The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1892-10-21
McGaughey Corrobo-
rates Nj. Donne||y.

candidate for Lieut. Governor, OF
the same ticket with Mr.. Donhelly In
1888, and then q prominent leader
in the ranks Of organized. labor,
writes the following letter to the Pro.
gressive Age of Minneapolis:
Editor OF the Progressive Age.
NV attention has been called to the
published statement of Ignatius Don.
nelly, in which he gives what pur-
ports to be the inside facts in connec-
ton with the labor ticket OF 1888 in
this state. I have been requested
either to deny or confirm thate state
ment. This request comes from
friends whose attitude towards Mr..
Donnelly, during the past four years,
has not been altogether friendly and
who have had no part in the abor-
tive reform movement of 1883. Hav-
ing at unav time, against my will and
ofl-repeated protests, been forced to
pose as a candidate for the Office OF
acknowledgement, and being neces-
sarily in a position to, state exactly
what is true or. false in that connec-
ton, do not feel that l can remain
silent in the face OF request Of this
kind, coming as it does from friends
whose loyalty to the reform cause,
no man can impugn.
. 1t is true, as Mr.. Donnelly says,
that "there was no party,-the whole
thing a sham," so far at least, as Or
ganizs tiop was concerned. In the
forenoon of Aug. %, 1888, there was
held in st. Paul a conference OF
Knights OF Labor, Alliance men, Pat
rons of Husbandry and representa-
tives of other labor organizations,
for the purpose Of promoting their
common interests. Less than hum
dred attended that conference. It
adjourned without political action
being taken. But in the afterno Don
of the same day "mass meeting
was called by a few of the men who
were present at the morning confer
ence. At that meeting Mr.. Donnelly
was nominated for governor. He &C
cepted conditionally, as he says, the
condition being that fund for cam
paign expenses should be raised.
That meeting nominated me for lieu
tenant-governor against my desire
and in spite OF my emphatic declina.
ton. I knew we had no means to
make a fight, and Mr.. Donnelly il
right again when he quotes me as
saying at the time, ''this nonsense oil
trying to run a ticket without a party
and without funds has got to stop"
said that, however, before and not
at the close Of the meeting at Mime
apolis, as Mr.. Donnelly states. But
this does not affect the essential fact.
I mayahave made that remark at
other times, because that was my
feeling all through. Mr.. Donnelly
says "the next day 1.-THE day after the
meeting at Minneapolis the commit.
tee met and withdrew the whole
ticket" My recollection is that this
action Of the committee was not
taken until the day following a meet
ing in St. Paul during the week sub.
sequent to the Minneapolis nesting.
But this again is not material the
essential fact is that the committee
did withdraw the state ticket as DON
nelly says. 1t Is also true that only
$50 was raised toward the campaign
fund. 1t is true that Mr.. Donnelly
had nothing to do with calling the
convention" and that he returned
from England either on the very day
it was held or the day before.
Mr.. Donnelly is incorrect when he
says that the Convention was held
for personal and local reasons. Thin
is not fair to the earnest men who
engaged in the attempt to crystAllze
the reform sentiment at thnt time;
it was an honest and straightforward
movement so far as it went.
AS to Mr.. Donnelly's chalsnRe to
Gov. Merriam and the republican
party and his relations to that organ
ization subsequent to the with
drawal," have nothing to say, e.
cept that if any member Of that pakty
has proof that Donnelly 'ssold OUT
to Merriam and was venal in
1888 to degree that bars him from
the support Of workingnaen or any
other class of citizens III 'o2, then the
present is a mighty good time tc
bring such proof to the light Of day.
After the ticket was withdrawn, Mr.
nsonnelly says he supported the 70
publican party ssas choice Of two
evils" That was every mans right,
a right which was. exercised by most
of the men in the conferences Of Aug
%. III
When Mr.. Donnelly says II was
told, at that time, BY 8 leading demo
cratic friend. and / could have b, O0(
in cash and q good 1T o63ce, if
would take the stump Tor Tie demo
cratic parity" he opens up a new
chapter il the story Of '66. Il never
heard Of this offer to Mr.. Donnelly
before, but personal experience, al
that time, makl it almost impos
sible for me to fjubt; the truth OF thu
statement. Al offer, similar in kline
though less ID mount, was made te
me If / would AXE the stump for tn,
democratic darty. Such an offel
having beerse Jade tome, / can readily
understand Ind believe that this offel
was made tb him. sry sh
/ am nov out Of politics, though
retaining my interest in the battle 0
the proHIacers for human freedom
Nv adv Ne to workingmen is to stant
by thelfen, whom political corrup
tionisxt would bury if they could
but vfo are ready to champion thei
caus1itf the bare necessities of food
ra mt and shelter are assured.
J. p. MCGAUGHEY.
Sptember 1, 1892.
= Within the pasttw months the On
ire militia forces of the states of Penn
Iylvania, Idaho, New York and Ten
nesseo have been called into the fell
on account oflabor troubles. This il
free America! Is 1t q condition or ,
theory we are confronting? Is Their
80 oth;nC radically WrOng?-Nev