The books
arc closed. Our accounts have been
carried up to date, and Mr.. Barton
and myself now give way to others
with whom you will have to deal, and
with whom, I trust, you will have
only kindly relations. If you do by
our successors as you have done by
us, and I am sure you will, there
should be no other result.
My friends, do not know that l am
deserving of this magnificent gift at
your hands, but I believe 1 do know
and feel the unanimity with which it
was given. In that same spirit 1 ac-
cept it, and for my family as we'll as
myself I sincerely thank you, every
one, for this tribute of your esteem.
l hope the world will deal gently with
you and that Minnesota may prove
liberal towards you. You are engaged
in a work that deserves good COM
pensation and if the state were to in
crease your salaries it would not only
be a liberal but just act.
Deeply grateful for the many cour-
tesies l have received at your hands,
with best wishes for those who are
nearest and dearest to you, bid you
God speed and good luck. Time will
not soon remove from mind my ex-
perience in the work as state weigh
master, nor, the relations which 1 so
pleasantly and so agreeably held with
you, my associates.
Mr.. N. G. O'Connor followed, and,
addressing the gentleman who has so
faithfully served as chief clerk, said:
Mr.. Barton: 1t indeed affords me a
great pleasure to represent commit
tee, who in turn represent your nll-
merous friends in the grain depart
ment, and on their behalf to present
you this silver service as a slight token
Of their appreciation of the admirable
and praiseworthy manner in which
you have discharged the responsible
duties of your position. The state of
Minnesota has had many employees in
the past and will have many in the