The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1892-02-12

Poore, of Bird Island, has alreadyre-
organized alliances.
The F., S. and HI. and Thos. Meighen
FoREsTvILLE, Mimi, Feb. 2, '92.
EDITOR GREAT VEST:
Yours of the 3Oth ult., received.
The article in the F., S. & H. under
the caption, "Pretended Believers
quotes me incorrectly-especially that
portion purporting to give the views
OF that eminent and patriotic lady,
Mrs. Lease.
Mrs. Lease never did else in my
presence than defend the ''subtreas-
ury." IMPOSITION as expressed to F.,
5. 4 ID. was practically as expressed
to- yourself and others, towit:
While did not oppose the subtreas-
ury had always been of the opinion
that if we had free and unlimited
coinage Of silver and full legal tender
treasury notes issued direct to the
people, to make the volume of curren-
cy equal to $50 per capita, and then
put into operation the land loan
provision of the subtreasury plank,
that the other provisions in the bill
could be unnecessary.
But be that as it may, we all agree
that the people of this country
who produce all wealth need relief, to
be put in condition to retain a fair
portion of that which they create.
| have always been in favor of any
measure which seemed to me to point
in that direction.
Twaddling about tariff schedule
will not bring relief. The wheat ring,
the 'big FOUR" or no other combina-
ton OF robbers will grow nervous
over discussion upon that question.
Then let us discuss something that
disturbs these gentlemen, in the
meantime having respect for the
opinions and feelings of those who
differ with us in some features but
who are in accord with us in the
main. | regret Mr.. Ovens misunder-
standing me. l may have not made
myself plain; but the language attri-
buted to me in the article in question
was never used by me. have always
regarded Mr.: Owen a candid man,
and do not think he would purposely
misquote me or any one else.
Z. j. MEIGHEN.
Mr.. Meighen does not seem to clear
himself altogether, by his letter, al
though he repudiates some of the
statements OF Mr.. Owen. He is the
chairman Of the Peoples PartyState
Central Committee. That party has a
platform. On that platform there is
a fight made on but one principle
ON the principle of providing expan-
sion OF currency to move the crops.
This is the pivot of all political strife
today. On this primal and funda-
mental issue, in every state in the
United States, Mr.. Meighen still
states his disbelief. It is not right,
(strictly honorable) for man to re-
main as chief executive officer of a
party and not advocate it's platform.
His statement as to "main" issues is
the Identical basis of our criticism.
We don't ask if Jim Blaine is honest
in his views-in not putting him in as
a leader OF the peoples pacty-we will
suppose he is. But his views are op-
posed to our platform! The peoples
party has fought over it's platform
and adopted it. Now, any man who
Joins the enemy in fighting that plat
for1u cannot be an apostle of the
platform. That is our idea of politi-
cal purity-and it has been sustained
by thirty-two states already. We be-
lieve Mr.. Meighen may be honest; we
accord him widest liberty of belief
but if he does not believe with us he
should not presume to be our execu-
tive head. All the silver and gold
and greenbacks in the world, for
permanent circulation, will not pro-
vide for temporary expansion of half
a billion to billion. The platform
does. 'Do you sustain the platform,
the question for men to ask.
[Since the foregoing was in type we
have receives letter from Mr.. Meighen
inclosing a copy of a letter written to
F., S. & HI. and requesting that it be
substituted for the foregoing. The
letter, however, reached us too late
for Used.