The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-09-02
WHAT HALL HAS SEEN.
His observations" Well Received b,
the Newspaper Men.
From Mondays Daily.

the Newspaper Men.
From Mondays Daily.
H. p Hall has completed his "Obser-
vations," very interesting book, and
pretty complete history of Minnesota.
He begins with the formation of the ter
ritory, and brings the story down to
date
The work is characteristic, for it bub-
bles all over with the easy satire that
abounds in all his writings, and it
sounds just the way he talks.
Mr.. Hall has been on the ground all
the time, and right in the center of ev-
cry political fight that ever occurred in
the state of Minnesota. Not always was
he personally concerned in the results
though that happened pretty often-but
he was always a keen observer, who
could see the true inwardness of what
was going on. 1t is a truthful story,
and that is one of the qualities that
make it worth reading, for it would be
worthless if colored in the telling for
the benefit of anybody, living or dead.
Besides the gentle humor that per-
vades the book, there is a vast amount
of accurate statistical information,
CLEANED with great labor, undoubtedly,
from old newspaper files, and other rec
ords. Such facts as the exact vote on
every ballot in important conventions
and legislative caucuses makes the story
very complete.
The volume is embellished with some
very fine half tone portraits of men
prominent in the states history, espec-
tally governors, from Gov. Ramsey down
to the present republican candidate, R.
G. Dunn.
The reader is forced to the conclusion
that politics was a pretty rough game
in Minnesota from the start Recent
events hardly more than measure up
with the tricks that used to be played
Tissue ballots, ballot boxes on the com
partment plan, stuffing the box, and
strong-arm work generally, seem to have
been nothing uncommon. Stories of
bribery of the rawest kind are numer-
Gus, and political treachery is much more
the rule than good faith, apparently.
Still the truth must be told
Mr.. Halls analysis of the character of
leading politicians are interesting and
valuable contributions to history. They
are not entirely laudatory and do not
read like funeral eulogiums. For that
reason they are useful for the younger
geenration to read, simply to get lit
tie information about the worthless of
the past who were not so immaculate as
they have been painted. It will not do
to call Mr.. Hall an iconoclast, for he
has not written in a indicative spirit
or with the purpose of destroying the
reputation of war time heroes, by show
ing some of the stains on their gar
ments. But it helps to understand men
in general to know that the great were
not without their weaknesses and pref
ty glaring some of them were.
The author does not spare himself in
these revelations. In telling of his own
nomination by President Garfield as pen
sion agent for Minnesota, he adds:
81 was publishing an Independent
newspaper, whose chief occupation dur
ing the then short period of it's existence
was to make mischief for the republican
party; and 1 argued to myself that pos
sibly it would be good thing for the
harmony of the party if l came into the
fold, as I was and always had been, up
to that time, a straight and strenuous
republican.
He went to Senator Ramsey with a
proposition that the senator permit his
confirmation with the understanding of
future good behavior 1t was received
and quietly turned down. He adds:
"This argument, in my youthful verd-
ancy, seemed to me to make an i'm
preston on Senator Ramsey. Perhaps
nothing could better illustrate how little
l knew of men and affairs at that time
than the thought 1 had that had made
an impression on him. He would have
written his political death warrant if
he had allowed my confirmation, though,
as the event proved, he wrote his politi
cal death warrant by turning me down."