The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-01
THAT AMES AGREEMENT
Dr.. Woodland Says It Was Not Elk
acted to Insure His APP
pointment. ~. -.

DR.. r. F. Woodard, Of the board of
charities and corrections, declared this
morning that the grand jury had placed an
necessarily sinister construction upon MS
agreement with Mayor Ames to support
the latter's nominees for positions under
the board. The doctor admits that there
was an agreement between himself and
the mayor but says it was designed
merely to promote harmony in the admin
istration, and was not presumed to secure
his support of. improper appointments.
II feel,' said DR.. Woodland, that the re-
port of the grand jury made to Judge
Brooks coupling my name with a written
contract made with A. A. Ames in con-
nection with William Russell without any
reference to my subsequent course on
the board of charities and corrections does
me a great injustice.
1.-THE board of, charities and corrections
consists of four members which, with the
mayor a member ex-officio, makes five
in all, two from each of the dominant
political parties. Two members go out
every two years so that each new mayor
has the appointing of two new members.
I submit If it Is not perfectly natural and
to be expected that he would appoint as
such new members those who would CO.
operate with him in such appointments as
he might desire to make, especially for
the head of the three departments.
on the board ever since 1t was organized
under Mayor Winston) there has been a
tacit understanding if not an actual
agreement to sustain and vote for his
candidates for these positions. After this
initial organization there is no further
politics on the board and you would not
know whether it was republican or demo-
cratic.
Nov for myself wish to say that this
same understanding and agreement which
had been made with each succeeding
mayor was also made with DR.. Ames. I
wish also to say that in no wise was this
agreement made a consideratio for my
appointment for before this was entered
into he had rendered the position to me
in fact over a. month previous to this time.
"I wish also to say that neither in the
case of DR.. Amesp or any previous mayor
have ], felt that this obligation would be
binding upon me II good appointments
were not made. After taking the oath OF
office I realized that over and above any
political obligation might have assumed
with the mayor was my duty to the city OF
Minneapolis. This always maintained
was paramount to all other obligations
and I never for a moment felt that 1 was
bound to stand for bad or unfit appoint
| ment as my course upon the board at the
time of its organization fully shows.
II refused to vote for several of Mayo,
Ames' candidates, having become fully
satisfied that they were not suitable fol-
the place, for which they were slated II
| was in following out this course and more
especially for my work and, vote in re.
tanning the efficient and invaluable serv.
| Ices Of Mrs. Phoebe Mcmillan as tf1erfvis.
itor of the poor department that = called
down upon my head the wrath of Mayo,
Ames. .- ~ .'sI-l.
MY course upon the board which is re.
cent history justifles me in saying that
have never been the tool of Ames or an,
previous mayor for the carrying out O,
| political schemes"