The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-10-27
JOHN LIMBS DUPLICITY.

JOHN LIMBS DUPLlClTY.
His Opinion of Dunn a Few Years Ago
and His Turn-Coat Opinion Now.
''When John Lind was governor,
r. G. Dunn was State auditor and I
was State treasurer, Gov. Lind could
scarcely say enough in praise of the
administration of Mr.. Dunn says
Former State Treasurer August T.
koerner of Litchfeld, who has re-
turned to Minnesota from a month S
tour of Indiana.
II remember particularly on one
occasion that Lind said that if either
myself Or Mr.. Dunn ever were can
didate for governor he would not run
against us or lift his hand to defeat
us. This statement was made after
we three had had a conference as
members of one OF the numerous
boards which consist OF the governor,
State auditor and State treasurer.
"During my administration as State
treasurer, I often conferred with Gov.
Lind and Mr.. Dunn. We were mem
bers of several boards.
Gov. Lind was in a position to
ascertain whether or not Mr.. Dunn
was doing his duty as State auditor.
I recall that he praised Mr.. Dunn
highly for his ability, integrity and
business-like administration. Gov.
Lind had such confidence in Mr.. Dunn
that he conferred with him and me re-
garding the appointment Of a. United
States SENATOR
This statement is only one illustra-
ton Of Lind's views Of the admins
tration OF +. G. Dunn before Mr.. Lind
because interested in a fight to over
throw the Republican party in Mime
sofa. His expressions Of opinion On
the integrity and ability of Mr.. Dunn
were those of Lind as the man, rather
than as Lind as the exponent of Dem
ocratic principles. He expressed his
opinion when he was in q position to
judge as to the efficacy of Mr.. Dunn's
work and to his friends, to whom he
would not make a false statement.
This is not the only evidence of
Lind's admiration of Mr.. Dunn's ad-
ministration, which he so freely ex-
pressed before he became interested in
plan to bring about Democratic su-
premacy in the North Star State.
When Lind was a candidate for re-
election against Gov. Van SAINT in
1900, he made practically his entire
campaign on the record of r. c..
Dunn. He enumerated the achieve
ments Of his administration and al
most every one had been brought out
by Mr.. Dunn as State auditor and
land commissioner. One of these was
the recommendation to increase the
gross earnings tax from three to four
per cent.
Gov. Lind claimed this as his pet
measure, whereas it had been recon-
mended by Mr.. Dunn in his annual re-
port issued previously. Lind claimed
credit for the efficient administration
Of the State lands and the increase in
the permanent school fund. All who
were familiar with the constitution
and with the laws Of the State knew
that these matters were left with the
State auditor and that whatever good
had been accomplished in this direc-
tion was due largely to the State audi
tors efforts.
When Lind was elected governor in
1898 he had to prepare a message for
the legislature which met early in the
year of 1899. He tried to get a copy
of Mr.. Dunn's biennial report, which
was in the hands of the printer, that
he might know what to recommend
for legislative enactment. Some of
the clerks in the Office thought that it
was up to Lind to prepare his own
message and tried to keep it from him
until it was given out to the other off,
Gals in the building. Lind, however,
managed to secure a proof from the
printer, and his recommendations
were little more than synopsis OF
Mr.. Dunn's report.