The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-04-20
OPPOSE CLAGGFTT
FOR SUPERINTENDENT
Governors Friends Say to Name
Him Is Nothing but
Direct Insult

Gov. Johnson will preside at an adj
Journed meeting of the state capitol
commission today when a superiptend-
ent of the new building will be elected.
While E. d. Claggett of Princeton is
slated for the appointment, ii is hint
ed that the Princeton man will be
named only after the governor has
asked the commission what special fit
ness he has for the position. A eau
Gus of five members of the commits
sion held last night at the Windsor
hotel, ii is said, decided to name Clag-
gett, and the meeting of the commits
sion today is expected to ratify the
action of the caucus.
The governors friends said yester-
day that he would sit as chairman of
the commission today. The law gives
him authority, and he proposes to util-
iZe it. With the announcement some
days ago that Mr.. Claggett would be
named by the commission as super
intendent of the new building, the gov
ernor could not fail to remember that
the prospective superintendent was
one of the men who had been most ac-
tive in opposing his election. To this,
his friends said, the governor was not
objecting, but it was common gossip
In the last campaign that Mr.. Claggett
had circulated reports impugning Mr..
Johnson's conduct as a son, and for
which the Republican state central
committee was forced to deny RESPONSE
bility.
Oppose CIaggett
1t was pointed out at the capitol yes
terday that in, the face of these cir
cumStsnces the appointment of Clag-
gett would be a direct insult to Gov.
Johnson, and the governor would be a
moral coward if in some manner he
did not convey to the capitol commits
sion his protest against the appoint
ment. 1t was said that if the capitol
commission ignored the governor and
appointed Mr.. Claggett as superintend-
ent the people of the state would then
be in possession of the facts and would
judge Of the action of the commission
for themselves.
After what has happened it is GER
tainly outrageous to give the keys to
Gov. JohnSon'S desk 10 Claggett," said
a friend of the governor yesterday.
Claggett cannot come into my office
except on official business and strictly
In his official capacity. 1 know half
dozen other officials here who feel the
same way about it. We feel that Gov
Johnson has been so brutally insulted
by Claggett that it is beyond all sem
blance of decency to have him placed
in charge of this building"
Gov. Johnson is an eX-officio MEM
Der of the capitol commission and will
IA CStdC s1S VI the meeting.
1t was intimated by a close friend yes
terday that the governor would make
strong personal protest If Claggett
should be proposed for superintendent.
The governor has no vote in the board,
but he could create something of a
sensation by protesting publicly to the
board against the appointment.
Insult to Governor
And the governor is not the man
to be afraid to do it," said another
friend yesterday, who knows the gov
ernor's feelings in the matter.
A strong backfire has been started
by the johnson men in the capitol
building in favor of Fred Summers,
who has been in active charge of all
the work done in the building. pc
tition was circulated some time ago,
asking that he be appointed superin-
tendent
Summers has been in charge and
knows all about the business said
one man yesterday. He would be ac-
ceptable to all of the state house off,
Gals, and they have practically all
signed his petition. If we must have
commission let us have a good man
in charge of the building at least"
In the event of the breach growing
wider, 1t is pointed out that the gov
ernor still has the whip hand, as he
appoints the commissioners. They are
to be removed only for cause, but in
the heat of fight, caused by the cleo
ton of Claggett, it is intimated that
various causes might be assumed. For
instance, it is said that one commits
sioner has drawn So for every day in
the year, instead of s. a day for labor
actually performed, as allowed by law.
The resignation of Col. c. H. Graves
of Duluth is expected to be handed
to the board today, and a vacancy will
have to be filled by the governor Col.
Graves has left to fill a consulate ap-
pointment in Sweden. This appoint
ment might gather unusual interest If
the fight between the governor and the
board grew warm. At any rate, the
state officers and politicians are look
ing forward with interest to the meet
ing of the capitol commission, and,
they say, an explosion is not unlikely
should Claggett be named.