St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-11-11
That Is What S. nj. Owen Says
Of Minnesota POliti-
cally.
The People Hereafter Will
Look to the Issues, Not
Party Names.
If Called by the People He
Would Accept Cush Davis
Seat,
But He Is a Can didate for
Nothing--His Run an Ex-
pertinent.

hC AlllH1Cc CAUSE Ill AliilneSOId owes
Its success almost entirely to the man
whom it nominated for governor in last
July. Sydney M. Owen in the course
of the late campaign developed wonder
fully as leader. His honesty and sim
cerity won him votes wherever he went
His views on public questions were
honest and intelligent, and they so i'm
pressed the people. He was interviewed
yesterday in Minneapolis. and talked
in most interesting manner of the late
contest.
Il welcomed this campaign he said. 'be-
cause Of the chance it gave me. as a student
or government and the problems of ciyiliZa-
ton, to test the ability of the people of this
State to break away from old party alliances
and vote as freemen on their Judgment of
what was right. have been for years a non
partisan. l have long thought that a great
many of the ills that the industrial classes
suffer from are the direct cause of political
craftsmanship. Voters-intelligent, sensible
men, too-forget everything else and rally to
the support OF a party name. 1t IS their re-
liglon TO perpetuate party rule. And why do
they do 1t! The masses are honest and be-
lieYe Ill good government. They want about
what is right; the sense of justice and equity
OF people can be trusted. The average citl-
zen gets no benefit from the success or de-
feat Of any political party. That is not what
he is looking for What he wants very often
Is something to throw his hat up about He
wants to be able to say to his neighbor who
votes the other ticket We did you up this
time, old fellow Then he is happy
do you think ii is possible to do away
with parties altogether?'
No, do not see how we can get along
without parties But I do see how we can
do away with these old parties. They sprung
up to represent issues that were alive and
important in their day, but those issues are
10 longer before the people. Take the Dem
ocratic partyi men are dying off now who
have served lifetime III its ranks. They
were born i'll it. grew mp under It's influence,
have stuck to the name through wind and
weather. and have raised their children to
worship it as a divinity. Almost the same
men who are ready to drop into their graves
cast their first ballots with the birth of the
party. They, too, worship fetish.
The Republican party has been in control
IN this state since its constitution was adopt
ed: The Republicans claim a divine right 10
rule. During the election one of their oft
repeated pleas was: Don't vote for the Al
lance. because that will elect Democrat,
just as though the Democrats had no right to
control the government.
In my opinion people can be made to be
free and independent Of parties. They
should be as foot loose as the bee that fits
from flower to flower. They think they are
true to principles when they are true to q
party name. They are deceived Parties
are never true to convictions. They are
swayed by the desire to succeed. They are
after votes. The citizen, instead of follow
ing the party. should exercise his judgment
and choose the party which represents his
fayorite public policy.
"a big hubbub was raised on the tariff
question. Men voted for or against the high
tariff, why? Because they were either Repub-
business question. There is no politics in it.
Men have voted for protection or free trade,
so-called. who don't know the difference.
They voted with their party. They were true
10 their party divinity
Yet am very hopeful No state in the
UUion has been more thoroughly partisan
than Minnesota. Yet i'll that portion of the
state which was most partisan the greatest
independence was manifest. The Red river
valley was regarded by the Republican man.
ayers as their sacred property, hedged about
by some mysterious Providence Yet the
Alliance vote there was the largest. ! regard
the result OF the campaign as one of the most
cheering signs OF the times 1t showed at
least few things that the people are slow to
learn; that is, that vast sums of money is not
necessary TO carry on campaign. None of
the modern political appliances were en-
ployed in the Alliance canvass. The exact
amount that the executive committee ex-
pended was 81. 461, if / remember correctly
We had no astute politicians to guide us, and
the press was against u.s. Yetthe result shows
that the people were awake"
You had some good speakers, though"
was suggested. Mr.. Owen is always sincere;
but what he said about his colleagues on the
stump seemed to come from the bottom of
his heart. Speaking of the Tall Pine of the
North" w. ". Erwin, he said: ',Mr. Erwin
was very much maligned during the cam
paign. The Republicans. and perhaps the
Democrats. attributed to him some Interior
motive for his activity. Some said he was
10 pay him and nothing to pay him with. 1t
was claimed that he was after the senator
ship, but do not believe it. l could see no
evidence of it. l saw not single indication
of mercenary or selfish spirit in all his con-
duct. One of the saddest commentaries on
our times is the talk of the newspapers and
politicians about hidden motives. No sooner
does man attempt to do his duty to his
country and himself than some of them ask:
What is he afterr We are driven to the con-
cIusion that patriotism is an idle name, and
love of country is among the lost arts
This seems to be good chance TO ask a
question. Mr.. Owen was iuterrogated'
What is there in the talk of electing you to
the United States senateI"
I'm not thinking of that" he said Some
of my enthusiastic friends have said to me.
If you are not going to be governor We'll
send you 10 the United States senate but it
will be another election. No man can say
what will take place in the meanwhile. II
called at that time viii do as / did IN this
campaign. But | would not ask for the Of
flee of senator-nor even of president. AS
never asked man to vote for me in this
campaign, SO I do not expect ever to solicit
the vote OF any man. consider the vote
given me high compliment, but it is
higher compliment to the good JUDGMENT of
the people. 1t shows that they are inde-
pendent and capable Of using their own
Judgment in politics. Hereafter Minnesota
must be classed among the doubtful states.
Whenever any state is so solid for one party
or another there is danger Whenever a
nomination means an election, regardless of
the merits of the candidate or the principles
he stands for, there corruption fiourishes
When the managers of party can coolly
say: No matter who we nominate he is sure
to he elected it amounts to q calamity"