The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-08-27
sition as this open letter appers.


Mr.. Garfield, for the reason that a
little after 9 O'Clock Friday morning,
August 21, came up to you on Main
street near Blied's store, where you
were tying your horse. l accosted
you in a gentlemanly and respectful
manner, telling you would like to
speak to you moment. You turned
around, glared at me, then turned
your back upon me and walked away.
Thinking perhaps you had not under
stood me, I again addressed you in
the same respectful manner, asking
you if you had read the Journal-Press
article, and requesting you for an in
terview relative thereto. You said
something in a low tone of voice
about the Journal-Press, which l did
not quite understand, and again turn
ed your back upon me and entered
J. B. Perkins drug store. l followed
you into the store and repeated my
question twice in the same respectful
manner, you remaining with your back
to me. Finally you turned around
and remarked in surly manner:
81 have nothing to say to you, SIR
| asked if that was what you wished
to say and you replied that it was,
again turning your back on me, you
walked to the rear of the store, and
went out upon the street. Mr.. Per-
kins, proprietor of the store, heard
the conversation.
Now, Mr.. Garfield, cannot under
stand why a member of a public
board should decline to talk with a
taxpayer, especially when SO serious
charges as the ones referred to are
made. I asked the question in good
faith and expected reply, and know
of no reason why you should not ac-
cord me or any other taxpayer
courteous treatment.
The taxpayers and the voters are
entitled to at least decent treatment
at the hands of their servants. l
should think that you would be glad
to offer an explanation relative to
the matter in question. The Journal
Press article has caused much COM
ment in this community and else
where In the county, and for this
reason / endeavored to secure an
interview with you, 50 as to give you
an opportunity to state your position.
A flat refusal to talk on the matter
coupled with discourtous treatment.
does not appeal to me as a successful
method to adopt to secure the con-
fidence and approval of the taxpayers.
1 trust that you will promptly accept
my invitation to reply through the
columns of The Herald.
Yours with respect,
A. M. WELLES.
Dated at Sauk Centre, Minnesota,
August 22, l9US.
Oater) My Dear Mr.. Garfield: You
will probably be glad to learn that
Messrs. Henry Meyer and j. D. Kow-
alkowski, the other two members OF
the board who attended the meeting
referred to above, talked freely to me
relative to the matter at the Great
Northern station in this city shortly
after / o'clock on Wednesday of this
week. They greeted me pleasantly,
shook hands, said they We're glad
to see me and when l asked them
about the Journal-Press article re-
ferred to above, both were glad to
talk. Mr.. Meyer told me that the
attorney of the 500 railroad called
him up by telephone from Minneapolis
stated his business and asked what
it would cost to have a special meet
ing of the commissioners. Il told
him, )" said Mr.. Meyer, ''it would cost
about forty dollars. He then ask
ed what it would cost to get three
Of them together and I told him
about twenty dollars. He then
told me to go ahead. l telephoned
Joe and Garfield and we had the
meeting. Kremer knew nothing
about it. have the twenty dollars
in my pocket. / understood from
the attorney that a majority of the
board could approve a plat The
county auditor was away. so he did
not call the meeting"
During the conversation Mr.. Kow-
alkowski frequently gave assent to
Mr.. Meyers statements. The con-
yersation then turned to state poll
tics and as the train backed into the
station both gentlemen said goodby
ir a pleasant manner and shook my
hand cordially.
I thought, Mr.. Garfield, that you
would be glad to know these things,
and that there are at least two MEM
bers Of the board of county commits
sioners who treat taxpayer courte-
ouslv and gladly give an interview
roc,,nc@oJ - A. IL