The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-10

Governor Van SAINT has made it a
rule never to refuse a hearing to any
one who can give any light on an an
p]ication for pardon. In one case not
few months old and little girl Of less
than 3, pleaded for the release of sher
husband from the workhouse that. he
might earn money for his family, ,#her
children ,i heinz too yog9ng g for her rt to
eSys whs 5hG ts be aee
would have to be duly considered by
the pardon board; that he could mot
take legal action alone. The woman
burst into. tears. 49,, ... -. '-..
ri spent the last few. pennies 7 had
this morning for milk for my babies;
And then happened that which has
happened many times before. The gov
ernor, whose heart is one of the largest,
put his hand in his pocket and brought
out suppl of silver ~ for the woI J, n
Among the fofficial family Gov
ernor Van SAINT is known as easy . in
these matters; too often he gives away
money without sufficient investigation.
But it is seldom in? pardon board cases
that his philanthropy is misplasad.
Many month Governor Van SAINT
gives away an amount equal to his
The. Petty CRATER.
The cheap, petty "grafter" is
source of annoyance to the governor to
an extent that few realize. Scores Of
men who have known the governor in
years gone by, but who are con the
rocks" call upon him for a little
promise Of paying. it back in the near
future. The money is frequently forth
coming, but by this time the governor
well understands that the ."near flu
ture'' is really far distant. "a
'.' Name Is Profitable.
Since Governor Van SAINT has been
in office, he has been offered stock
enough in corporations of various kinds
to make 11 him a n mllllonalre-f lt.a Fl
MGs p Gf s sa2ss T B@ n To ee sasa
an. officer or director; and in return re.
ceive thousands of dollars worth De
I shares without any outlay on his own
! part. At first. blush it might seem
. some Of these offers. But his name IN
j all such, instances. is wanted simply TO
influence the public at large to pur-
4 chase stock. &. Investors would see his
Il name as an officer and large. STOCKHOLM
er and reason that if the chief .execn-
ment must be all right. And altho the
governor would be protected by the
promoters, the general investors who
had parted with their savings, would
wake up. some day to IND their STOCK
worthless.
j A few years ago when the oil field
craze was sweeping thru the country,
Gov Van SAINT was offered stock free in
i dozens of oil companies. which sprang
up on every hand. Mining companies,
q another frequently used means Of
fleeing the public. are another class
of concerns many Of which have asked
the governor to become stakeholder
II and officer. But Governor Van SAINT
i.has let all Of such propositions alone
4 and has ever refused to be party to
4 taking in = the public.
a In addition-sto his regular duties rs
i governor and his membership on the
4 pardon board, the governor is ex-offcao
! member Of dozens of other boards If
4 he tried to attend all the meetings Of
{, each, it would necessitate his dividing
himself up into parts. But the regular
members understand why he does not
/ attend most of their meetings, and that
The has TROUBLES of his own. =