The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-11
DUNN EXPLAINS
HIS MERGER TALK
THE PRINCETON CANDIDATE DE-
FENDs ORIGINAL POSITION.
He Stands BY What He Said Regard
ing J. j. Hill, but Insists That He
Is Strictly in Harmony With Party
Declarations on the Merger.

ing y. d. Hill, but Insists That He
Is Strictly in Harmony With Party
Declarations on the Merger.
Robert c. Dunn of Princeton has
given out statement explaining his
position on the railroad merger
question. In it he quotes the famous
Pioneer Press interview, and says
that he stands by it still, but that he
also stands by the republican plat
form of 1902 and it's declaration
against the merger. AS this is Mr..
Dunn's first public recognition Of the
merger question since the campaign
started, it, will. be Of considerable in
terest. The statement is in full as
The Collins and administration machine
forces who are opposing my guberna-
torial candidacy have been busily engaged
for some time past In circulating, mislead-
Ing and false statements and garbled ex-
tracts from an interview have given in
reference to my attitude on the question
OF the railroad merger.
These extracts, distorted to suit their
own purposes. the machine managers have
widely circulated with the object of in
juring me in the good opinion of the peo-
pie Of the state.
pulous. unfair attacks should be exposed
and the falsity of the statements of my
political opponents clearly shown. NV
friends know my sentiments and opinions
on the merger question, and have ex-
pressed their confidence in my ability
and willingness to deal with this and all
similar questions with an eye single to the
interests of the people and the state Of
Minnesota.
The principal thing to which my oppo-
nents have turned their ingenuity and
undoubted powers Of Misrepresentation, is
an interview with me which was printed
in the st. Paul Pioneer Press on Jan
8, 1902, In which I commented on the
merger at some length The machine
managers are using parts and garbled ex-
tracts from this interview with the OBJ
Ject OF creating an impression that I ex-
pressed an opinion favorable to the mer-
ger. will let what I said in that inter-
OF it as published in the Pioneer Press
is as follows:
Original Interview Cited.
IT believe that the fight against Mr.
Hill Is inspired by the rival railway com
ranies," said Mr.. Dunn land am heart
lily out OF sympathy with it because Of
that belief It Is a fight between the great
southern railway syndicate and Mr.. Hill
AS between the two. am for Mr.. HILL
He is Minnesota, man, and has built UP
our country. He Is not a wrecker and
his opponents are.
Il am Mr.. Hills friend, but can look
the world in the face and say that have
never. owed him an obligation, and none
Of the politicians who are fighting him
can say that. I have never shown him
any favor that I have not shown other
railway companies, and I will not. 1 owe
none OF them my allegiance or obligations
~ - al r<,&s hrx, ~,
calculated to rebound to the interests Of
the. state. have made mistakes, but I
have not been unfaithful
Il realize what am saying Is not in
accord with the apparent trend Of popular
feeling, but have worked for the in
terests of Minnesota and not for spectac-
ular effect on the grandstand. am will
ing to stand on the record have made
in this office. and il the people are not
satisfied-well, I'm thru in a year and I
don't want any more Of it.
? Il am not a candidate for election
The use OF my name. as a candidate for
govarnoD is unauthorized, viciously part
Of the fight, and the men who are respon-
sible for it are guilty Of perpetrating de-
liberate falsehood. l. have never told any
man that would be a candidate for gov
ernor.
Il do not like to discuss my personal
business in the public press, but the state
ment that 1. was summoned to New York
by Mr.. Hill is equally false. went to
New York to negotiate the sale of some
copper lands in Alaska, in which I am in
terested with some gentlemen formerly
employed as cruisers in this office. My
meeting with Mr.. Hill was largely acct
dental and purely social
Did Not Oppose Van SAINT.
The above interview was given at
time when Governor Van SAINT was a
candidate for a. second term, and when
strong efforts were being madezto induce
me to become candidate in opposition
to him. It is needless to say that alb
solutely declined to oppose Van SAINT. or
to permit. the use of my name in oppo-
sitiOn to him.
= The above interview contains nothing
that 1 cannot indorse to-day. In referring
to Mr.. Hill as did, 1 had in mind the
great benefits which my home village of
Princeton and the. surrounding district,
in. common with the whole of northern
Minnesota, have received from the enter
prise and sagacity of:Mr. Hill. =
i do not and can not at any time SYM
pathize with or uphold violation of the
laws of the state by any individual or COR
poration, railroad or otherwise, and 1 have
never, done SO. as my record in the state
auditors office will fully bear out. I can
point to several instances where I en-
forced the laws against these lines of rail-
roads embraced in what is now tern&1
the merger. There was the matter Of
claim made for lands by the Little Falls
& Dakota railroad, under its grant which
successfully conbatted and saved to the
state 100000 worth Of land. My efforts
to increase the gross earnings tax Of the
railroads were certainly not in the in
terests Of the railroads. and it lis not
likely that it pleased Mr.. HILL.
!. Stands by 1902 Platform.
When1I announced my candidacy for the
republican nominate ton for governor at the
beginning of this. year, said: Il
81 heartilv irdorse and approve the plat
form adopted by the republican state con-
vention of 1902
THE particular plank of that platform
to the merging of competing
lines of railroad is as follows:
w It has been the settled policy. as
declared In the laws of this state
for a quarter Of a century, that
competing lines Of railway shall
not be merged. We believe that
the protection of the citizen and
his property, as well as the safety
Of the state, rests on obedience to
the;laws..ls,
In my announcement I also made this
pledge:
~ pledge myself to a fearless and i'm
partial enforcement Of the laws on our
statute books. particularly those which
guard the interests Of the people from the
encroachment Of corporate greed and ag-
gression.'
s. Can make any declaration more ex-
p1icit upon this question?
have affirmed. and do now again af-