The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1930-07-10
STIRRING DAYS IN
PLANNING STATE
Territorial Governor Broke
Cane On Head of WinOna
Legislative Member
POLITICS WERE WARM
Celebration at Hutchinson.
Recalled Pioneer Life of
Commonwealth

Hutchinson, Mimi, July Back
in 1857, stirring incidents marked
legislative and political activity in
st. Paul when the groundwork was
being laid for formal admission of
Minnesota into the Union.
This is revealed in a letter writ
ten by B. E. Messer, Hutchinson
pioneer, to Lewis Harrington of
Hutchinson on August IS, 1857.
The different factions guarded their
interests jealousy and republicans
and democrats were not on speak
ing terms, the letter discloses.
Messer was not a member of the
legislature, but appears to have
had access to the inner councils.
Colonel John H. Stevens, known as
"the' father of Minneapolis" was
the Mcleod county representative
in 1857. He and Harrington and
Messer were members of the found
ing party the Hutchinson brothers
led to this site in 1855.
The letter relates an incident in
which former Governor Willis A.
German, in heated argument in
committee room, struck Repre-
sentative Wilson from Winona
county over the head with his cane.
Messer's letter from the files of
H. L. Merrill, son-in-law, of Har-
rington, reads:
Brother Harrington: will write
a word by Pendergast CIV. w.
Pendergast), although he will tell
you what is going on in these mus
sy times. Our committees are at
work endeavoring to agree on some
plan of operation in the election.
Our apportionment already has
been agreed upon and the. day on
which to present the two constitu-
tions to the people.
1.-The democrats have the advan-
tage of us in many respects They
have the purse strings and that is
quite an important point. One thing
is quite certain-the republicans
will get no pay now, and, if always
in the minority, never. (The last
word is underlined)
"The committee broke on the
suffrage question. Former Cover
nor German introduced a resolu-
ton which would not only have
prevented the question from going
to the people now or indeed at any
future time, hampering the legis-
lation. What cursed impudence!
And yet there are men pretending
to be republicans who would crawl
down there but one would not per-
NIT them to do so publicly, only in
caucus. I am ashamed of the re-
publicans and suppose they are
ashamed of me. Be that as it may,
I have endeavored to satisfy my
own conscience in the matter.
"Now there is something to be
done in Mcleod county even, al
though there may seem to be but
one party in the county. Accord
ing to our apportionment, we were
placed with Carver in the election
of senator to the legislature. But,
according to the agreement of the
committee of conference, we are
placed with Sibley and Renville.
We have something to do, much
to do. There will be two delegates
from our county to be elected to
the territorial convention and it is
very important that the right men
should be sent.
II would suggest the name of w.
w, Pendergast as one. One, of
course, will be sent from Glencoe.
I will write you again soon when
I have learned more about the ac-
ton Of the committee. What a
responsible committee! Union saw
ers! We live in an important era.
I shall be over so soon as I can
after we get through.
Truly yours,
"B. E. MESSER.
"P. SIN the committee room
yesterday afternoon, His Excellen-
cy, Former Governor German,
struck Wilson, of Winona, over the
head with large ebony cane and
broke the cane in several pieces.
Wilson was sitting with his feet on
the desk. 1 don't know what the
end will be. Wilson is full of grit.
Democratic arguments! You will
notice by the paper that the con-
vention at st. Paul is to be on the
ninth of next month"
DOLSON TO FARGO
Tauronco DoISon u,ho bod obarco