St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-06
He Has Doubts as to Whether
the Peoples Party Is Run
by. a Machine.
And If It Proves So, the Place
to Fight Is in the Con-
vention.
Washburn Sees the NeIson
Storm and Gets Out of
the Wet.


Yesterday upon his return from a
two weeks stumping tour IN North
Dakota. Mr.. Owen sent carefully pre-
pared statement to the press, in which
he denounced the Alliance convention,
called to meet in this city tomorrow.
This is most remarkable statement to
come from Mr.. Owen, and will require
some explanation. For several months
previous TO the meeting of the Caring
ton Phelps state committee, at which
the Alliance state convention was
called. Mr.. Ovens paper was engaged
In making feeble protests against the
actlonof the Peoples party. and at the
same time his Representatives were
holding conferences with the anti-Don-
nelly leaders.
1t was quite generally supposed that
MI. owen was in full sympathy with
the movement. This supposition must
De regarded as pretty nearly correct, for
the simple reason that every man in the
movement, from Gen. Baker to CARING
ton Phelps. has been warm friend and
supporter OF Mr.. Owen. 1t will not do
for the Minneapolis editor to declare
tnat he was not in sympathy with the
movement. for he had the power to call
it off at the very start
HadsGen. Baker. Hon. Charles Can
ming. Senator Hompe, ". w. Erwin
and their friends not been under the
impression that Mr.. Owen was with
them they would not have called this
convention. For these reasons Mr..
Owen has behaved in manner that
Will lose him many friends throughout
the state. Gen. Baker and Mr.. Canning
fnr H.
OF opinion after a trip through the West
ern and Red river counties of Mime
sofa. 1t is an undeniabIe fact that the
feopie>s party has swallowed the old
Alliance party in these sections of the
state; but Mr.. Owen, were he the bold
leader and independent thinker he has
pretended to be, would not have allowed
desire to climb on the band wagon to
cause him to desert his friends.
III Il machine was found to exist in
the Peoples party convention, the able
and eminent gentlemen of the Alliance
could have done more to break it within
that convention than without"
The above is quotation from Mr..
owens proclamation of yesterday. 1t
will sound rather harsh to those friends
OF Mr.. Owen who have listened to the
brother of the Minneapolis editor de-
clare. as though speaking for Mr.. Owen,
that the Peoples party is mere per-
Sonal machine of the Sage of Nininger.
Since when has Mr.. Owen entertained
a doubt as to whether the Peoples
party Is In possession of machine?
This doubtful frame of mind is late
acquisition. as the Alliance leaders are
able to testify, if they will
In view of MIR. Owens well-known
antagonism to certain features in the
Peoples party platform. his Interview,
given out yesterday, is interesting. 1t
follows:
My name has been mentioned in conuec-
ton with the candidacy for governor by
members of 10th the Alliance and Peoples
party" said Mr.. Owen. but without my con-
sent and against my wishes. 1 have not now
ana never had any political ambition, but,
on the contrary, always had and now have
DECIDED aversion to public life and office
holding am not candidate for office, and
II any one feels disposed to name me in any
convention for any Office he is forbidden to
indulge that disposition. [ cannot afford 10
make the sacrifice implied by such
candidacy My financial Inability, my
health, my natural repugnance TO official
place, my desire to do my chosen
work in my chosen way. all prevail against
my appearance in the political arena, save in
the capacity OF more Or less useful pri-
vfte. These considerations virtually make it
impossible for me TO accept d nomination OF
any sort II rendered, and trust this will sill
ence all discussion and speculation regard
Ing my political fortunes, tnat my name will
cease to appear in public print in connection
with matters political, and that may be al
lowed 10 repose in that obscurity from which
was SO reluctantly drawn in 1907
What is your opinion OF the Alliance con-
vention!'
II frankly confess that am not in SYM
pathy with the move" was the reply. The
convention was called in the belief that the
Peoples party convention, to be held July Il,
Will prove to be q packed and machine-ruled
affair. But for that belief am quite sure
the Alliance convention would not have
been called, the subtreasury scheme to the
contrary notwithstanding. In this view the
act OF the Alliance committee is much like
conviction before the trial. There is, be-
sides, all implied insult to those who were
already made and those yet to be made
delegates to the Peoples party cony ention. in
that on suspicion merely it accuses them OF
being the tools and victims of a boss
Or Tweed. When belief and suspicion had
been verified by overt acts of the Peoples
convention 1t might then have been justifi-
able. and even necessary, in the interest of
political purity, if nothing else, to call an
in advance. and acting on the presumption
that the latter one is guilty of crime even
before IL exists, seems TO me unwise and very
poor politics. If a machine was found to
exist i'll the Peoples party convention the
able and eminent gentlemen of the Alliance
could have done more to break it within that
convention than Without
Has Mr.. Donnelly promised Editor
Owen the nomination of the PEOPLES
party for governor?