The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-08-22
The Campaign Committees.

The Campaa81 C0n11tce0e
So offensive have the State Com
mittee appointed by Hall become
that the whole state is in arms. A
dozen letters have come to us asking
if Dukes, the treasurer appointed by
Mr.. Owens, is the Dukes who runs a
cigar-stand in Minneapolis land if
we advise money to be sent to him.
The latter question we cannot an
swer But we are compelled to state
that the Alliance political treasurer
is the cigar-stand mani He is also
from Martin County. On inquiry the
word comes to us that he was a
complete failurein everything here"
This of course we do not state as an
attested fact. When the GREAT
WEST says thing is so, it has been
thoroughly sifted. He traded land
for town property, run little village
restaurant, and failed. AS to the
statement that his "wife supports
him by taking boarders,' we do not
like to endorse the assertion-nor de-
ny. In response to an inquiry from
one OF the most prominent citizens OF
the county these facts are stated
with apparent shame and regret.
The letter closes with this
He is fine representative OF the
downtrodden farmer! Verify what a
fine lot OF horny listed sons Of toll we
have to represent us in the coming
campaign
Upon the receipt of aninquirv from
Martin County, we called upon Mr.
Dukes. We found him, surely enough,
at his little place OF business, 241 1st
Av. South, Minneapolis. He is a
man of about fifty years OF age, Of
pleasant speech and gentlemanly
bearing He was very frank in his
statements. No, he was not mem
Der of the alliance-had been in trade
several years. Neither was he a
member OF any trades or labor Or
ganization, as he was not eligible
was interested in reform movements,
etc. Without the slightest disrespect
to this gentleman we desire to ask
why tradesman in cigars. in a little
loft. cigar-store, in the heart OF a
great city, without even retiring
room or any OF the appurtenances OF
business, should be selected to man
age the finances OF a great and
,, mighty party? Farmers, can you
understand all this?
ERIC OLSON.
,, We also sent down three letters O
inquiry to good, just and reasonable
men in Martin County, regarding tn
y standing OF Eric Olson. Every on
gives Eric horrible color. We pub
- lish portion of one, with the assur
ance of the writer that it can b.
: backed up with bushels Of test
- mony:"
!, FAIRMoNT, MINI. Aug. 16, 1890
I am glad that you have at las
s found out what kind of man he is
: In times past you have rather bols
,. tered him up. have also been SUI
= prised at Donnelly's course in aI
: pointing him state lecturer. In al
l. the meetings Olson has held durin!
t past few months he has made it
:, particular point to villify and mis-
represent Mr.. Donnelly, chargin!
e him with being secretly at work il
= Merriam's interest.
Olson's wife and family live in tn
- country and work farm, which
|, in Mrs. Olson's name. Olson has no
y done a days work on the place il
IS ten years, but he occasionally come
v down and surreptitiously runs off
steer or COW and sells it and appro
PIRATES the money. The stories Q
J. the abuse and Entertainment OF hi
l. family are notorious and we'll an
y thenticated. He owes thousands Q
e dollars in the county and there ar
4 judgments against him which ar
outlawed. A more infamous dead
- beat and reprobate does not inhabi
It southern Minnesota. You can refe
" to any prominent man-any reliabl
IS citizen of Martin County, as to tn
d truth of these accusations. You wi
n do the state at large and the A
- lance cause a good service if you ez
+ pose this most Infamous imposte
J" and fraud"
t. Mr.. Olson's political and financis
{, career in st. Paul is we'll known t
;. many. All the excuse that can b
IL offered by the GREAT WEST fo
seeming to endorse him is that "
IL did not publish onetenth part {
the stuff he sent to us. Some of h