The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1904-09-28

Nratlon and Its cnleI nencuIIlaus EublhS
Examiner johnson, that would tend to
auditor and belittle my efforts In behalf
of the state. I will waste no words 0e-
mandatory of the means and methods
employed by Mr.. Johnson and his satel-
lites. Suffice it to say that false and
defamatory statements were put in cir
culation concerning me in every nook and
corner in the state. The editors and re-
porters of the city dailies have had It
drilled into them that when Mr.. Johnson
got through with his examination OF the
auditors Office Bob Dunn would pc
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
nlittee reported, after a thorough inves-
tigatiop in which they had the assistance
of experts, experts who were prejudiced
against me, that they found nothing 10.
codemn and much to commend in my ad-
ministration. Mr. Johnson, however, was
not satisfied. He pretended to believe
that the legislature had authorized him
to go ahead and make an investigation
on his own account which was totally
unwarranted assumption on his part. be
that is it may, state Auditor Iverson
gave him access to all the books ana
papers in his Office. After spending thou
sands of dollars of the states money, he
made several reports which on their face
bore evidence of falsity. The generat
public paid very little attention 70 any
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 pubilc,
81 Ignored Him Altogether"
/ think / referred to him and his report
just once in the newspapers, absolutely
refused to be placed on the defensive III
my campaign for the gubenatorial NOM
nation 1 had supposed that after the
convention Mr.. Johnsons malicious at
taclSs would cease. Several weeks since
/ learned that he had filed another report
with the governor, having previously
taken good care to give synopsis Of the
same to the newspapers that were hn7
friendly to me, and also having taken
care to instill into the minds Of the peo-
ple with whom he came in contact that
his latest effort would, netapholieaiiy
speaking, wipe me off the face OF the
earth | waited patiently the publication
of the same until became convinced thaf
it was being held back to be sprung on
the eve of election for the sole purpose oil
influencing voters against me and IN
favor Of the Democratic candidate for
governor. Then it was that | determined
to request q copy Of the report in dues-
ton from Gov Van SAINT in order that
might refute the charges therein contain
ed, being fully convinced that could 40
so, before I went out in the state to COM
mence my canvass.
My intention was to make public MI.
Johnson's report after / had examined
into it and at the same time give my
REPUTATION of the same TO the public. (
Evidently Gov. Van SAINT knew full well
that could refute and prove conclusive
w from the records that Mr. Johnson's
report was totally devoid of truth, and
before received a copy of the same It
was given to all the newspapers Tor pub
LEGATION.
Lie Travels Faster Than Truth.
The Democratic newspapers. under glar-
ing headlines gave Mr.. Johnsons dia-
tribe the benefit of their circulation The
reader should bear in mind that in his
last report, as far as timber matters are
concerned, Mr.. Johnson deals with per-
mits issued under previous administra.
tions, long before assumed the duties OF
state auditor with the evident intent of
confusing dates and deceiving the people.
Let it be thoroughly understood that
when l assumed the duties of the office
of state auditor there were no timber
records to speak Of in the office, every.
thing being in chaotic state. More than
that, the appropriation for caring for
state lands had been exhausted and was
Obliged to wait several weeks for the pas
sage Of a deficiency appropriation to
enable me to put cruisers in the field. AS
soon as funds were available ! employed
three reliable cruisers and put them to
work and later employed several adj
ditional cruisers temporarily. AS far as
possible the timber covered by every legal
permit outstanding was looked over and
every precaution taken to protect the i'm
terests of the state. Several scores of
permits were arbitrarily cancelled by
me. OF course, there were some permits
that were legal on their face and the !
bonds required by law were on file and IL
was not within my power to cancel such
permits. 1T must also be remembered
that the timber belt Of Minnesota at that
time extended over an area of 10000
square miles. an empire in itself. It
would have been physical impossibility
for score of cruisers, much less three,
to cover the territory in question inside
OF twelve months. Our cruisers worked
night and day and Sundays and were un-
firing i'm their efforts. One of the first
permits that was investigated covered
land I'm twenty sections in township 81,
range a. and had been issued to q man
named Murray In 1892 to run for period
OF Ave, years. The permit showed that
the timber was estimated ait seven mile
lion feet and the price was $1.75 per
thousand. The permit and bond were in
conformity with the existing law, but
came 10 the conclusion that there might
be more than seven million feet ~ the
estimates were far from being correct
The states cruisers were sent to the
town iii question and after making
rough estimate. which occupied three
weeks time, they reported that there were
over thirty million feet standing OH the
territory covered hy the permit. i'm
the once IT. desired to talk with him iii
relation To the permit III question + in
formed him that his permit was legal on
its face. but that IL had already run for
two years ana that the state would have
no redress if the timber Ill question should