The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-03-28
Mr.. SWENSON EXPLAINS.

ming headed, Eggs of an Ancient
Date.
This article places me in such
false position before the reader OF
that paper that beg leave for little
space in your paper to try to partially
undo the wrong that my former editor
friends of the Review have seen fit to
heap upon me. I will be brief ~and
state facts, as follows: First. 1t is
true there was a circular with the
caption SIT Carried" distributed in
Lake Crystal on Thursday last and
every day since.
Second. 1 was not its author
Third. Among halfdozen or more
taxpayers who saw fit to distribute
them, I did the same, and because l
did such very bad thing the cigarette
smoking club from the high school
called upon me at about B 100 p. m. at
my office, using very abusive and
threatening language accusing me OF
the authorship and demanding an
Acknowledgement of the authorship or
the name of the author.
Fourth. They did not get it, but
instead few common sense, kindly
| words of advise, such as l could has
tily collect while facing mob.
Fifth. They threw their cigarettes
all over the Office and with "Swamp
Indian whoop" went out to plan for
further depredations against the inno-
cent pale faces who dared to mention
cigarettes to them.
Sixth. After supper, being in my
office, a delegation of five were sent
from crowd of at least twenty-five
cigarette club members outside to
demand "the circulars
Seventh. They did not get them.
Eighth. The crowd outside fingered
and lit new torches.
Ninth. At 8 100 p. m. turned out
the electric lights and went to the
postoffice to mail letters and to the
depot to see about freight.
Tenth. Went back to Office and six
men, some with revolvers in sight,
came in. 1 thought ''war against
China was surely declared,
Eleventh. soon learned they were
friends come to warn me of my
danger and they proposed to see me
safe home if 1 did or did not write
the circular.
Twelfth. They accompanied me tt
within half block of my gate ant
) with as profuse thanks as L could com
: mand dismissed my bodyguard ant
9 proceeded to enter my ''vine clad cot
Q tage" to see my wife and child.
Thirteenth. A shower of oval o
egg shaped hail fell from clear moor
lit sky around me and around tn
house striking sidewalk and yard
One cigarette fend accidentally Anne,
we'll enough to strike the house.
Fourteenth My life liberty, hspp
ness, home, wife and child were il
d danger and did what the constitu
ton grants me the privilege of dc
ing defended myself-by shooting fiv
: times into the air.
:, Fifteenth. This caused "a war;
It time in Lake Crystal last night,
'e according to the Review, and assur
q you it caused a scattering and scram
:. bling among the members of til
10 cigarette club to get out of harm
l. way.
70 Sixteenth. I entered the house
went to my bedroom, not to "chang
y wearing apparel" as the Revie'
l. states, but to change cartridges.
Il Seventeenth. 1 went up town
rs look for legal advice, a peace Officer
J. little common sense and sympath
). from my fellowmen, but found nor
of either in the places where person
re usually find such things and afte
'f talking matters over with friends fc
s. couple of hours went to bed an
never slept better in my life.
20 Eighteenth. If I understand til
- English language we'll enough to stud
:. out the meaning of words and ser
- -, fences by aid of dictionary and rhetori
- I can find nothing that is "a libel @
: education, and no reflections" al
least upon their characters, but Q
the contrary, Education is extolle
~ and encouraged but not the wron
- kind.
;, Nineteenth. Does this sound Liz
~ "a LIBEL" obnoxious, "obscene" etc
-. - etc.
- Now, we know of no individu'
who opposes the having of GOO
y school. But we differ, and perhal
80 honestly about what constitutes GOO
school and the methods of getting i
Good school, as we see it, does NJ
consist in name alone or being in tt
upper story of building, but it is
place where good sound, practical il
Id structions are taught.
Something that will apply to life
earnest and honest duties for the BEN
ne fit of the individual, and the elevate
m of society to the highest plane of pra
9, tical honest manhood and womanhoot
b, and upon principles of equalit.
ne brotherly love and kind regards for a
Id persons.
ne Twentieth. Everybody should res
is this circular before passing judgmel
TX and take no mans word for what
F. contains.
m Twenty first. eff he was again a
Vn tackled he would fire low and hu
somahodv,' &c ahou fPtba oplu trutb