The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-21
PUT ON. THE SCREWS
Mayor Amos Charged With Press
ing the Commissioners Hard.
HOW THREATS REACHED NASH
for Nash's Saloon Tenants Un-
less He Supported Brown.

3. -. ~ Z 49, =
People-not necessarily friendly to
Mayor Ames-who have taken the posi-
tion that the grand jury was too hasty in
indicting him for what they construe as
an innocent remark about buying the
sheriff's Office for his private secretary,
are probably not aware that evidence is
to be introduced when the case goes to
trial tending to substantiate the charge
that the offers to bribe County Commits
sioners E. P. Sweet and M. w. Nash were
made in deadly earnest.
Those who have not approved Of the
mayors indictment have preferred to
place mild construction on his PROPOSE
ton which had for its object the political
promotion Of his private secretary. It.
has been said\in. extenuation Of any such
offer that the mayor was only joking, and
that If the truth were known he has not
been correctly quoted in what he had toS
say to the commissioners. They have
been willing to believe that he might have;
expressed his willingness and that of his:
secretary to turn a goodly sum derived
from the sheriff's Office into the respective
campaign funds Of the two commissioners.
but doubt has been freely expressed that.
his language was any stronger than that.
1t was more than probable, they have ar
gued. that the mayor really went no
further than to express his willingness
to contribute liberally---to the extent of
several thousand dollars-to the support
| OF the commissioners If they could secure
the desired appointment.
Those who have taken this position will
be surprised to1learn that the commits
sioners are prepared to swear that Mayor
Ames not only made the direct offer of
money, but that he also coupled his over
lures with threats of political retaliation,
IN case they could not see their way clear.
to boosting" his candidate for sheriff:
1t is understood that Commissioner
Sweet will tsetify that when he declined
to be corrupted, Mayor Ames became very
excited and told him that his refusal
would cost him his political career. The
mayor declared that he would make it his
personal business to compass Sweets
downfall in politics, and that 1t would be
warsto the knife with them from now on
Commissioner Nash could also testify
that in addition to threats of this kind
he received pointed intimation from an
Ames striker that the administration
might use its power to make 1t as un-
pleasant as possible for such of Nash's
tenants as could be embarrassed by any
of the municipal ordinances. AS several
of the commissioners tenants are saloon
keepers, the inference from such a threat
is obvious. - --assa .-ez4s ..-~.r-
Mayor Indorses the Chief.m
Mayor Ames says Superintendent Ames
| is all right; that he is honest and COM
petent that he has always carried out
| Instructions, and, finally, that: there is
positively no truth in the reports that he
tthe mayor is considering the advisa-
bility Of making a change in the head Of
the police department. - :. s. S..r-1
The mayor made this announcement last
night and then would say no more. I'll
In the opinion Of the men on the head
quarters staff this announcement makes
S1oi hot al Epo1 ie.f -
the head of the department. At the same
time they admit that the mayor, If pre-
| cedent counts for anything, may probably
be taking quite the opposite tack in less
than. a week. In general, however, the
| sentiment Is that Colonel Fred will<re-
main chief of police as long as his
brot her IS mayor, and that.all the, knock
| ing that subalterans mad will avail
nothing.
Coffee John Fitchette is much dis
gusted over the mayors decision to keep
Superintendent Ames at his post. He has
made no bones Of his hostility to the chief
and his methods, and'yesterday in the
mayors office he yelled it out so loud that
1t could be heard across the street, that
| if Fred was to stay, he, Captain Fitchette,
would quit the service. He followed this
statement with formal tender of his
resignation. Mayor Ames made no answer
and Captain, Fitchette returned to his
restaurant duties with his star still in
| place.
Fred Ames Mortgages His Home.
Mayor4Ames, while showing signs of the
strain he IS under, remains outwardly i'm
passive. Superintendent Ames, on the
other hand, seemingly does not try to
| conceal his anxiety and nervousness. He
walks the streets with downcast face, al
most as in trance, gives many of his ac-
quaintances but cold stare in passing,
and while in his office PAGES up and down
nervously. i:rs.- ---.S
| He is much exercised over the news
paper stories concerning himself and his
case and it worries him more than all
else combined seemingly that the public
is informed that his official head is in
danger. Superintendent Ames has other
| troubles also, chief among them is the
question of how to meet the financial calls
on him. He will necessarily be under
! heavy expense in defending himself in
court and his friends say he has not had
! the money in hand to meet the emergency.
| It is stated that he has been trying hard
! to sell his home on Fourth avenue and
two vacant lots, but, it would appear,
without success, as there was: recorded
yesterday a mortgage Of $4,000 against
the home in favor of Frank r. Hubachek,
| his attOrney -'' '-' -~-f = K & ... -