The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-11-18
THEIR NAMES
WERE M|SUsED
Truth Regarding Signatures OF
Board of Trade Officers
Which Appeared on a Circular
Sent Out BY McCleary.
Their Confidence Betrayed BY
Supposed Friend.
Trick of Those in Charge OF Con-
gressman's Campaign.
From Mondays Daily.

From Mondays Daily.
This morning the Board of Trade
adopted a resolution censuring its presi-
dent and secretary for signing an en-
dorsement of Congressman McCleary's
candidacy for reelection in such way
as to make it appear that the Board OF
Trade had itself declared in favor of the
republican candidate. The board had no
objection to the signature of this paper
by DIR. Andrews and B. c. Taylor as in
dividuals. but. as their official positions
on the board were noted after their
names, it looked as if the board itself
had taken action in favor of Mr.. Nc
Cleary, whereas it had done no such
thing Furthermore, the Board of Trade
stationery had been used in the circula-
ton of the declaration. This made it ap-
pear all the more strongly as if the
board was itself behind the declaration.
The resolution was introduced by C..
n. Andrews It's adoption was seconded
by John C. Wise.
Dr. Andrews, the president, said the
officers of the board had been much an
noyed during the past few months by
parties who were attempting to get
these officers to lend their influence for
political ends. He himself favored the
resolution He hoped this resolution
would keep the officers of the board
from lending their influence as such Of
ficers in the future in favor of any per-
son running for office.
Secretary Taylor likewise pleaded
guilty. He said, however, that when
the matter was presented to him, it was
not on the Board of Trade stationery.
He had no idea that it was to be print
ed on Board of Trade stationery. He
didn't feel like signing it anyhow. Yet
the circular did not purport to be the
action of the board itself.
C. n. Andrews said the attitude 'of
the officers quite disarmed him. His
thunder must remain unheard and his
ammunition unshot.
F. NJ. Currier said he was in SYM
pathy with the general tenor of the reso-
luton. vet he did not wish to see the
officers put in a false light. 1t was the
republican congressional committee who
used the declaration and circulated it in
the form in which it appeared before the
public.
The board now rescinded its adoption
of the resolution in the original form,
and gave c. n. Andrews and Secretary
Taylor authority to modify it in such a
way as not to hold the officers of the
board responsible for the appearance of
the McCleary declaration on Board of
Trade literature. The modified resolution
reads as follows:
Whereas, the president and secretary
of this Board of Trade, during the cleo
ton just passed, signed a circular letter
which was afterwards reproduced on
Board of Trade letter paper by the re-
publican congressional committee and
spread broadcast throughout this con-
gressional district as campaign docu-
ment, urging the election of James I.
McCleary to congress, and whereas said
officers, though not authorizing or ex-
pecting that Board of Trade letter paper
should be used, yet followed their sig
natures with the designation of their
officers in this board and such circular
letter being so worded as to convey the
impression upon those who should read
it that it emanated from this board and
was the result of its official action !;
and
Whereas, This Board of Trade had in
no manner authorized such action on the
part of its officers and is strictly nom
partisan in its membership, and has
never directly or indirectly favored
James T. McCleary for congress.
Resolved, That the actions of its said
officers aforesaid is repudiated and con-
demned by this board, and the attempt
on their part to commit the influence of
this board to the republican candidate,
and their course in joining with James
T. McCleary to perpetrate political
trick upon the people of this district and
place this board and all its members in
false light before the public is repre-
hensibe in the highest degree and should
be as widely rebuked as the false i'm
preston has been widely circulated.
President Cooper of the normal
brought the attention OF the board to
the Thirteenth Minnesota State Confer
ence of Charities and Corrections, to be