The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1904-10-01
FACTS PRESENTED BY Mr.. dunn PROVE
JOHNS0N'S REPORT FALSE.
STATEMENT BY ROBERT 6. DUNN.

81 "A 81 lElN D I
Ever since left the auditors Office.
and especially after it became known
that I would be a candidate for the Re-
publican nomination for governor, moth
ing has been left undone by the adminis-
tration and it's chief henchman, Public
Examiner Johnson, that would tend to
besmirch my official character as state
auditor and belittle my efforts In behalf
Of the state. I will waste no words de-
mandatory OF the means and methods
employed by Mr.. Johnson and his satel-
Iites. Suffice it to say that false ana
defamatory statements were put in cir
culation concerning me in every nook ana
corner in the state. The editors ana re-
porters Of the city dailies have had 1t
drilled into them that when Mr.. Johnson
got through with his examination or the
auditors Office Bob Dunn would ne
doomed to political oblivion. The reading
public know the result Of the lnevstlga-
ton of the state auditors office by the
committee on public accounts and ex-
penditures of the legislature. The COM
mittee reported after a thorough lnves-
tigation in which they had the assistance
of experts, experts who were pre]ud1ceo
against me, that they found nothing 20
codemn and much to commend In my ao-
ministration. Mr.. Johnson, however, was
not satisfied. He pretended to believe
that the legislature had authorized hlm
to 70 ahead and make an investigation
on his own account, which was totally
unwarranted assumption on his part. BE
that is it may State Auditor 1Verson
gave him access to all the BOOKS anu
papers in his office. After spending thou-
sands Of dollars Of the states money, ne
made several reports which on their race
bore evidence Of falsity. The general
attention
thing that emanated from his office, as
it Is well known that he was bitter per-
sonal and political enemy OF mine. All
through the preliminary campaign, after
his first report was made pubic
~ ~ IGNORED Him Altogether"
think referred to him and his report
tust once in the newspapers. apsolo'fiy
refused to be placed on the de1ens1Ve "a
my campaign for the guberna torlal ho,no
nation. I had supposed that after the
convention Mr.. Johnson's malicious at
tacks would cease. Several weeks since
learned that he had filed another report
with the governor, having previously
taken good care to give synopsis Oh tlle
same to the newspapers that were w.
friendly to me, and also having taken
care to tnstill into the minds or the peo-
ple with whom he came In contact 1nSo
hfs latest effort would, metaphorlcaiy
.neaking. wipe me off the face OF the
earth. I waited patiently the pu5llcatlon
OF tho same until became convinced tho'
It was being held back to be sprung W
thu eve Of election for the sole purpose "
influencing voters against me- anu ~
favor of the Democratic canoloate ~.
governor. Then it was that Determined
to request q copy Of the report In ques-
zion from Gov. Van SAINT In order that
MIGHT refute tho charges therein contain
I'D. being fully convinced that coulo W
40 before I went out in the state to COIL
mence my canvass.
My intention was to make puphc Ml;
Johnson's report after l had eXa"a4ueu
into it and at the same time give my
refutation of the same 10 tne pu 11a,i
Evidently Gov. Van SAINT knew 1ui4 wen
that could refute and prove conclusive
II, from the records that Mr.. Johnsons
report was totally devoid OF truth, ana
hefora T received copy OF the same ~
was Riven to all the newspapers 1or pun
Ncation.
Tic Travels Faster Than TRUTH
The Democratic newspapers under glar-
ing headlines, gave Mr.. Johnson's dla-
tribe the benefit of their circulation. Inc
reader should bear in mind that In MS
Ia ut renort as far as timber matters are
concerned, Mr.. Johnson deals win per-
mits issued under previous adn1nlstra.
tions, long before I assumed the out1es ..
state auditor, with the evident intent OIL
confusing dates and decelvlng the people.
let Il be thoroughly understood that
when assumed the duties OF the once
If state auditor there were~ no t1moer
records to speak Of In tho office, every
thing being in a. chaotic state. more tnan
that. the appropriation for caring Tor
state lands had been exhausted and was
Obliged to wait several weeks Tor the pas
sage of g. deficiency appropriation 10
enable me to put cruisers In the he1o: as
soon as funds were available employed
three reliable cruisers and put them TO
work. and later employed several ao-
>ditional cruisers temporarily. AS far as
possible the timber covered by every legal
permit outstanding was looked over ana
every precaution taken to protect the IN.
terests Of the state. Several scores OF
permits were arbitrarily cancelled py
mo. Of course. there we're some pe,rn ~
bonds REQUIRED BY law were on file and it
Was not within my power to cancel such
nermits. It must also be remembered
that the timber belt of Minnesota at thal
time extended over an area OF 4oooo
SQUARE miles, an empire in itself. 1t
would have been a physical 1mposslolllty
for a score Of cruisers, much less three
to cover the territory III queSIAOAA AneAuS
Of twelve months. Our cruisers worked
night and day and Sundays and were I'M
firing in their efforts. One of the first
permits that was investigated covered
land in twenty sections in township g.
range IA, and had been issued to man
named Murray in 1892 to run for period
of five years. The permit showed that
tho timber was estimated at seven mil
lion feet and the price was $1.75 per
thousand. The permit and bond were IN
conformity with tho existing law, but
came to the conclusion that there might
be more than seven million feet, as the
estimates were far from being correct.
The states cruisers were sent to the
town in question and after making
rough estimate, which occupied three
weeks time. they reported that there were
over thirty million feet standing on the
territory covered by the permit. I inn
mediately notified Mr.. Murray to come to
the ONCE a. desired to talk with him in
relation to the permit in question. in
Formed him that his permit was legal on
its Face. but that it had already run for
9 Two years and that the state would have
- redress Ii the timber IN question should