Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-17
IS MAKING GOOD.
w. B. JORDAN OF SALTWATER
AND HIS GROUNDS FOR THE
GRAFT CHARGES.
Makes Complete Statement Covering
Recent Letting of Contract for Con.
vct Labor at Minnesota State Peni.
tertiary.

w. b. Jordan, of Saltwater, Minneso-
ta,a former resident of Ottumwa, who
last week created such a sensation by
making charges of graft against the
warden OF the Minnesota state prison
located in that city, seems from the
accounts appearing in the state papers
to have been making good. Mr.. Jor-
dan and a brother have been the own
ers of the shoe manufacturing plant
located at the prison and which was
operated with the convict labor, con-
tracted from the state.
At the time. of the recent letting of
the contract for the present year Mr..
Jordan refused to present bid init
mating as the reason that Warden
Wolfer, in charge of the prison, would
force himself by virtue of his position
and influence into the manufacturing
company as a business partner.
Following his first letter Mr.. Jordan
has made public full statement of all
the facts and circumstances connected
with the contract in the past and Of
the recent letting of the contract to a
firm headed by R. H. Bronson, with
whom Warden Wolfer is said to be a
business partner.
Says Wolfer is Stakeholder.
Mr.. Jordan charges principally that
Warden Wolfer is a stakeholder in the
concern, which, under the name of R,
H. Bronson. has the contract for the
next ten years.
He charges that Wolfer, while ward.
en- of the prison, held stock in the
shoe contract
He relates in detail much conversa-
ton between himself and Wolfer to
substantiate his belief that Wolfer is
interested in the contract
Mr.. Jordan claims that when the
Jordan company was incorporated to
carry on the prison contract Of the de-
funct Tarbox, Schliek & Co., Mr.. Bron-
son was taken into the corporation
solely through the manipulations and
Intervention of Warden Wolfer Bron.
son owned $4,000 of the total $780,
900 capital stock of the concern
When the state board of control de-
cided to make a new contract, Bron-
son informed Jordan that Bronson and
Wolfer would bid against the Jordans
for the contract. Later Bronson offer
ed to buy the. Jordan interest and the
Jordans, believing this to be the best
way out of the difficulty, accepted and
sold out to Bronson
On February %, says Mr.. Jordan,
Mr.. Bronson came to him and propos-
ed that the. Jordans come back into the
concern and that the same old arrange
ment stand, Bronson having $4,000
of the capital stock Bronson, says
Mr.. Jordan then said: II will buy out
VOTERS interest Mr.. Jordan said he
feared Wolfer would make it unpleas-
ant for the Jordans and Bronson said
'Ill see that Wolfer treats you all
right"
Mr.. Jordan declares that on January
II Warden Wolfer took luncheon with
him and told Jordan that he. Wolfer,
wanted more stock in the shoe COM
pany. Mr.. Jordan replied that he did
not know Wolfer had any stock in the
company, and that he could deal only
with Bronson. Wolfer then said, &C.
cording to Mr. Jordan:
Bronson has not d-n thing to
do with this. This is my own. I want
$4,000 more stock, which with the
$4,000 that have with Bronson will
give me $4,000 OF, the stock"
These are the main facts given out
by Mr.. Jordan. The statement gives
in detail much of the conversation with
the board of control.