Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-08-08
kNu I i N RESIGNS { SIGNS :
TODD COUNTY OFFICE.
Takes This Course After Hear
Ing Had Progressed Ten
Days. :. INV.

the following: .
The hearing in the matter of the
charges against Victor S. Knutson
for malfeasance and nonfeasance in
in office came to an abrupt end Mon.
day noon when he announced that he
would resign.
The hearing had been in progress
ten days and large number of wit
nesses were still to be heard about
the matter of delayed payments for
library books. County Commissioner
Chas. Spieker, of the third district,
acting as third party in the matter,
had approached the attorneys on
both sides that morning to see If the
case could not be brought to close
on basis satisfactory to the petit.
TONERS whose demands had precipi.
tated the hearing. Mr.. Spieker said
that the expense of the hearing was
assuming alarming proportions and
that the expense would be very large
ly increased If the hearing continued
through to the end. He suggested
that a conference he held. This was
done and Mi. Knutson solved the
problem promptly by Offering to sac
rifice any personal rights he had by
resigning.
The County Board members were
summoned by telephone and gathered
in special session Tuesday morning.
Mr.. Knutson presented his resigna-
ton.
The Board accepted the resignation
and the hearing was dismissed.
Referee Thornton directed that the
stenographic report Of the testimony
together with all the exhibits in the
case be transmitted to the Governor
to be filed. The Governor having
authorized the hearing, was conferred
with over the telephone by Mi. Thorn
ton and said that the resignation of
Mr. Knutson effected the object of the
hearing and that ii the Todd County
Commissioners so desired, the hear.
ing could be dismissed as he saw no
further need Of continuing It,.
The Board will meet in regular
session next Monday and at that time
will elect successor to fill out the
unexpired term.
he had no plans for the future and
was undecided as to what he would
do. He went to the cities Tuesday
night to investigate an offer that had
been made to him by an insurance
company"
Editorially, the Long Prairie Lead
or, which has been backing Mr.. Knut-
son in his public career since he came
to Long Prairie, has this-to say:
"As the hearings continued the fact
became more and more apparent that
Mr.. Knutson had trtfled with the
dignity of his position and that in the
handling of public money he had
adopted easy going methods which,
If practtced generally: by public Off.
Gals. would open the door to tempta.
ton, If not to crime. His resignation
was therefore proper. Without doubt
If he could have been heard in de.
Tense, he would have been able to
have explained much that stands
against him, but he sacrificed his per.
sonal rights in this regard in order to
permit the County Board to elect a
new superintendent at once who could
get on the job as early as possible
before the opening Of the school year
For this he should receive credit. In
his letter of resignation he admits ths
gibe that he saw the handwriting.
The fact remains, however, that he
could have fought the thing through
held off decision until November Oh
December, kept the school manage
ment in suspense and been no worse
off than he is now. But he preferred
to be fair. No one regrets more thar
does the Leader the unfortunate end
ing of Mr.. Knutson's school career IL
Todd county. In the beginning hi.
administration gave splendid promise
He was indefatigable in his efforts
His loyalty to the school was TN
questioned and his desire to hell
them became matter Of county con-
ment. He travelled thousands of mile
over the county in order to assis
school gatherings, school meetings
school contests and other rural &C
tivities which were no part of hi
duties, but which he volunteered t,
do as part of his plan to bring tn
county closer together by makinl
every part of the county familia
with the work and thought in ever
other part. He introduced man
school reforms and improvements
His systematizing of rural school worl
with adoption of uniform stud
courses and subsequently establish
ment of rural school graduation ha
been of untold benefit to the farn
boys and girls. With the idea of still
further uniting the schools of TIL
county and bringing them into close
working relations, he conceived tn
idea of a school building on tn