St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-14

any means for the rank and file of the
alliance. There Is q feeling abroad that
much as Mr.. Gilman and President
Sprague entaDgled the alliance and
broke its political strength in 1885, Mr..
Merriam and his friends are trying to
IN 1885. II they cannot capture it foot,
horse and dragon, they at least will
endeayor to neutralize its influence.
what interest can they have in the alli-
ance except as political body? Can
tney then command its votes by dis
tinguished public service in the interest
or the farmer? Most certainly not.
Rather they seek the aid of this lever
Dy the t0uchstone, money. Mr.. Mer-
RAMS check goes at once into the treas
ury OF an alliance that is pledged to
oppose all candidates for Office of his
stamp. The Fifth district is vitality in
terested in tariff reform, and will not in
any sense be satisfied with dilatory
measures or compromise candidates.
Tariff bills like Nelson's latest meet
with approval from all but the lumber
barons. Let MIR. Merriam be asked now
TO say whether he will favor the plac-
ing of
COAL ON THE FREE LIST.
He is capitalist and has made his
money out of railroads, land and money
changing. IL he has any connection
with the coal trade but few know it.
The placing of coal on the free list
would break the power of the monopoly
now controlling the state. 1t would as
well save hundreds of thousands of dol
lars now being paid as extortional profits
to the coal dealers. Will Mr.. Merriam's
love for the farmer or his education as a
first-claSs monopOlist control him in his
decision on this? At moderate esti-
mate coal on the free list would save
S60,NO,OOO a year to the consumers
of the nation and put this fuel within
the reach OF every farmer. Coal on the
free list would be a direct blow at the
railroads also, who assist materially the
present monopoly by their transporta-
ton charges. This is a fair question to
ask Mr.. Merriam. He has told his
friends that he is candidate for
governor on the Republican ticket.
Candidates must have platforms and
principles. The interesting thing to
discover now is, HAS Mr.. Merriam
any political principles?" If he wants
the farmers votes he must be in SYM
pathy with their principles. He must
iend the influence of his voice and mind
to defense and advocacy of their meas
Mre, not remain passive lump of flesh.
VII! MI. Merriam advocate free coal?
~. AASS NOol. EIGc sugar. LulilDtEG
The farmers who have watched his pub
lie career do not believe that he will.
he has done nothing to justify the be-
lief that he has any interest in the pub
lie life beyond making money, turning
the legislature into a bull-pen, or de
veloping the breed of his horses. He
seems to them to be genial, easy
gong gentleman Of leisure who wants
office for the empty honor attached to
gaining it or the benefit of his friends.
He has no public record to stand upon,
no defense Of the public questions of
the day. From one end of the fifth dis
trlet to the other, the one thing heard
OF him is money Palms itch at the
very mention of his name. Ii he be
misjudged by this estimate of his can
dldacy written from the standpoint of a
farmer. let him be manly and courage
Gus in his office-seeking and say with
that famous one:
Fam would WOO her. yet dare not speak.
III cal! for pen and ink and write my
VERITAS.