The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1908-04-09
A BIG BOOMERANG
The Investigation of the Mime
sofa Oil lnspeCtOrship
WARNER IN TIE Tolls
Examination of Records of His Of
flee Discloses Shortage of
Twelve thousand Dollars

ST. PAUL, April THE missile
that the secretary of state hurled at
John A. McDermott few months ago
came hurting back the other day and
hit the republican party hard.
The republican secretary of state,
in the performance of his official
duties, discovered that Gov. Johnson's
oil inspector had kept fees that should
have been turned over to the state
So he asked the public examiner to
investigate the oily McDermott The
result has been known for some time
now, namely that Mac was short
$4,000 but had turned the money back
into the treasury.
When these facts became public
there was great glee among the repub-
lican office holders in the marble pile
on capitol hill. They thought they
had zone on Johnson. The governor
and his political friends were worried
somewhat. But they sawed wood.
McDermott alleged that he had SIM
ply done what his republican predeces
sor in office did, namely Fenton G.
Warner.
Then it seemed to be the right thing
tn investigate Mr.. Warner. EXamin-
er Schafer had this done, and 10, and
behold, the investigation revealed an
alleged shortage of the neat little
sum of $1,000, just double what had
been charged up to McDermott, and
the report contained nothing about
Warner turning this money back into
the state treasury.
When the governor and Frank Day
ard John King and the rest OF the
democrats heard this they laughed IN
their respective sleeves, while in the
republican offices in the marble build
ing there were wads of gloom so thick
that in order to cut it a fellow had
to take all AK.
So to man up tree or to an un-
prejudiced observer the missile hurl-
ed by the secretary of state-posslbly
for political purposes-at Governor
Johnson's former inspector of oils,
closely resembles a boomerang.
Mr.. Warner, when interviewed rela-
tive to the findings of the public ex-
aminer, asserted vigorously that there
was no shortage The public would
ike to know Meantime both politi-
81 parties will possibly think more
tliaa once before they 'start some
hing lzes that again
2,he stsfe may do something to
Warns aut il IS said that the stat
ute of 10 itatidals nrecludes the poss-
Utility of cfiminai scution if there
were ground tor Aseiail suit may
be brought, howexae lie report of
SHORTAGE stands. 49, f9rs a3eDer-
mott, he turned the moaey hsas'a iato
the treasury and nothing caG be dom
with him. The general feeling is
that he is welcome to any advertis-
ing he may have had in the matter
The struggle for delegates to the
national democratic convention goes
merrily on. The action of the Bryan
men in carrying the war into John
sons own state has compelled the
governor and his friends to assume
offensive tactics and fight for it.
Manahan, Bryan's manager, seems to
be trifle too insistent and good
many say that he is likely to have
his features turned to the wall before
the fight is ended.
On the republican side of the house
Minnesota appears to be all for Taft
and the chances are that the district
and state conventions will simply be
ratification meetings.