The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-08-18
TO STAND ON RECORD.
This is What K. G.. Dunn Will Do.
But Not On Joknson's rlade-
to=Order Reports.
Position Taken by Attorney General
==Time for Grand Stand Plays
Has Gone By.

official record of Robert G. Dunn
while auditor of the State of Mime
sofa. This last chapter Of political
serial was handed to the governor,
and in due process and time was
placed in the hands of the attorney
general.
There is but one thing to be done
with it. The campaign will be on in a
fortnight, and in justice to the man
against whose record such demon
stration is being made, the report
should be made public, that he be
enabled to meet such charges as it con-
tains, if they are worthy of notice.
The fact that Public Examiner John
son has prostituted his Office, neglected
the work for which he was appointed
and devoted time and energy and the
State funds to a search through the
files of the auditors Office for some
thing that could be used to the dis
credit of a State officer, must not be
considered now.
Whatever his motive, he has made
charges against a candidate for the
highest executive Office in the gift of
the State. He has assailed a record
of official conduct, upon which Repub-
licans for several campaigns, have
been dependent for their arguments.
There should be no effort made to SUP
fx,;~ 80
Robert G.. Dunn's with authority
from him Or from his advisers would
suggest such thing, despite the fact
that the twin city press hints at such
a thing.
Mr.. Dunn feels that he can stand on
his record. That is the argument
upon which he is before the people
candidate for further term of public
servitude. He has said time and
again, that if he were to serve his
terms as auditor over again, he would
have done, in the interest of the State,
precisely what he did do with timber
trespass settlements and other official
business.
He has the confidence of an honest
man in the public's spirit of fair play,
and he does not want any part of Mr..
Johnson's findings" kept from the
public. The public examiners hand
should be played to the finish. The
people Of Minnesota want to know and
to have the fullest knowledge Of the
truth or falsity of his charges.
Examiner Johnson's department has
been promising political sensation
to the State of Minnesota for the last
year or more. Up to date, he has
failed to deliver. If he has the sensa-
ton, let the public be kept in suspense
no longer. Let us have the report
Duluth News Tribune.
Donahower's Policy.
'When the suits are filed they will
become public property, at least in
districts where they are fled. It is
not the purpose of this department to
try these cases in the newspapers.
These words were spoken by Attor-
ney General Donahower in relation to
the Johnson report, when he referred
to the filing Of possible suits to test
the claim being made that more money
could have been collected from timber
trespassers than was secured from
them to the State by former Auditor
Dunn.
Attorney General Donahower has
made manifest, ever since he assumed
his present position, disposition to
administer the affairs of his depart
ment, according to his oath of Office
and has disregarded the political sig
nifcance of his actions with praise
worthy attention to his simple duty.
There are eighty-three counties in the
State Of Minnesota, with county seats
easily within reach of the press. If a
suit is filed, il any one of them, there
is no reason why the filing should not
become public property at once.
While the friends of Mr.. Dunn, and
Mr.. Dunn himself, would vastly prefer
immediate and searching publicity for
the Johnson reports and their findings,
the action of Attorney General Dona-
hover in insisting upon the conduct of
his official business in diginfed and
official manner, cannot fail of CON-
mendation.
1t is one thing to be sure that tres
pass has been made and to be morally
certain that the guilty party is known,
and it is quite another thing to prove
the trespasser's guilt in court. The
State auditor may be fully convinced
TIT a certain lumberman or other tres.
passer has been stealing the State IS
timber. A hundred signs and condi-
tions may strengthen his belief in the
guilt of the suspected man. The de-
nudn6 nine lands and tho ctrOnu nd