The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1913-05-06
immigration Head
Quits After Clash
Commissioner HI. ]. Maxfield, Success
sOr of Geo. WEIGH Wrangles
With Board
VIOLATED THE OFFICERS RULES
Governor Eberhart Says Resignation
Was Entirely Voluntary on Max
fields Part

An open rupture at a meeting of the
state board of immigration led to the
resignation last week of H. j. Maxfield,
commissioner of immigration. In a
statement by members of the board, it
was explained that Mr.. Maxfield ad-
mitted, at the meeting, violating the
boards rule regarding giving out lists
of prospective buyers. Mr.. Maxfield
left the city Immediately and could
not be reached to make statement,
but the incident developed disagree
ment between members of the board.
Governor A. o. Eberhart said that
while it was unfortunate that Mr..
Maxfeld had violated the rule without
consulting the board, he personally
would have supported the commission
er in an effort to change the rule SO as
to give the lists to real estate agents.
The other members of the board at
the meeting were: Samuel G. Iverson,
state auditor; Julius A. Schmahl, sec
rotary of state, and J. A. Nichols of
Frazee. A. E. Nelson of Minneapolis
was not present. The statement is
sued by the board is as follows:
Board Explains Incident
"At a meeting of the commission
held a year or more ago the commits
sioner of immigration was directed to
furnish lists of inquirers for state and
other lands to commercial clubs, county
auditors, and to city and village clerks,
at which places all people interested in
the sale of real estate could secure the
same.
"At the meeting yesterday the mem
hers Of the commission. inquired of the.
commissioner as to how the rule was
working, and the commissioner in
formed the members / Dat he had de-
parted from the rule laid down at
the meeting held last year and that he
was sending the lists to real estate
agents.
when his attention was called to
the violation of the rule of the COM
mission he informed the members that
his way was the best and that he was
justified in violating the rule of the
commission. Before the meeting closed
Mr.. Maxfield announced that he would
tender his resignation as commissioner
of immigration, to take effect Aug. /,
1913. The resignation is now in the
hands of the governor, who is chairman
of the board, and will undoubtedly be
acted upon as soon as the governor can
fix suitable date for the meeting"
Governor Would Change Policy
"The statement is correct as to the
facts" said Governor Eberhart, "but
/ wish to say that Mr.. Maxfield has
made an excellent official, and that l
regret his resignation. We tried to get
him to reconsider it, but he refused.
We used to keep those names absolute
ly secret, but adopted the other rule a
year ago as an experiment, believing
it better to give the public access to
the names and stimulate the work of
getting settlers. Personally l think
no harm was done in sending out the
lists to real estate men, and l should
have been in favor of a change in the
rule if it had been brought up in that
way"
Other members of the board say the
issue was forced by Mr.. Maxfeld, who
brought the matter up and insisted that
his method was best and that he in
tended to follow it. He spoke of
pressure" brought on him to give the
list to real estate men but did not say
where the pressure was from. Mem
bers of the board say that he must
have referred to real estate agents, rs
none of the board members had urged
violating the rule.
More Funds Allowed
Mr.. Maxfeld has occupied the posi-
ton more than two years, succeeding
the late George Welsh. His salary is
$4,000 year, but the appropriation
for the work was raised from $4,000
to $4,000 year by the legislature,
and it is likely that Mr.. Maxfeld's sal
airy would have been raised had he re-
manned. The board will not meet to
elect successor for month or more
st. Paul Dispatch.