The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-08-27
AN OPEN LETTER
To County Commissioner ]. II.
Garfield
INFORMATION WANTED
liQht Asked on a Certain Alleged
Transaction of Three Members
of the County Board

= To Hon. J. H. Garfield, member OF
tie board Of commissioners of Stearns
county, Minnesota, Dear SIR
In the St. Cloud Journal Press OF
August 20, appeared a news article
on the first page, sixth column, rela-
tive to an alleged special meeting OF
three members of the honorable board
Of which you are member, in which
it is charged that three members O.
said board, namely, ]. D. Kowalkow
ski of st. Cloud, Henry Meyer, OF
Albany. and yourself, held a specia
meeting at the couAty seat recently
for the alleged purpose of examining
and approving a plat for the Soc
railroad company.
This Journal-Press article alleged
that the railroad company in ques-
ton: "Were very anxious to have the
board approve certain plat to have
it done Immediately. The regular
monthly meeting of the board was
some time away SO the officials OF
the company made a proposition te
pay the expenses of the commission,
ers. They offered 500 so that the
county would not be put to any ex-
pense.
The Journal-Press article furthel
charges that Messrs. Kowalkowski
Meyers and Garfield, engineered 8
scheme by which they were to divide
the money, leaving out Commissioner
Ignatz Kremer, of Cold Spring. and
Englehard, of Torah."- The three al.
legged to be in the "divvy" are alleg-
ed to have met in st. Cloud to ap-
prove the plat, according to the Jour
nal-Press story, which continues as
follows;
Commissioners Kremer happened te
be in the city and accidentally stroll.
ed into the court house and found
the wise ones at work approving the
plat for the company. He was not 9
bit more surprised, however, thar
were the commissioners themselves
Explanations were offered and the
meeting proceeded County Commis'
sioner Ignatz Kremer, of Cold Spring
and Englehard, of Torah, stated today
that they had received no notice OF
the meeting whatever The former
asserted that he knew nothing about
the session until he strolled into the
court house on the day the plat was
approved. Mr.. Engelhard knew moth
ing of the session until he read an
account in the paper.
County Auditor Crever was out OF
the city today, so no statement could
be secured from Hmm
Now, Mr.. Garfield, the Journal
Press article contains charges that
should be explained. The board OF
county commissioners owes its exis-
tence to the voters and the latter have
a right to know what their servants
are doing. You are a citizen of many
years residence and good standing in
this community, which constitutes a
part of the commissioner district
for which you were elected two years
ago to represent for a term of four
years. The voters of the district evi-
dently had confidence in your ability
and your honesty or they would not
so signally have honored you. They
do not like to see charges Of this
nature preferred against one of their
public servants. AS voter in this
precinct and citizen who last year
paid over $40 taxes, 1 ask you for a
statement relative TO the Journal
Press charges. If you will kindly fur
nish me q statement. for publication,
l will print it on the first page of
any succeeding issue of the Sauk
Centre Herald in as prominent po-