The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-11-04
An Interesting Campaign Reviewed.

was refused to an outsider and after
wards granted without competition
which the law requires where there is
more than one applicant-to a sister of
one of the land clerks. This lease is so
valuable that the original applicant is
determined not to give it up, but has
attacked in the courts the validity of
the lease and the contract granted to
the sister of the land clerk. ...
To illustrate what little competition
in mineral leases as might have meant
for the state, lease, which is merely an
exclusive privilege, to prospect for ore,
was bid up in the auditors office yes
terday to $1,000, the privilege in this
instance being sought for on tract by
no means as promising as the "sliver.'
The public is familiar with the
claims by the ex-auditor to great credit
for the settlement. of the celebrated
Biermann railroad land grant dispute
and the Duluth & Iron Range railroad
land grant. T h e j o urn.a has already
shown from the records that the incor-
,, poration Of a valuable tract of $4,000
acres of state institutions land in the
list Of lands available for selection by
the latter company was a blunder of
the auditors office. Attempts have
| been made to excuse this case Of what
we shall call carelessness, and to shift
the blame in part on other men, but the
certificate itself sets out in specific
terms the auditor s personal response
bility. for the care of the states lands,
i and invests in him all authority in the
matter. This is a blunder which the
attorneys for the state had to rectify
by compromise with the railroad COM
pany, giving them concessions and privi-
leges which they could not otherwise
have secured. p,
AS for the Biermann deed to the Great
Northern Railroad company the public
is so familiar with the facts that it is
only sufficient to recall here that by
canceling that Biermaan deed and is
suing new one, which Attorney Gen
eral Childs declared the auditor had no
right to do, he relieved the Great Nor.
thern railroad of paying ten years
taxes on the land covered. by the deed
and saved the company a large sum of
money which it would have been com
:, PEELED to pay to the state but for the
kindly interference of the auditor.
But it would become tedious to re
cite further the long story of the off
cial delinquency and abuse of power
which marks the record Of R. G. Dunn
as auditor Of the state. Complaint.
come from various parts of the stat.
; of favoritism in land sales, and strons
characteristic Of his administration o:
) the auditor s office seems to have beer
: to use the power which he possessed t,
confer favOrs on personal and politica
n friends, tho at the expense of the state
S An instance recently brought to light i
r the diversion of $4,000 from the count
y fairs to the Southern Minnesota Fai
l. association after appropriations TO
e that institution had been cut off by tn
d legislature and after it had ceased t.
e hold fairs. g.
n These are a few of the consideration
3 which the republicans Of the state ar
n bound to take into consideration mex
e Tuesday. They may think they are un
it lmportant; that the republican part
can afford to stand for this record. The
!. may be so sensitive to the party lasf
f. so subservient to party discipline-it i
" sort of fetch with some men-tha
" they cannot discriminate between til
~ political fortunes of an individual VIII
e happens to have secured his nominatio
~ by what must be admitted to be que.
y tionable means and the principles fo
.. which that party is supposed to stant
# But that is a pretty important thing t
q do sometimes. The republican party e.
10 poets to be here next year and the yea
= after. It will have other battles t
at fight and other appeals to make for til
"a confidence and approval Of the publi
= Will it be in better shape to make the1
- if it shoulders up now the incubus of a
n indefensible official record? It was
20 mistake to nominate R. G. Dunn fc
q governor. He is not qualified by publ
record or personal characteristics. Ths
was mistake No. /. Will it help ma
- : tiers any to make another by electin
~ him9
% 1t is up to the republicans Of MINI
~ sofa to settle this question and settle
- right. From all the information we ca
IL gather mistake No 9 will not be mad