St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-16
MIR DONNFLLY,s CIRCULAR.

Whatever else may be said Of 1GNA-
TITUS DoNNELLY, it is apparent that he is
no Bourbon. He may not forget every
thing but it is certain that he does learn
some things. In his recently issued ciTcd-
lar to the granger members of the legisla-
ture he SAYS: The recent election shows
that the people are in earnest and not in
humor to be trifed with" 1t is gratifying
to know that Mr.. DONNELLY has discov-
cred that the people are in earnest and are
not going to be trifed with. The best evil
dence of this fact lies Ill the popular pro-
test against the wheat ring candidates in
the late election, notwithstanding the fact
that Mr.. DONNELLY had cast his lot with
the wheat ring party and had publicly ad-
vised his followers to support that ticket in
opposition to the Democratic STAGE ticket.
MI. DONNELLY. above all other public
men in the state, has reason to realize the
fact that the people are in no humor to be
trifed with. And like the shrewd politician
he is he tumbles TO the fact at the outset of
his legislative career, and hobs up in advance
of the meeting of the legislature with a
proposition to organize the farmer MEN,
OC4S VI lilosG OOOS AiRtO q AAOH HoASlooh VI
ganization for the purpose of control
ling legislation in the interest of
the agricultural classes His object is a
commendable one, and merits the serious
consideration Of the farmer representatives.
At the same time it is an open question
with the farmers whether or not they would
be safe in committing their cause to the
management of the Sage of Nininger. He
deserted them at a critical time in the last
gubernat0rial contest, and threw the weight
of his influence in favor of the wheat ring
combination. He sought to justify his sud-
den change of front on the ground of per-
sonal hostility to a certain noted railway
manager, and yet there is popular i'm
preston that the same railway manager
and Mr.. DoNNELLY occupied the same
boat during the whole of that political vOy-
age. 1t thus becomes necessary for Mr.
DONNELLY to explain his late political
somersaut in a clearer light than it has
heretofore been exhibited before he will
commend himself to the confidence Of the
farmers.
At the same time, Mr.. DONNELLY makes
some most excellent suggestions to his
brother farmers relative to the course they
should pursue during the approaching
session of the legislature. AS he indicates.
the election of a speaker is a matter of no
small importance. Those who are familiar
with legislative work know very well what
proportion of it is chopped out by the COM
mitteeS. InaSmuch as the speaker
has the appointment of the committees
his influence in shaping legislation is con-
siderable. AS Mr.. DoNNELLY further sug-
gests, the selection of a speaker is usually
the result of combinations made in advance
of the meeting of the legislature by those
who are interested in securing legislation in
their own behalf. The farming classes
ought to have as much interest in this di-
rectiOn as any other class. Consequently
the suggestion that they organize in their
own interest is most appropriate. As Mr..
DONNELLY suggests. if the farmers ''act
together and act wisely, they may accom-
pllSh results that will cause the coming
session of the legislature to be long remem-
bered as the most valuable ever held in the
history of the state"
There is one mysterious feature, how
ever, included in Mr.. DoNNELLY's circu-
lar. 1t is the statement that it would be
proper to bring the question of electng a
United States senator into the farmers con-
ference. At first glance it will strike the
average reader that Mr.. DoNNELLY has a
good sized citizen of African descent con-
cealed somewhere under his granger wood
pile. If the farmers have no distinct inter-
est in the election of members of congress,
then, in the name of all the deities at once,
what have they an interest in. There is a
prevalent impression among farmers that
the agricultural industry is interested in
the settlement of a great many
questions to be adjusted by national
legislation. such as the tariff. for instance,
silver coinage, the interstate commerce bill
and various other issues now in process of
national adjustment. In consideration of
this fact it is rather singular that if the
farming interests require the farmers to act
together in an independent organization in
the state Legislature, they should decline to
oct independently respecting the one matter
of most vital consequence to them. to- wit,
the election Ut a senator who will have a
potential voice and influence in the settle
ment of those issues. A farmer in the
United States senate would be the most re-
freshing rarity of this age. If the Mime
sofa farmers can control the legislature why
should they not have the privilege of elect
ne one Of their own class to represent the
state in the senate.
TERRITORIA L APPOINTMENTS.