Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-12-05
Soltau's Statement.

An open statement discussing
activities and purposes of the
MINES a Law Enforcement
league, issued by the Rev. Hen
ry Soltau, Minneapolis vice crus-
adler and secretary of the league,
follows:
Because of numerous requests from
individuals, organizations and the
public press, for statement from the
Minnesota Law Enforcement league,
particularly in connection with its
work in Scott county, and for the
purpose of clearing up some misun-
Outstanding, much of which has been
caused by deliberate as well as un-
intentional misstatement of fact, we
hereby make an open statement to
the people of Minnesota, and we hope
that this statement will make it un-
necessary for us to make further
statements concerning conditions
which exist and our relation thereto.
We hope, as we give this statement
to the public, that no individual or
news carrying agency will stoop to
the point of deliberately misquoting
us or deliberately and Intentionally
misstate known facts.
Our motive in making this state
ment to the public is that the people
of this state may know the truth about
conditions which are, or ought to be
of interest and concern to every citi-
zen of the state of Minnesota.
There may be some who think that
the MINES ot Law Enforcement
league has ended its work in Scott
county, and some may even think
that the league has gone out of ex-
istence, because of George E. Wal
lace's unfortunate ENHANCEMENT in
some intended or pretended "pay-off'
to Wallace to induce the league to
withdraw its demands that state law
be enforced in Scott county.
Several Gave Services.
George E. Wallace never consti-
tuted the Law Enforcement league.
He was one out of many who volun-
tarily donated his services without
pay or hire. Because of his splendid
character and record in the past we
gladly accepted his services, and he
became one of our legal advisers.
That he should have become in
volved in any attempted or pretended
'pay-off" from the gambling racket
GERS of Scott county is great surprise
and disappointment to all who in any
way or measure support the work
of the league.
The league now deeply regrets that
it accepted his services in connection
with the work done in Scott county,
especially because of his own hu-
initiation and loss caused by his en-
tanglement, and also because of the
advantage taken by our enemies to
asperse the State Law Enforcement
league and all active members there
of who become known.
We do not in any way condone the
illegal acts of any person, regardless
of his position or connection; neither
can we lose sight of the fact that,
as has well been said by the st. Paul
Dispatch, Equally responsible for
the extortion plot are the elective
officials of Scott county who ignored
existing conditions. The fact that
the gamblers were willing to pay hush
money to outsiders, shows that they
had no fear of the officials who were
charged with enforcing the law"
Other papers have expressed them
selves similarly. George E. Wallace's
services and connection with the Law
Enforcement league have been termi-
mated.
Efforts Made to Discredit League.
All evil forces, and even some well
meaning folks who have been misled,
seem to join hands in an effort to
malign and, if possible, annihilate
the Law Enforcement league, and
discredit any individual who dares
to request that our state law be en-
forced.
Surveying the proceedings to date,
not been planned by lay minds alone,
but shrewdly laid by legal minds,
and then boldly supported by the for
mer.
The recent grand jury of Scott
county declared in its report that
charges against officials and against
gambling were false. 1t bitterly de-
nounced the Law Enforcement league,
but praised the Scott county Of
ficialS.
The judge praised the jury for its
report, and has since then apparently
taken every opportunity to denounce
the league.
When the judge addressed Wolfe,
upon his plea of guilty to charge
of extortion, he appears to have taken
full advantage of the rare opportuni-
ty to malign the Law Enforcement
league, which had not in any way or
manner been guilty of the charges
placed against Wolfe.
Furthermore, Wolfe has never, in
any way or manner, been connected
with the Law Enforcement league
Franklin T. Wolfe was an outsider
who, as we have learned, has a
criminal record, and together with