The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-05-18

he should pursue. 1t became so pro
verbal that he could not be controlled
in his political policy that all attempts
in that direction were abandoned, and
when man wished to run for an office
the question was not, what will The
Press of The Pioneer Press do, but what
will be Mr.. Wheelock's view? 1t was
la personality which has in later years
drifted away from newspapers, but
IWheelock was the Press, absolutely and
entirely, in its editorial management.
I'm one sense Mr.. Wheeock could not
be said to be a great editor. Having
been intimately associated with him for
years upon the same paper, l can tes-
tify that he did not edit the paper only
so far as his own product was concerned.
was continually getting the paper into
trouble by inserting matters which /
should not have done, simply because |
had no one to guide. He would always
aim to be just, and repaired damages in
flicted by others in the paper, but he ia
booed the routine of reading copy other
than his own.
His command of the English langu-
age was never excelled and rarely. if
ever, .equaled by any other newspaper
worker in the entire United States His
invective was especially forceful and
woe to the politician who fell under his
displeasure.
There was no such thing as conceal,
.ment and underhandedness in his editor
ial work. His influence upon the re-
publican party, which he always repre-
| sented, was as great in its negative
character as in its direct Every one
felt there was no use to try any under
handed games with Mr.. Wheelack at
the head of the leading party paper in
the state. The consequence was that
such things which are common i'm poll
tics would be omitted
''His advocacy of the payment of the
old 5,000,000-loan railroad bonds was
absolutely pure and because he honestly
believed that the state should be re-
lieved from the stain of reputation. 1t
is perhaps no injustice to say that there
were very few of the strenuous advo-
Gates of the payment of those bonds in
public or private life, but occupied the
position of attorneys working for per-
Sonal gain, but this cannot be said of
Mr.. Wheelock. He was laboring for
what he regarded as the public welfare.
"Alr. Wheelock was not an editor who
mingled with the people personally and
sought to voice their sentiments. He
was retiring, and while he was wide
ly known his personal acquaintance in
this state was very limited. Everybody
knew Joe Wheelock, as he was famili
arly called, by reputation, but few
knew him as he really was-the states
man editor of the state.
"The contest between Donnelly and
the Ramsey factions, already alluded to.
was probably the most bitter, the state
has ever witnessed, and STILL in later
years, as time sOftened the asperities,
Mr. Wheelock surprised the whole state
by an able and earnest plea for the
nomination of Mr.. DonnelIy as governor
of the state. His advice was not fol
lowed, but it was wise, nevertheless, and
If followed would have absolutely
changed the political history of the
state for the last thirty years. 1t was
an act of magnanimity on his part which
showed that he had heart which
could rise above petty political jealous
les
"The only federal office Mr.. Wheelock
ever held was that of postmaster at st.
Paul, and his characteristics were well
| illustrated when he held that office. An
endeavor was made to use it as a club
to regulate his editorial movements, but
he repudiated that effort with indigna
| ton and at once rendered his resigna
ton. He could be argued with and sway
ed by impulse, but he could not be driv
en- or controlled by force.
thine will not permit the tribute
which I would be glad to pay to Mr..
Wheelock; but in later years, when the
history of this state is calmly written,
he will stand forth as one of the pio-
neer landmarks who always labored with
great ability and zeal for the best pub
| lie interests, and never was swayed by
personal advantages or the hope of per-
sonal preferment."
General James H. Baker paid the fol-
| lowing tribute to the late Joseph Whee-
lock:
| knew Joe Wheelock for fifty years,
in fact our acquaintance dates back to
1857. There was between us a literary
sympathy that was lasting. He was
then writing his book, statistics of
Minnesota" and we discussed the work
continually, and 1 aided him in its COM
L