The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-07
Pointedly Alludes to Health
Commissioners Official
Record, When Approached
by a Delegation of West
Side Citizens Protesting
Against His Reappoint-
ment.

CDR. Ohage has some failingS, damn
bad ones (eXcuSe me for swearing, gen.
tlemen), looking at his administration
from your standpoint, but you must
admit that he is one of the best health
commissioners st. Paul has ever had.
1 am not in sympathy with some things
he does, but he is certainly entitled
to lots of credit. The fame of the
baths is national and he has secured
for st. Paul the credit of being the
healthiest city in the world. L don't
see what more you could ask.
This was Mayor Smiths answer TO a
delegation of West siders, headed by
D. c. Michaud. who called upon him
yesterday afternoon to protest against
the reappointment of DR.. Ohage as
health commissioner. There were eight
in the party and while they talked vol
uably about their grievances, they
found little for consolation in the an
swer of his honor.
D. c. Michaud, who deals in West
side real estate, was the spokesman.
and the burden of his complaint was
that DR.. Ohage was paralyzing the in
dustrial interests on his side Of the
river
there that used to pay US 1925
month. Now we can't get 500" said
Il don't see where DR.. Ohage is re-
spOnsible for that condition of affairs"
interrupted Mayor Smith. L am
afraid you put up too many buildings
over there during boom times. Don't
paint him too black"
Free Lunches Objectionable.
well, he is constantly worrying Us
to death with his scheme for an APP
proach to the baths" continued Mr..
Michaud, and business men are afraid
20 L,
stores have to struggle for an existence
and in the summer they have to fight
DR.. Ohage and his free lunches"
Yes, his free lunch cost the tax
payers $4,000 last year." interrupted
one of the delegation, who had hard
work getting in a word while Mr..
Michaud had the floor.
Whatever were the views of the del
egation and Mr.. Michaud on the lunch
proposition at the public baths, they
were comparatively a side issue to the
sentiments expressed when Mayor
Smith interrupted the speakers to ask
what they had against Dr. 10frage for
wanting a safe approach to the baths.
why, he is paralyzing the industries
there" vehemently replied Mr. Mi
chaud. The factories want to eX-
pand and they can't because Ohage. is
taking the land and constantly agitat-
ing suits. He is a dangerous man."
will the taking of four or five lots
paralyze the industries of the West
side? Haven't you got any other
grounds" asked the mayor.
Mr.. Michaud was as ready with an
answer to this as any of the other
questions and it was to the effect that
the factories there wanted to expand
and that if they could not get the
ground they would move elsewhere.
But he will have a big contract On
his hands," added Mr.. Michaud. I'VE
are aroused and will not let him tram
pie on u.s.
Ohage Too Strenuous for Them.
Seeing that there was little, satisfac,-.
ton to be gained from, "a, plea for the
appointment of some other man, Mr.
Michaud asked if the doctor could not
be appointed on the condition that he
let the West side and the city's in
dustries alone.
NO" replied the mayor. Or. Ohage
is not that kind Of man and besides
he would never submit to such a
thing"
mo, he will never submit to any
thing" was Mr.. Michaud's answer.
The interview was finally concluded
by Mr.. Michaud presenting to the may
or a petition signed by about seventeen
West side residents protesting against
DR.. Ohage's reappointment. The petit
ton cited the fact that the doctor had
been overjealous in the suppression of
smoke and that his presence in the
city's government was a menace to the
cltyS Industries.
Hard on the heels of Mr.. Michaud's
departing delegation came one from
the American German bund, headed by
Otto Kauffner, asking for DR.. Ohage's
retention. The answer was satisfac-
tory and they left happy.
Mr.. Michaud, who headed the dele
cation yesterday afternoon, called per-
sonally on Mayor Smith in the morn
ing to prepare him for the visit in the
afternoon. He announced that a rem
resentative gathering would be present
and was somewhat Disguised when
only eight answered his call in the
afternoon.
Mr.. Michaud is a member of the
west Side Improvement association
and with ex-Mayor Doran, who is said
TO be largely responsible for the pres
ent agitation for the appointment of
some other man than DR.. Ohage as
health commissioner, has always been
active in fighting the doctors entrance
to the West side
DR.. Ohage, with the aid of friends