The Ely miner., 1912-04-12

his story in full to Senator Nelson Is
not known. 1t is known, however,
that not long after Brandt's first let,
ter was written Senator Nelson re-
ceived another narrating in detail the
circumstances under which Brandt
was discharged from the Schiff house
hold and giving an account of his
arrest and conviction on charge OF
burglary and of the sentence imposed
upon him of imprisonment for thirty
years.
Ask any United States Senator
about Knute Nelson and he will tell
you that the Minnesota man is about
the hardest headed individual in the
Senate. Although homely and pictur-
esque in his manners he has the repu-
tation of reaching conclusions after
only careful, painstaking deliberation.
Incidentally he also is regarded as one
of the most Independent and fearless
Senators in the Senate. There must
have been something in Brandt's story
that appealed to him, for he immedi-
ately instituted an inquiry into the
case on his own account.
This inquiry, conducted by CORE
spondence convinced Mr.. Nelson that
justice demanded that the Brandt af-
fair be looked into. He engaged
New York man of Swedish extraction
to investigate the case This man
reported to Senator Nelson that
Brandt was the victim of Injustice.
Soon after, according to the story
told in Washington, the man who had
investigated the case for Senator Mel
son abruptly abandoned the affair, but
the Minnesota Senator refused to be
discouraged. A lawyer was engaged
by him and the inquiry resumed.
Furthermore Senator Nelson inter-
ested the Swedish Minister to the
United States in the case and con-
tinued his efforts until the legal ma
chinery began to work in New York
and the case was again brought to
public attention.
While Senator Nelson was prosscut,
ing his inquiries he met with diffisul-
ties and discouragements, but he
pegged away, convinced that in time
come out. Senator Nelson did not take
any one into his confidence aside from
the persons with whom he was in COM
munication. His colleagues knew
nothing of his activities until recently.
He instituted the fight at long range,
u oh
finally had the satisfaction of seeing
Brandt again brought into court and
proceedings instituted that promise
to bring all the facts of the case he
fore the public.
Senator Nelson is proud of his Nor
wegian blood. Descended from a
long line of Norwegian pirates" is his
own description of his antedecents.
He has been in public life for many
years, and the Norwegians of the
United States point to him with ad-
miration. He is the only man of his
nationality who up to date has seen
service in the United State Senate.
While Senator Nelson is q bit old
fashioned, he is proud of it. He takes
no part in Washington society, has not
been in a theatre for twenty years,
and amuses himself in leisure mo-
ments by reading about great sea and
land fighters of the past Once in
while when he tires of the grind at
the Capitol he disappears for day or
so. On such occasions he visited a
battlefield near Washington and with
history books in hand follows the
lines of the movement of the hostile
forces of the SOS.
James ]. Hill, the railroad builder,
can testify that Knute Nelson is
hard man to win by persuasion once
his mind has been made up. Hill and
Nelson have had great deal to do
with public affairs in Minnesota and
the Northwest generally. Is rs toss
up as to which of them is the more
highly regarded in that part Of the
country.
During his long career in public life
Mr.. Nelson devoted his attention to
variety of subjects and he has made
his mark on the statute books. He
is the author of the present bankruptcy
law. He is the father of the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor. 1t was
at the instance of Senator Nelson that
the Republican national convention in
1900 adopted plank committing
the party to the creation of such a
department. Nelson drew the bill
under which the department was
created
Senator Nelson was 60 years of age
on the second day of February. He
landed at Castle Garden as a boy of
six with his widowed mother, sixty
three years ago. The Nelson's first
settled in Chicago, and then journey
on to Wisconsin, where Knute re-
manned off and on until 1871. Nelson
served as a private and non-commis-
stoned officer in the Fourth Wisconsin
Regiment, and was for a short time 8
prisoner of war.
Upon his retirement from the army
he rejoined his mother in Wisconsin.
He read law in Hudson, Wis, along.
side of John c. Spooner, later q dis
tinguished Senator and now a lawyer
in New York. He served two terms
in the Wisconsin Legislature, three
terms in the Minnesota Legislature.
was a member of the House of Repre-
sentatives for six years and was twice
elected Governor of Minnesota. He
has been a member of the United
States Senate since March 4, 1895.