The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-08-08
EXPLANATION.

Some misapprehension has arisen re-
garding an article which appeared in
the REPRESENTATIvE last week mead
ed "Municipal Reform" The idea in
tended to be conveyed in that article
was that the REPRESENTATIVE would
not assume to dictate to the Peoples
party what it should do regarding the
city election, but that the voice Of the
paper would be in favor of very radi-
cal reform in the city government.
The REPRESENTATIVE did not in the
article referred to commit itself to the
support of Mr. Haywood for alderman
in the Eighth ward. There is con-
test in that ward for the Republican
nomination between Mr.. Haywood and
Alderman Flanders. A large majority
of the people of that ward, and es-
pecially of that element which favors
rescuing the city government from the
corrupt influences now in control, fav-
ors Mr.. Haywood. This was fully de-
monstrated in largely attended meet
ing held at Relief Hall some days ago.
In the contest between these two men
for the Republican nomination the
REPRESENTATIVE has simply under
taken to aid Mr.. Haywood, because it
knows that in SO doing it will be in
dorsed by the better element in that
ward.
AS to what the REPRESENTATIVE
will do when the election comes on,
that is a wholly different matter. If
the Peoples party should put up as
good or better man for alderman in
that ward than Mr.. Haywood, with any
prospect for his election, the REPRE-
SENTATIVE would give that candidate
its hearty support.
There is one thing, however, on
which the REPRESENTATIVE is unal-
terably firm, and that is this: Where
one of the old parties dominates good
man for alderman, and the other old
party dominates one who is wholly I'M
fit for the position, the REPRESENTA-
TIVE will not favor putting another
candidate in the field when the only
possible result can be to elect the I'M
fit nominee. That course on the part
OF the Peoples party would tend to de-
feat the very idea of it's existence. 1t
is the party of reform. Its mission is
to rescue the national, state, county,
city, and township governments from
the corrupt and corrupting influences
which now in large degree control
them. The plant of reform is pre-
cious one of tender growth 1t needs
all the fostering care that can be given
it.
The Peoples party is charged with
being the party Of anarchy and unrest.
1t is said by the old party leaders that
it is simply an organization to GUST
other persons from Office and put its
members in their places. The mem
bers of the Peoples party know how
truthful this accusation is. They
know that they are not to blame for
the fact that now, when the party has
before it the almost certain prospect
of victory, a great many men, who care
nothing for the principles it repre-
sents, but everything for the offices
which it may secure, are rapidly join
ing its ranks. The thing is to con-
vince the honest but misguided people
who still adhere to the old parties of
the true state of the case; to show that
the Peoples party cares everything for
the principles of reform which it ad-
vocates, and nothing for the possess
sion of the offices for the mere emolu-
mentS which they represent.
There is another thing in which the
Peoples party should differ from the
old parties. 1t should condemn the
placing in nomination of an unfit man
by any party. It should encourage all
parties to put their best men forward.
That is the true, and the only true,
spirit Of reform. The man or the par
ty who favors the placing in nominal
tion by the opposite party of an unfit
man because it will be easier to defeat
him has a very poor conception of what
reform is. He has even less patriotism
and love for his country. The main
idea of the Peoples party is to change
all this; to put good men in office: to
weed out the corrupting influences
which are leading the nation to ruin.
1t can help in that good work by try
ing to persuade all parties to relegate
their rascals to the rear.
Alderman Flanders should 90 to the
rear.