The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-04-01
Minneapolis Business Man Threatened
by the Dunn Managers.
Is Ordered to Stop Working tor Col
Inns for Governor.
If He Didn't Cease Mud Would Be
Thrown at Him.
Mean Tactics Resorted to by Adher
ents of Princeton Resident.
From FRIDAYS Daily.

From fridays DAILY.
'You would better keep out of this
fight, or we will have the papers throw
mud at you till you can't rest"
This threat was made to prominent
Minneapolis business man Tuesday af-
ternoon by one of the managers of r. G.
Dunn's campaign for governor. The two
had a very warm interview, which end
ed in the business man defying the poll
teal manager, to do his worst. He
was highly indignant over the use of
such tactics, and told the whole story
to a Journal man, saying that he was
ready to make affidavit of its truth.
He is an old friend of Judge Collins,
and takes an interest in the judges can
didacy for governor. Entirely on his own
notion he sent out letter in manifold
to several of his acquaintance in the
outside counties, reading as follows:
Minneapolis, Mimi, Feb. 10, 1904
Dear Sir: l am quite interested in the
gubernatorial situation and to ascertain
as far as possible the prevailing senti-
ment throughout the state as between
Judge Collins and Mr.. Dunn, who are I'M
doubtedly the leading candidates for
nomination, know you are in position
to know much of the feeling in your To-
cality, and wish you would in the next
few days write me fully your views in
the matter, as to the expressions you
hear and who seems to lead in your vi
cinity.
[ am very much interested in the sue
cess of Judge Collins and hope he will be
nominated, and am doing what lean to
further his interests.
Please let me hear from you at your
earliest convenience and oblige, your
truly,
He mailed copies of the letter to some
men he knew were Dunn supporters.
Others he knew were friendly to Collins,
and others he did not know about.
Tuesday afternoon he was called up by
telephone His interlocutor was we'll
known politician, very active in the
Dunn campaign He told the business
man he wanted to see him. .
''Very WE'LL" said the b. M, II will
stop in on my way home"
He went into the Dunn managers of
fee, and was at once apprised OF the
occasion for calling on him. The Dunn
man said he had been in session at St
Paul with Mr. Dunn's managers. They
had copy of the letter already quoted,
in their possession.
''And | want to tell you," the Dunn
manager continued, "that your COM
pany has got to keep its hands off this
fight. If you don't, you will wish you
had. We will send out word to the coun-
try papers, and they will so after you.
They will throw mud at you till you
can't rest"
The business man replied holly, that
he was acting on his own individual re-
sponsibility, and in a free country. He
intended to exercise the right to sup
port any man he pleased without die
tation from any man OF organization.
After some more repartee along the
same line, the Dunn manager asked:
"What do you expect to gain by it If
Judge Collins is elected?"
Nothing; and l don't suppose l
would suffer if Dunn was elected" re-
piled the business man.
'Well, I don't know" was the mys-
terious reply. "Your company might get
its taxes raised" @
The covet threat in this was not lost
on the business man, who proceeded to
tell his friend, the politician, what he
thought of him, and left without fur
Their parley. He says he does not know
whether the mud batteries are going to
be turned on him or not, and doesn't
care particularly; but he is wondering
how extensively such tactics are being
worked Minneapolis Journal.