Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-15
DISCLOSES GRAFT
w. 3. JORDAN, FORMER oTTuM-
WA, ACCUSES MINNESOTA
PRISON OFFICIALS.
Refuses to Bid for Renewal of Labor
Contract for convicts of State Be.
cause Prison Warden Demands In,
terest in Contract.

resident of OttumWa until few years
for the labor of the convicts in the
Minnesota penitentiary in refusing to
bid again for the contract which he
holds makes sensational charges
against Warden Wolfer of the state
prison which may lead to an investi
cation by the Minnesota board of con,
troll
Mr.. Jordan is a son of Mrs. W. A.
Jordan, AS North Court street, and is
a brother of John G. and ]. w. Jordan,
of this city. He resided in Ottumwa
and was connected with the dry goods
and merchandise business conducted
under the firm name of W. A. Jordan
& Sons on East Main street until about
{ fifteen years ago. Mr.. Jordan has been
engaged in the manufacture of shoes
and it was for this purpose that he has
used the labor of the convicts from the
state prison.
Ten days ago the state board of con-
troll made a ten-year contract with R.
III. Bronson, of Saltwater, whereby
Bronson agreed to pay 63 cents per
man for 225 prisoners to work at
the manufacture of shoes.
The Jordans hold the contract now
In force which expires in September.
The day the contract was awarded
It was announced that Warden Wolfer
would remain at the head of the state
prison, Withdrawing his resignation of
two weeks previous.
A few days later rumors were Cir
eulated that the contract with Bronson
had some dark tints to it,
Warden Wolfer, Mr.. Bronson, w. B.
Jordan and the board of control have
been quoted to some extent in regard
to the matter.
The board of control, in answering
the insinuations that the letting of the
contract had been irregular, declared
that it had secured the best price ever
offered in the history of the state for
prison labor.
Mr.. Leavett said that the board had
taken especial pains to assure itself
that Warden Wolfer was not in any
way connected with the contract be-
fore awarding it.
This was supposed to have ended
the matter.
MIR. Jordan's Letter.
w. B. Jordan late Tuesday sent the
board letter which is in some
4. ss44aset {. sen satinral. 49,
A portion of the lettef-is as follows:
Each and every member of the
board knows l have had no grievance
30 far as their personal treatment of
me was concerned, they being person
ally assured Of this fact by myself
Every member of the board knows my
reasons for not accepting the contract
was not the matter of price, for, so
far as that is concerned, | should have
been glad to have accepted terms as
proposed by the board, if other develop.
ments had not appeared in the absence
of the board when they retired for
consultation, and Mr.. Leavett and all
the members of the board know, and
know full we'll, my reasons for refusing
to negotiate with them before the date
of this interview as set forth as COM
ing from Mr.. Leavett on March 4. I
should, as above, have been glad to
have had the contract 225 men at 60
cents per diem, the prison being under
proper management, and would at this
time be perfectly willing to take it at
65 cents per day, the prison warden be-
ing a man who would not use his Of
fetal position to force himself upon the
contractor rs partner
Mr.. Wolfer has said nothing in reply
: TO it thus far, except to declare posi-.
lively that he is not in any way inter-
ested in the Bronson contract.
Mr. Bronson also declares positively
that Warden Wolfer is not connected
with him him in any business way.
There is no dispute of the fact that
When Warden Wolfer resigned as war.
den of the state prison it was with
the intention of becoming bidder for
the state prison labor contract.
The board of control understood this
When Warden Boucher of North Da-
kota, decided not to accept the Mime
sofa appointment, the board OF control
urged Mr.. Wolfer to reconsider his res.
ignation, which Mr.. Wolfer did.
This made it impossible for him tc
. become bidder for the contract.
The board of control then advertised
for bids for a ten-year contract for
prison labor in the manufacture OF
shoes.
They received but one bid, that OF
! r. II. Bronson, offering 60 cents pei
man per day.
The bid was not accepted, as the
board did not want to take less than
63 cents day.
Mr.. Bronson finally agreed to Offer
So cents day.
Will Talk Later.
The state board of control held it's
regular March meeting at the state pri
son yesterday.
The subject of the shoe factory con
tract was discussed at an executive
meeting and Roscoe H. Bronson held
a long interview with the board and
Warden Wolfer.
T,s board of control, being asked
for an expression concerning the Jor
dan letter, Mr.. Leavett, speaking in
its behalf, said:
1.-THE board absolutely declines to be
interviewed on the subject now"
He further said that there was moth
ing new relating to the contract with
r. H. Bronson. No investigation has
been decided upon relative to the new
contract.
They who live on fashion die on fol
ly.
Nc GooA &c Euar.