The Mankato free press., 1909-08-20
RESENT THE CHARGE
SOLONS SAY TAwNEY'S INSINUA-
TIONS ARE BASELESS.
Deny the Allegation That There Was
Double-D Dealing; Made No Promises
to Vote for Tariff Bill; First Dis
trict Congressman Has Something
Up His Sleeve, So 1t Is Intimated;
WHAT'S to Come?
From The Minneapolis Tribune

Minnesotas insurgent congressman
deny with emphasis and 4repel with
more or less indignation the insinua
ton by their brother congressman
James A. 'Tawnev of the First district,
Winona, that they voted against the
tariff bill, not that they liked the bill
less but that they liked their jobs
more.
: As many of the out-of-town con-
gresham as could be reached were in.
terviewed by The Tribune over the
long distance telephone last night, and
to man they denied that they had
promised the president to vote for the
tariff bill, not that they liked the bill
less, but that they liked their jobs
more:
Congressman Nye, Volstead, Miller
and Steenerson were reached direct;
while Senator Nelson could be quoted
only by proxy. The other "insur-
gents" are still to be heard from.
From his summer vacation residence
at Osakis, near Alexandria, Congress
man Tawney has exploded bombshell
in the camp of the insurgents and the
st. Paul followers of Moses Clapp by
gently insinuating in telegram to Eli
Warner, president of the st. Paul Com
mercial club, that it would be well to
inquire just who, among the congress
men who voted against the tariff bill,
pledged themselves to vote for the
measure in case their votes were need
ed to pass it.
The insinuation is broad as it is long,
and is clear intimation on the part of
James A. Tawney that he purposes
fighting and that he will fight hard.
Secretly Favored Bill.
"All it MEANS" said one of the st.
Paul friends yesterday, 'is that an
effort is being made to discredit Mr..
Tawney. 1t is well known that many
of the congressman who voted against
the bill were secretly for it. merely
yielding to the fear they felt for what
they regarded as the sentiment of
their state. Mr.. Tawney has several
other goods things up his sleeve, and
we shall see what we shall see."
BY long distance telephone from Osa-
kis Mr.. Tawney stated to The Tribune
yesterday that he thought he had
made himself clear in his telegram to
President Eli Warner of the st. Paul,
| Commercial club.
| 81 merely wanted the matter looked
| up in all fairness" said Mr.. Tawney.
"The proposition is to discredit me by
honoring the insurgent congressman. |
think that it would be only fair to see
how many of the congressman made
such pledges, that's ALL"
81 must say that | am surprised that
Mr. Tawney should make such an
intimation," said Congressman Frank
Nye regarding the telegram sent to
Mr.. Warner. personally, I had not
seen the president for two months.
made no promises and never thought
of making any: | voted against the
bill upon its merits and not for the
sake of politics. 1 did what | believed
was right.
If any of the members voted with
any thought of changing their vote in
case of its being necessary, | didn't
know of it, and l don't believe there
were any such members"
Others, too, were interviewed by The
Tribune and all seem to be of the
same mind. Congressman Halvor Steen-
erson of Crookston was especially en-
phatic in his denuncation. "Tell them
it's all false. Not word of truth i'll
it so far as | am concerned. That's all
/ want to say. / can't imagine what
Tawney means"
volstead Says He Made No Promise.
Congressman Andrew j. Volstead of
Granite Falls also gave vent to a few
mild Aexpletives directed against his
Winona colleague. 81 have no knowl-
edge of anything of the kind" he said.
"No one but Congressman Stevens saw
President Taft before the vote. am
not aware of any such promises on mis-
part, in fact / am sure he made none.
The only man 1 talked to was Serene
Payne who attempted to secure my CO.
operation. told him l was sorry, but 1
could do nothing for him."
Speaking for Senator Knute Nelson
of Alexandria who refused to come to
the telephone, Private Secretary Hicks
ventured to remark that it would be
like pulling stumps to get anything out
|of Senator Nelson. "The senator is
seldom quoted. was the laconic finale.
Congressman Clarence B. Miller of
Duluth talked. Ridiculous" he saia.
81 can't speak for the rest, but as for
myself-why it's ridiculous! l tell You.
1 never had any such understanding,
in fact never talked with the president
on the matter at all | voted against
the bill because l didn't think it was
what the people wanted
Congressman Tawney will be in ST..
Faul this afternoon for the pur-
pose of taking care of his mail He
will come with his fighting clothes on
and may be expected to say several
other things that will not have ten
dency to make the meeting in honor of
the insurgents look like peace con.