The Saint Paul globe., 1904-10-27
JOHNSON ANSWERS
ATTACK FROM dunn
Latter Is Accused of Misrepre.
senting Johnson's Record
on State Drainage

Special to The Globe
HALLOCK, Mimi, Oct. 26.-John A.
Johnson, at his meeting here today,
created a sensation by the forceful
manner in which he replied to an edi-
toria1 from the pen of E. A. Nelson.
state librarian and the man whom r.
Z. Dunn publicly denounced. Nelson
had said that he would support Dunn,
though he had been unalterably op-
posed to him before the deposition of
Joel P. Heatwole. While Mr.. johnson
cid not resort to invectives, he gave
Nelson the lie, and the great audience
rose en- masse in approval. and not
merely by handclapping but by siren
uous applause that could be heard
blocks away, voiced its belief in hi
words
Mr. Johnson also gave his views on
state drainage, and incidentally placed
r. c. Dunn in the uneviable position of
nlsrepresenting the record as to Mr.
Johnsons vote in the senate on state
drainage. Referring to the important
matter to the Red river valley. Mr..
Johnson said in his speech here to-
night:
up The question of state drainage In my
opening address at Minneapolis I said.
swamp land drainage is a business
5 p5Topositlon and it admits of no argument
someone has said that he who makes
two blades of grass grow where but one
grew before is benefactor It is good
business policy for the. state of Mime
sofa TO convert this class of land into
farms for the Minnesota settler
l repeat that statement now. My oppo-
nent, Mr. Dunn, has seen fit to make
some capital. out of that statement, and
has shown that in the senate in 1899
voted against the swamp land drainage
act. act did vote against the bill in 1899.
WISE men sometimes change their minds;
lools seldom do Mr.. Dunn has con-
suited the record, and charge him with
a W1ilful Misrepresentation of the facts.
for he knows that in 1901 L voted for the
drainage bill. The record will be found
on on page 549 OF the senate journal, where
the vote on H. F. No. 49, establishing a
dramage commission to provide for the
drainage of the swamp and marshy lands
OF the state and to appropriate money to
carry out The provisions of the act shows
that was among. those voting for the
DILL | believe in the principle of swamp
land drainage, and favor it wherever the
drainage is for the opening up of those
lands for the Minnesota settler.
The meeting here today is now rec
ognized as the, largest and most en-
,thusiastic political gathering ever held
in a country town on the Minnesota
side Of the red river. Hallock is the
home of w. F. Kelso, candidate on the
Democratic ticket for railroad and
warehouse commissioner, and his coun-
ty turned out in force this afternoon to
meet the candidates for governor and
lieutenant governor. Farmers came
from all sections of the county. Mr..
Kelso, with a large reception commits
tee and the Red River band, composed
of farmers sons. met the candidates at
the depot and escorted them to the
court house, which was packed to suf-
location. Both Mr.. Johnson and Mr..
Winston were at their best and both.
made splendid addresses.
The. meeting developed that the rev.
ielution in the Republican party is
about unanimous in Kittson county,
and that while Roosevelt will have a
large majority, Johnson and Winston
will forge ahead. Mr.. Kelso, from the
fact of his long residence in the county,
where he has been one of the foremost
farmers for quarter of century, is
naturally expected to run ahead Of his
ticket.