The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-05-12

courts in no sense reflected on his ac-
ton in bringing it.
But the News-Tribune feels that the
desperate attempt of this administra-
ton to perpetuate itself deserves the
sevFerest criticism, and that allowances
cannsno longer be made for Gov. Van
SAINT a himself. He, too, has laid him.
self open to just rebuke. Those who
have been reluctant to believe that he
would SO far descend from the dignity
and duty of a governor of Minnesota
asssto employ the power, patronage
and and prestige of his Office to the illegal
and and pernicious purpose of debating
the choice of his successor can no
longer doubt. Not only is the army
of8State employees busily engaged in
promoting the candidacy of Judge
Collins, to the damage of the public
service, which is neglected, but they
aresd doing this with the knowledge, the
approval and the insistence of Gov.
Van SAINT. Not only is this the fact,
but.he, himself, is taking a direct per-
sonal interest and part in assau]ting
theSYcandidacy of Robert c. Dunn.
The books of Mr.. Dunn, when State
auditor, were at all times open to pub
lie inspection. But it is now sixteen
months since he left office. When 60
ing out he requested the legislature to
appoint committee to examine the
records. The committee was ap-
pointed, it investigated and reported
it's approval. The question of his
record was raised sixteen months ago,
and raised because this very Van SAINT
crowd was circulating charges and
rumors.
The administration people, then,
have had since January, 1908, to in
vestigate Mr.. Dunn's official record
and make charges if they had any to
make. It was not their policy, how
ever, to act fairly and in good time.
They held back what they had. to say
las long as possible. Now, just before
=4thes sd ueuses are to be held, Gov. IAN
SAINT comes forward with report from
Public Examiner S. T. johnson, sends
it to the attorney general recommend
ing that suits be brought to recover
money which they claim, State Audi
tor Dunn should have collected years
ago. The johnson report specifies
cases in which he claims that timber
trespass suits were too cheaply settled.
| But why is it that matters which
were of public record and common no.
toriety years ago are brought forward
and made the subject OF charges
against Mr.. Dunn only on May 5,
1904?
It is because the Van Sant-Collins
crowd knows that the facts given will
not bear the construction put upon
them and that all charges would have
been refuted and have fallen fat if they
had been made three months, or more,
ago. With disregard for common
fairness and a contempt for public
opinion that will recoil on them, they
have held these things back until near
the end of the campaign and have
"sprung" them with the hope that
there will not be time enough for Mr..
| Dunn's friends to refute and counter
act them.
Gov. Van SAINT, Judge Collins, and
their special advisers are all connected
with this cheap device of petty, unfair
and indecent politics and must be held
responsible for it. This is not the
first time that Mr. Dunn has been the
subject of INSCRIPTIONS attacks, and
is not likely to be the last, for, of such
is the Collins campaign chiefly made.
This unfair and impotent assault on
Dunn shows how desperate is the Col
Inns cause in the estimation of the Col
Inns leaders. They seee the signs of
the times and are cluthching at straws.
Duluth News-Tribune.
A COntemDtiblo Political Trick