The Saint Paul globe., 1904-10-20
DEMOCRATS HOLD
A R0USING RALLY
County Candidates Are Enthu-
slasticalIy Greeted by Large
Gathering

members of the Ramsey County Demo-
| cratic organization Peter J. Metzdorf
the. county treasurer and candidate for
election, last night in Federation
/ hall sounded an alarm against a new
and untried man being elected to a
position where it is possible that the
taxpayers money may be misappro-
/ priated.
The severe. arraignment of the past
administration of the Office by Repub-
i .licans, during which time thousands Of
!. dollars were lost by the peculations of
officials and others, was received with
thunderous applause. 1t was demon
strated that the depiorable conditions
that Mr.. Metzdorf uneart1led shortly
! after his election four years ago re-
/ mains fresh in the minds of the peo-
/ pie, and that there is determination
upon the part of the voters to see that
no chance is given for a repetition of
/ such scandals.
when Mr.. Metzdorf was elected to
| the office four years ago., said Chair
| man Pike, in introducing the treasurer,
"he discovered condition of affairs
| that was far from credit to the coun
I ty, left by his Republican predeces-
i sors. 1t was found that thousands of
! dollars of the taxpayers money had
been flched from the treasury. Mr..
/ Metzdorf exposed the corruption and
stopped the thievfng. and it is natural
/ that he made enemies of some Of the
| men who were thus prevented from
| leading further raids on the treasury.
take pleasure in introducing our
/ present and next county treasurer, a
man with an irreproachable record as
an official and as a citizen-an officer
who is a credit to the party and to
/ the county"
County Treasurer Applauded
Mr. Metzdorf was greeted warmly.
| He said that he believed the entire
Democratic county ticket would be
elected. with the assistance of the or
ganization, and that he had failed to
hear of a good reason for any Demo-
crat falling to support all the nomi-
nees. The candidates had been in
dorsed by the party receiving ma
jority of the votes of the Democrats
who participated in the primaries, and
/ are therefore entitled to the support
of all the voters of the party. Con-
tinuing, County Treasurer Metzdorf
| said:
And would like to say a few words
| particularly about the office of county
treasurer For four years have served
in the position and have reason to believe
| that the people are satisfied with the
record that I have made. 1t is a response
BILE position The county treasurer han
/ dies about Sc, GOO 000 year, and a man
of some experience. of undoubted in
] tegrity and thoroughly able to discover
attempts to- rob the staxpayers should .l be
/ elected at all times. The care of the
money of the people is a sacred duty, and
! one that L have endeavored to perform
| with the utmost eXactness
When / went into Office found that
| the county had been robbed Of thousands
of dollars. investigated the method of
/ doing the business and stopped the rob-
/ bing. thus saving large sums of money
. for the taxpayers and helping to reduce
| the tax levy. 1t was my duty to do this,
4 and / performed the task without favor.
/ 1t is natural that / made enemies by such
| a course and it is also apparent why
4 certain men are opposing my reelection.
/ They are aware that I will not in the
| future, any more than did in the past,
| countenance raids upon the treasury.
The cry in this campaign is that Metz
! dorf has had enough. This is done to
secure possession Of the office It tbs is
the thieves and divided with them the
/ proceeds of their treasury looting that
/ l would have had enough in two years.
| Instead handled the office for the bene-
| fit of the taxpayers.
G. r. o'ReilIy Speaks
George R. sO,ReiIly analyzed the polit-
i ical situation in the state and county.
I referring to the different candidates
! in rapidly drawn sketches of their pub
/ lie records andpeEsenal character, and
1 asserted that it would seem that there
| can be no doubt of the election of
| John A. johnson as governor, and that
with good work he believed that the
entire Democratic county ticket would
| be successful. He was confident that
| when Mr.. Johnson arrives in st. Paul
| and the voters come into direct contact
| with him there Will be no question of
| his success in Ramsey county, but 1t is
the duty of the local organization to
work faithfully for his success. making
j possible q majority in the county that
will give the party good standing with
i the next governor. The entire Demo-
! cratic ticket Was worthysof support and
| should receive the full Democratic
! vote. Speaking of the county candi-
dates, Mr.. O'Reilly said in part:
At the primary election the Republicans
| had five candidates for the two nonina
tions for district judges. and Messrs.
Markham and Halam were named. The
Democrats, conceding that George L.
! Bum and Thomas. ID. O'Brien were pre-
eminently fitted for the exalted positions
gave them the Democratic nominations
without contest. Judge Bum is recognized
| as one OF the most able, fair and learned
| Jurists in the state. As his colleague, Mr.
! O'Brien has displayed his ability in many
hard fought legal battles. AS county at
torney he made4a record for efficiency
was honest. intelligent and sincere. The
democratic canulQdJeS possess Sucn emil
nent qualifications that there is and
should be little reason to fear their de-
feat
Metzdorf's Fine Record
The conduct of the Office of county
treasurer for the past four years has
shown Peter j.. Metzdorf to be man of
such ability and unquestioned integrity
that his official record has been the sub
ject of comment and praise by Republican
papers of the city. 1t has been well said
that the proof of the pudding is in the
eating, and proof that a man will serve
you capably and honestly in the future is
found in the fact that he has done so
in the past Mr. Metzdorf can well afford
to seek reelection On his record.
My feeble words can but lily set forth
the merits of our county attorney. Thomas
R. Kane, who is physically unable to 'be
| with you this evening His matchless
| oratory is well known to YOU. and you are
doubtless thoroughly familiar with the ex-
cellent record that he has made In the
past four years. You are familiar with the
indomitable viii of the man and his Pc
culiar fitness for the position He leaves
his cause in your hands, confident that he
will receive the support that know he
| r1,o