The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1906-03-28
An Answer
To Some Of the Blacknlailing, Lying
Statements Published I'M the Fargo
Papers In June, 1905.

Whatever power inspired the article
published in The Fargo Forum July 4,
1904, entitled, ex-Fargoans make scene
iii p @. Dept. etc, which article they
were careful not to publish until we had
lett Washington two days later, unques-
tlonably the same organization inspired
III the articles that appeared in the Far
go papers in June 1905 Quoting from
The Fargo Forum June Is, o5. For
many months Johnson and his sister
have been familiar characters in Fargo
and about a year ago attained considera-
Bile notoriety in Washington, DC, when.
they attempted to force an interview
with Postmaster General Payne, at the
time it was suspected that Johnsons--
We're not sound mentally and were styled
iii the press dispatches as 'cranks' /
would like to ask it as question if this.
is the real mission of the Associated
Press to blackmail the public if they
as the case may. be to blackmail some
honorable decent official. I had asked
the Congressman from this district to
whom to appeal in Washington about
irregularities in registered mail, he said,
the Postmaster. General The printed
rules hung on the walls of the Postrnast-
er Generals waiting room are to this
effect. "The Postmaster General is COM
PEELED TO request all desiring personal
interviews to call during the morning
hours specified (from 10 to i o'clock)
Tuesdays and Fridays excepted which
are cabinet days." We called on Tues-
j day and the attendant told us it was cab
met day and to call the next day between
10 and i o'clock we called the next day
at 10: 80 While walking down the hall
] in the P. O. Dept. this is the speech /
heard-'We got him locked up in there
what are you going to do about it. ;"
The Postmaster Generals private Sec
retary in the most fippaflt, insulting
manner asked me what WANTED. told
him / had considerable evidence I want
ed to submit to the Postmaster General
about some registered mail. He told
me j couldn't see him. / said | will
show YOU sufficient written evidence that
/ am justified in making this request; /
/ have come long way, and / will come
at any time although | am here at con-
siderable expense; he said I could not
see him at any time. / told him his
Statement did not agree with the printed
rules of the department and that | did
not believe his statement to be the truth.
II did not get angry or excited but as
the subordinate in the hall had prophe-
sled | did not get TO see the Postmaster
General. This will give the public some
/ idea what condition exists iii the depart
sn1ents in WASHINGTON for which the pub
!. lie is paying millions of dollars. "a year
and of course every person i'll this cottn-
try has to pay his share. Quoting,
Johnson is a dentist and practiced at
Ada fora time" Ipracticed at Ada,
MINI, for nearly seven years Quoting
further, According TO- his own story
She perfected an implement in common
use by the dentist but was defTauded
afr0nl the proceeds Of the sale. of the in
vention by unscfupulous practitioners. ;"
What was the real object in publishing
this lying statement, that / had sold the
two patents but it don't say who is sup
posed to have bought them, but it saws
that the dentists were the thieves that
stole the proceeds. That is certainly a
very unjust reputation to give the Far
go dentists. Quoting further, aJohn-
son suspected that his. enemies inter-.
Icepted his mail and it was to complain
Eof violations Of the postal laws that he
sought al, interview with Postmaster
General Payne and achieved national
8notoriety. | do not believe that a
friend would steal or tanper with my
mail and to appeal to the Postmaster
General believe to be perfectly proper
and certainly should not result in nation
al notoriety Mr.. Clapp asked me what
did you publish those statements in The
Fargo Forum for. | said, Mr.. Clapp
fif YOU will answer my question I will
answer yours. asked him who pub