The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-24
JOHNSON CLAIM
IS CHALLENGED.
Governors Version Of Conference
on Rates Corrected by
Other Officials.
According to His Statements at
the Time There Was No
Friction.

Governor Johnson is being brought to
book on some Of the extravaganza state
ments he is making in his campaign
speeches. zES =,
Railroad Commissioners Staples and
W. E. Young and attorney General E.
I. Young Joined today in a statement
to the press, refutmg the governor 8 &C.
count of his meeting with the commits
sion to discuss the rate reductions. In
his public speeches the governor tells
how he ''sent for the commission and
had long conference with them, in
which ''some things were said that it
would not do to repeat and at Moor
head he went farther and said that he
threatened the commission with re-
moval from office if they didn It make
an immediate reduction in grain rates.
This does, not correspond with the
governors interviews in the daily
press Immediately after the incident,
when he complimented the commission,
said the meeting was "free from any
in his complimentary remarks.
There We're just four people present.
Governor johnson, Attorney General
Young and Commissioners Staples and
Young. The last three unite in the
following statement: H.. .. ~.
Commissioners Account.
It has been reported repeatedly that on the
stump in this state certain statements not in ac-
cordance with the facts being made as to
what transpired at ascertain meeting held in the
office Of the governor with the railroad and
| warehouse commission on Aug. IT. 1906.
In the interest OF truth and in Justice to the
commission, it seems proper for the information
of the public that statement be made giving
the exact facts. ..-.... =
hpo hut
Quently but one can be referred to. The occa-
sion for this meeting was the receipt by the
commission Of letter from the governor on
| Aug. II, 1906 This letter was not an invitation
to meet the governor; but from its reading II
| was clear that the governor labored under mis-
! taken impression as to the powers OF the com
mission At the time the letter was received all
the testimonial in the merchandise rate case was
In, and Attorney General Young was In the Of
| fee of tho commission considering the Same
| 1t was suggested on the coming In Of the letter
| referred to that It would be the proper thing
to 60 over to the office Of the governor and
| talk the matter over. b ~ 81 r. = o.
The parties going over were Commissioner.
Young and Staples and Attorney General Young
They, with the governor, were the only partie.
present. The meeting did not last over twenty
| minutes. =; -. 80. - e
! The first thing said was by the governor ant
was to the effect that he hoped the commission
would not feel he was trying to 'tbutt in ii
a matter of which he knew practically nothing
but 1t occurred to him that possibly there nigh
be way Of getting am immediate Reduction o.
grain rates without accepting the conditions con
tained IN 1.-THE conpr qnfse offered by the railwa
| companies, andFhe eomplimented the comm1ssio,
| on the results of their work. All parties wer
agreed that grain and coal rates were high an
ought to be reduced and that steps would b
taken to that end, and that without interfering
with the merchandise Investigation.
/ There was not word said during the meetin
otherwise than Of a most friendly nature an
! all the discussion was entirely Harmonious.