The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-23
cowARDLY OR GUILTY.


penitentiary have left the people of the
state wavering in doubt between a
conviction that they are actually guilty
of all that Mr.. w. B. Jordan has
charged against them and a belief that
they are such towards that they dare
not try the issue with him. 1t resolves
itself into the same thing in the long
run; and there are few people in Min
nesota who have not been changed
from their first feeling of doubt or of
desire to wait until they heard from
both sides to a firm conviction that the
accused dare not uncover their tracks.
We do not at present call to mind
any instance in the history of any
have been ignored. 1t could not hap
pen unless the parties accused had
ceased to be regardful of their honor.
1t could not happen unless they We're
more fearful of what an investigation
might disclose than they were of pub
lie suspicion and contempt, deepening
into utter condemnation 1t could not
happen unless there was some reason
why they would rather bear any pun
ishment from public opinion than to
have the full blaze of light turned upon
their records.
Consider once more what it is that
these people are passing up. Mr.. Jor
dan has openly, specifically and re-
peatedIy charged Warden Wolfer with
having a financial interest in the shoe
company holding the contract for
prison labor. He has made this before
the board of control sitting in it's off,
cial capacity, so that 1t might investi-
gate, and he has made it in his own
name and on his own responsibility
through the press. He has invited dis
proof and has declared that he has
further evidence to support all that he
says. This is unlike mere gossip, and
different from a political assault. 1t is
a grave. open charge by a reputable
and responsible citizen in a position to
know whatever may be the facts of the
case, and as such the people will not
understand how any honest man could
be Indifferent to it's truth or false
hood.
Tho eo,Irca y1irc,4od 10 GO oy+ra or
binary that the most uncomplimentary
explanation of it is now being gener
ally accepted. Warden Wolfer has con-
sidered an affidavit from himself and
one from the contractor, who, if there
be any truth in the report, would be
equally implicated with himself, as
sufficient vindication for him. The
board of control, whose honor is GER
tainIy touched in the matter and whom
it becomes to inquire formally into any
such affair as this, no matter what may
be it's individual beliefs, has hushed it
up. The members have had various
private conferences with one another
and with the warden and the con-
tractor, but they have made no public
investigation and have apparently
agreed upon a policy Of silence as their
best protection. The governor of the
state, before whom all the facts have
come, joins in with and affirms this
policy of confession and says and does
nothing.
In this condition of affairs the public
is justified in making its own interpre-
tation and drawing the worst conclu-
sions. Indeed, the governor, the state
board of control and the parties charg-
ed have seemed to leave to the people
are baseless, why fear an inquiry
Where is the innocent man in any
community who does not demand in
dignantly in such case that his honor
be cleared? Where is there one who
would not become almost insane in his
wrath if, when his character were as
persed. anybody should deprive him OF
an opportunity to clear it?
The thing which the state authori-
ties have done in this case is thai
which, according to ordinary human
nature, innocent men would most de-
pfore and resent The thing which they
have done is one that deepens suspi-
cion and in itself casts a reflection
upon character as black as any accusa-
ton. The thing that they have done is
inexplicable in any way creditable to
themselves. Where in the world have
we found or shall we find conscious
innocence rising serenely under q
blasting SANDER and declining to clear
itself or to permit the indicating facts
to be made public?
There seems to be but one logical
conclusion to be drawn from the pass
ing around of an order to public office
holders and the Republican press that
this scandal must not be investigated;