The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-05-20
1 respectfully solicit an early reply. Re
spectfully yours, L. w. Collins"
Mr.. Hill Says Not.

Il
spectfully yours, L. w. Collins"
Mr.. Hill Says Not.
To this / received the following reply
''Dear Sir: l am in receipt of YOU
letter of the 10th inst, and if you dc
sire personal interview on the subject
of the letter | expect to be at home al
of this week and will see you at my
office at any time you desire.
"No contribution was personally sole
tied by you or made to you by me.
"By whom contributions were solicited
and to whom made is a proper subject
for personal interview rather than OF
correspondence. Yours truly,
'James j. Hill"
After submitting the above correspon.
dence leave it to any fair-minded man
to Judge of Mr.. Dunn's candor and fair
ness of statement when making that
charge.
Collins Suggested No Gift.
Referring now to Mr.. Hills invitation
to personal interview as to contribu-
lions made by him in the campaign of
1854, let me say that l have no desire
to ascertain about contributions unless
they were made Upon my solicitation or
suggestion. If Mr.. Hills letters refer
- @,,h ,noAa hxy him, 70 Tho
republican state central committee it
will be seen that they have no bearing
upon the charge made by Mr.. Dunn. In
this event it must be presumed that the
committee used its funds for the benefit
of the entire ticket, including Mr.. Dunn,
who was candidate for state auditor,
and j. P. Heatwole, candidate for
member of congress.
l now state without eeuivocation, or
reservation, that l never suggested, and
never requested, directly or indirectly,
that money be solicited or secured from
Mr.. Hill for that campaign, or for the
present contest or for any other. If such
solicitation has been made it has been
done wothout my knowledge, authority
or consent, and twice have | unsuccess-
fully endeavored to ascertain who did
this soliciting, or securing the money
if anybody. 1 want the names of these
parties published to the world in letter
from Mr.. Hill, and then let the public
Judge whether or not [ countenanced or
authorized their acts.
Disclaims Any Mud Singing.
I have carefully refrained from max
ing any attack on the character of Mr..
Dunn or any other candidate, and can
not be Justly accused of any mud sling
ing, whatsoever, but candidates re-
cord, political associates and attitude on
public questions are fit subjects for dis
cussion in contest like the present one.
1 have not hesitated to say that the
republican party in this state has been
one of principle. In 1902 it took an I'M
ton, and with clear voice Endorsed the
action of President Roosevelt and Gov
ernor Van SAINT in bringing into the
courts the Northern Securities company
to answer to the charge that it was
guilty of fragrant violation of both
the state and federal statutes. The
charge that it had violated the federal
law stands substantiated. | believe that
the party meant precisely what it said
upon this subject, and that it was not
trifling with the people at that time.
believe that it will not, at the coming
convention, repudiate it's platform or
stultify itself when nominating its can
didate for governor If it does, its in
dorsement of President Roosevelt and
Governor Van SAINT was mere ceremony
to be disavowed at the first opportunity
if demanded by the candidate.
The Present Issue.
The issue now before the party is not
whether one of two or more men shall be
selected, but shall the party be consist
ent, or shall it go into the campaign with
a reputation of the doctrine upon which
it appealed to the people in 1902, and
which was upheld by the majority for
Van SAINT of more than sixty thousand?
Those who have taken any interest
whatever in this subject cannot have
reached any other conclusion than that
the fight against these interests has just
commenced. Not only Minnesota, but the
entire country is involved in a great
struggle to determine whether such in
terests shall be subservient to law. Our
party will certainly take decided stand
upon this subject, and an aspirant for
the highest office in the gift of the peo-
pie who has openly declared himself out
of sympathy with the party on this i'm
portant public question ought not to
complain if he is criticized.-L. w. Col