The Saint Paul globe., 1904-10-29
dunn men TRY TO
SCARE STATE GUARD
Wiley and Martin Take Guards.
men Up On a High
Hill

guard for r. C. Dunn and promote
Capt. NJ ]. Wiley's chances to dis
place Adjt. Gen. Libbey about sixty
five guardsmen were last night taken
to the Windsor hotel by the deputy
state oil inspector, who first drew the
spotlight of publicity with his Ramsey
county tigers.
With the tigers thoroughly tanned,
Capt Wiley has turned his attention
to the national guard of the state. Not
caring to have James A. Martins
"come and see me- invitation over
worked and at the same time anxious
| to save the guard, Capt Wiley called
for volunteers and last night the sixty
five considered the cigars and writing
material, while Mr.. Martin drawn from
his graft proof office, attempted to
force upon them the conviction that
they should support the Republican
candidate for governor.
Wiley and Martin pounded vigor-
ously upon the plea that the national
guard could not expect to receive IA
vors at the hands of the next legis-
lature if they failed to support Dunn,
and hinted that if Dunn is elected
without the support of the guardsmen
it was altogether possible that he
would see to it that bills passed by
the legislature for their benefit would
not be signed.
Guardsmen Made Angry
The guardsmen listened to what was
said, accepted the hospitality furnish
ed by the Republican state campaign
committee, but upon leaving the hotel
were loud in their denunciation of the
effort to drag the national guard into
politics. They particularly objected to
being compelled to vote for a candi-
date for governor upon penalty of
having appropriations for the guards
stopped.
1T is a case of bulldozing, pure and
simple" said one of the men. Wiley
and Martin attempted to shove Dunn
down our throats whether we liked it or
not, but if I understand the temper of
the average guardsman the result will
be directly opposite to that intended
by the political agents. We are not
asking appropriations from the state
as a favor, but for value received, and
when we are told in plain terms that
we must vote for Dunn if we would
| receive further appropriations, it seems
that the threat is being carried to an
unjustifiable length
This is the first time in the nearly
twenty years that / have been con-
| been such a serious effort to drag 1t
into politics. and when we consider
that John A. Johnson is former cap
tain of the guard it would seem to be
plan that will not benefit the Re-
publicans. Several of those present
told me after the meeting that they
considered the entire affair scheme to
browbeat them into supporting Dunn,
and that on the contrary the result
would be that they would vote for
| Johnson
Capt. Wiley was busily engaged for
a couple of days inviting members of
the guard to be present and partici-
pate in the Dunn meeting, as far as
possible those being invited that were
| supposed to be in the doubtful column
as to governor. In doing this, 1t is
claimed, he had inN his mind his pros
| pective candidacy for adjutant gen
| eral if Dunn should be elected. This
| is borne out by the fact that Adjt. Gen.
| Libbey was not invited to the meet
| ing, and took no part in the effort to
| force the guardsnen to take part in
partisan politics.
WiIey's Straight Talk
wiley assumed the position of pre-
| siding officer and launched into a
| lengthy dissertation. which he prefaced
! with the warning that those present
/ SQOulQ Sdy HOlLlil6 VI NlftI NdAASe-
after they left the room.
| Wiley asserted that he could say
with authority that if Dunn is defeated
| the Republican legislature will not pass
/ measures for the benefit of the national
| guard, and that If he was elected with
out the support of the guardsmen it
would be s.up to him to decide whether
| they would get the appropriations"
| If Dunn should be elected with the
support of the guard, he argued, it was
| an assured fact that he would favor
an increased appropriation. Wiley ex-
| planned that the legislature will not
pass national guard measures if john
son is elected, as in such case the gov
ernor would be given the credit and
| might receive the support of the
guardsmen in 1906.
Manager Martin bluntly asserted
| that it would be to the benefit of the
| national guard if they supported Dunn.
and left the inference that they would
regret their course If they failed to do
: so. He said that he was looking for