The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-07-09
Hon. Thomas ToIlefson Relates
His Tale to the Public
from Saturdays panx.

member OF tile last legislature from
! West Concord, that there Is $500 i'm
II for you IL you will support Flowers
for speaker" according to a statement
issued by Tollefsen.
The alleged offer was on Robert
street, near the Ryan hotel, Tollefson
said. the week after the conference
at the Merchants hotel AT which he
and fo~rty-one other members OF The
house pledged their support 10 s. Y.
Gordon of Browns Valley for speak
er. Tollefson said alter mycs,iLal.nj
the source of the offer he rejected
Hegna Denies the Charge.
Mr.. Hegna, over the long distance
telephone SAID 10 The st. Paul Dis
patch that there was nothing to the
charge.
The statement was issued. through
c. j. Buell. of st. Paul. who first made
the charge that an attempt at bribery
had been made at a public meeting I'm
Minneapolis Sunday night.
Mr.. TDllcfson was In conference
with Buell. at the ~latter's home. 1923
Laurel avenue, Wednesday night and
Thursday morning. and at that time
authorized Buell. TO issue the state
ment. The latter was read to Toilet
son over the long distance telephone
and confirmed in full.
Says He Met Brewery Agent.
According to Tollefson, he went Ia
4 at the Ryan with Hegna after
the latter had approached him on the
speakership question and there he
met a "Mr. Claggett OF Austin" whom
s. Y. Gordon later told him. Toilet
son, says, was the agent of the Hamm
Brewing company at Austin.
Both Mr.. Tcllefson and Mr.. Buell.
said they did not believe Governor
Hammond had any knowledge of tho
alleged appointment fixed up with
Hammond" as mentioned by Hegna
in his alleged conversation with the
legislator. Following is the statement
In full:
so much has been said I'm the pub
lie press in the last few days i'm re-
gard TO tho attempts at bribery during
the speakership contest last fall that
! feel IL a duty | owe to the public
to make a plain statement of all the
facts connected with the case.
Not Trying to Convict.
! Il do this, no with the purpose oI
trying to convict any one. but because
| realize the people have a right &c
know. II does very little good to put
men behind the bars. hut II does mucl
good to let in the light tn the people
a know what is going ON. not only
in the Legislature itself after Il is or
gani7ed. but during the contest for
sneaker and for the organization o.
the house.
at was about n week after tho con
Terence at the Merchants hotel. where
]. with fOrty-one others, had pledged
cur support to s. Y. Gordon for speak
or. that ] received n telephone call
from Charles Hcgna of Vernon. Dodge
county, asking me to meet him in st
Paul. Mr.. Hegna was one Of my SUD
porters In the campaign for the leg
islaturc. and said he wanted me to
help him.
He Came to 81. Paul.
II took the next train to ST. Paul.
and Mr.. Hesua met me at the Union
depot.
Then Mr.. Hegna. Mr.. Truax, "A
Minneapolis. lawyer. and myself, went
to Spenccr's for lunch.
After lunch we all went back TO
Robert street. where Truax took a car
for Minneapolis. and Mr.. Hegna ask
ed me to go with him to the Ryan
hotel.
"On the way to the hotel he said:
1 lave a proposition for YOU There
are $500 In spot cash for expense
money for you. and a state appoint
ment fixed with Hammond for me pro-
viding you will support Flowers for
speaker
I'VE had now reached the hotel. He
took me To a room where he introduced
me to Mr.. Claggett of Austin. Mr..
Claggett claimed to be nm intimate
friend of Mr.. Flowers. and much
interested in his election.
"Have Place For You" .
III said. we have a place for you on
the appropriations committee. one OF
n most important committees of the
house, and a state appointment for
your friend. and you will be free TO
vote for county option
'oiu hihh y "dS pitSIt Y " pbiuon
but he declared We car fix that up
for you. You come out in a statement
that after due consideration you have
reached the conclusion that the best
interests of the state will be served by
the election of Flowers as speaker
II excused myself and left. deter
mined to find out who Mr.. Claggett
was. I hunted Gordon and found him
nj the Nicollet hotel In Minneapolis.
Mr.. Gordon told me that Claggett was
the agent OF the Hamm Brewing com
pany in Austin.
II went back to the Ryan fighting
mad. met Mr.. Hegna In the hall out
side the room. told him that I stood
ready TO do anything reasonable for
him. but he couldn't throw me into
that camp. I went home that night.
These are the facts In the case ex-
actly as they occurred"
Governor Hammond could not be
communicated with but Herman r.
Samuelson, executive clerk. said that
no one had any authority to make
such a promise as mentioned In Toll
lessons statement.
It was admitted at, the Office OF the
Hamm Brewing company today that
r. b. Clasgett Is their agent at Aus
tin.
MAKE READY FOR PAYDAY.