The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-02-28
A FRIEND OF MIR. OWEN
Comes to His DefenSe.-And Takes
Issue With His Critics. An
Interesting Letter.


Issue With His Critics. An
Interesting Letter.
Mr.. EDITOR:
I profess to be actuated, in what
propose to say by sincere desire for
harmony. and unity. If you think
that the publication of this article
will have an opposite influence,
please cast it into the waste basket.
/ was somewhat disturbed by two
of the articles in your last issue, be-
cause, fear the tendency of them is
against that harmony and good will,
which we are all, trust. anxious to
cultivate. 1t is to be hoped that the
one great and heretofore unsur-
mountable barrier to peace within
our ranks, has been removed. Its re-
moval, though an unpleasant task, is
accomplished, and it seems to me
that it should be the duty of every
one to heal the wounds of past war
rings, and, as far as possible, efface
the scars.
The article of J. L. Mcdonald, as
it appeared in last weeks issue is, it
seems to me calculated to breed dis
cord, rather than harmony. Yet
there is but single short sentence
in it to which serious objection can
be raised. No one should question
the right of the writer to criticise
Mr.. Owens position on the platform,
which is to be adopted at the next
reform convention. He has a per-
feet right to dissent and express
that dissent. Bat in saying, 1--WE
cannot submit to dictator" there
by implying that Mr.. Owen has any
desire to be a dictator. he is not only
very unkind; but extensively unjust.
l can think Of no charge more for
eign to the truth or more obnoxious
to him and his friends
Mr.. Owen distinctly stated that he
did not want to be leader: but tnat
it was his most earnest desire, to re-
main a private in the ranks. Who
ever heard of private in the ranks
assuming to be dictator. While |
believe Mr.. Owens position to be the
only one that will insure success in
the election yet / do not write to de-
fend him in that. The quotation
you make from the Minneapolis
Times, is substantially correct, as |
remember it. 1t is not the attack on
his position, that | oppose: but the
attack on himself. If Mr.. Owen
should reply land | presume he will
not), and should use such terms as
political hogwash" and dictator"
even though he would only be retail
ating, for one should be swift to re-
buke him. Mr.. Owen was asked to
make speech at the meeting. He
did so and expressed his honest con-
victions concerning the future policy
of the new party, and drew his argu-
ments in support of them, from in
cOntrovertible history. He had as
much right to this as Mr.. Mcdonald
had to differ with him, and express
that difference. Mr. Mcdonald,
should rescind the offensive language
promptly, and feel sure that he will
do so if he is true friend of the re-
form movement.
The other article to which | take
exception is an editorial under the
title "Ungenerous." Though init
mately acquainted and friendly with
Mr.. Owen, | know nothing of the
matter alleged. But if it were true
it should not he so construed as to
make Mr.. Owen, an enemy of Mr..
Donnelly, or as even being "ungener-
ous." There were others in the con-
vention who were Mr.. Donnelly's
friends, who honestly doubted the
policy of rejecting him. If Mr..
Owen expressed such an opinion,
land l never heard him even hint it),
he doubtless die it as sincerely as he
disclaimed any desire to be the can
didate for governor. Mr.. Owen is the
most impersonal man in the move
ment, except, perhaps, Gen. Barrett.
When he was candidate for gov
ernor in 1890 l heard him speak in
seven or eight places, and no man
could have gathered from either Of
them that he was a candidate. Two
years later he campaigned in our dis
trict, understand, at the request of
Mr.. Boon, but he did not mention
Mr.. Boon, or any other man on the
ticket. To have construed that con-
duct as unfriendly would have been
unjust, because he did in private con-
versation urge unfriendly voters to
stand by the ticket.
/ do not believe that Mr.. Donnelly