The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-27
WHERE CREDIT BELONGS
OLD-TIMER TELLS OF HIS CONNEC-
TION WITH DUNNELL'S DE-
FEAT IN 1882
CURIOUS BIT OF "REMINISCENCES
Describes His Part In One of the
Hottest Political Fights Ever
Witnessed In Min
neSOfa.
10 The Editor Of the CLONE:

To the Editor Of the Globe:
The article from the pen Of H. P. Hail,
printed in the G o b Of Jan. %, relat-
ing to the defeat of Mr.. Window by Mr..
Sabin for the United States senate is, in
the main, correct, but it hardly does
justice to Mr. Window in regard to the
retirement of Mr.. Dunnell from con-
gress. I think it will not be disputed by
any person cogniZant of the facts in the
case that I had more to do with the
defeat of Mr.. Dunneu in 1882 than any
body else, and it came about in a curious
manner, as 1 will presently relate:
Prior to the advent of Mr. Dunnell into
this state there were two distinct clans
in the Republican party at Winona, one
was headed by William Window and the
other by Daniel S. Norton. These men
were rivals for political honors and each
had his adherents. The feeling between
them was most bitter. Mr.. Norton was
chosen senator from Winona county to
the first state legislature in 1857. He was
again elected in 1860, but in 1862 was
succeeded by Mr. Wheeler Sergeant, a
Democrat, who has been dead for many
years. Mr.. Sergeant served two terms,
and in 1864 was succeeded by David 8.
Norton. 1t was the duty of the legis-
lature of 1865 to elect a successor to
United States Senator Morton S. Wilkin-
son. Mr.. Norton was rather unexpected
" elected senator. Things then looked
rather dark for Mr.. Window, but luck
came to his aid. Mr. Norton ANDY
Johnsonized," as we called it in those
days. That is, he voted against the con.
viction of President Johnson under the
articles of impeachment preferred by the
house, and supported Johnson's policy
thereafter until he died, July 13, 1870.
Here Mr.. Window was again lucky.
Horace Austin was governor. He was
friendly to Mr.. Window and appointed
hot How To al Nv,
Mr. Window had previously served five
terms in the house. In 1868 he declined a
reelection in order to be a candidate
for senator and was succeeded by Morton
5. Wilkinson for one term, Wilkinson
having defeated Mr.. DunnelI in mem
orable convention held ct Leroy, Mower
county, which nearly ended in a riot
Mr.. Dunnen came to Winona about
1865. He opened a law Office but did
not do much business, I think. For a
time, in the absence of Mr. Sinclair, he
did some editorial writing on the Winona
Republican. In 1866 he was elected to
the lower house of the legislature. He
had been superintendent of schools II
Maine, and he drew up and secured the
passage of a law providing for similar
office in this state. Gov. Marshall In
violation of the state constitution, ap-
pointed Mr.. Dunnell to fill the newly
created office under the promise, it was
said, that Mr.. Dunnen would retire from
politics and give his attention thereafter
to educational matters He at once re-
moved to Owatonna, and it soon became
known that he was candidate for con
gress In 1868, the year succeeding hi
appointment as state superintendent o
public instruction, he was defeated TO
the nomination for congress as heretOfOr
stated. In 1870 he was nominated an,
elected, holding the position until 1888
six terms, when he was retired by Mil
White, of Chatfeld, who served twt
terms, when John A. Lovely, now justice
of the supreme court, was nominatet
and defeated by Thomas Wilson. Mr.
Dunneu served another term, from
March 4, 1889, and was defeated in 1S9
by w. H. HaTries, collector of interna
revenue under Cleveland.
now come to the retirement of Mr.
Dunnell, in 1852, and the connection o
Mr.. Window Herewith. I was at tina
time editor of the Albert Lea Standard
Mr.. Dunnel had instituted the mos
relentless political machine in his cen
gressional district of which have eve
had any knowledge. It took a hand i
all sorts Of political contests, includin
the selection Of judges. I commenced
fight upon it, which eliminated in tn
celebrated convention at Waseca in 1885,
when a split occurred, and w. G. Ward
now dead, was nominated by one part
the convention and Mr. Dunnell by tn
other. I headed the Freedom count
delegation in that convention, and it wa
the first time that that county chose a
anti-Dunnen delegation. Mr.. Window
friends from Winona county backed MI
DunneI. In fact, Hon. w. H Yale {
Winona, always a Window adherent, wa
the chairman of Mr.. Dunnells part c
the convention. I had never been
Window man, although at times I sur
ported him. In 1864, at Winona, wher
then lived, was for Norton
Mr.. WINDOWS friends stuck by MI
Dunnell in the election in 1882, and h
was successful, defeating both Ward an
Henry R. Wells, the Preston banker
who was the Democratic candidate. I be
ueve Dunnell got more votes than bot