The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-07-18
A SPLENDID CONVENTION.
A MAGNIFICENT TICKET-VIC.
TORY SURE.
Candidates Reviewed,

oHio "CcA W uuc report Ol Uue proceed
lngs of the two great assent blages,
held this week in Minneapolis
Peoples Party state convention and
the meeting Of the Grain Growers
Association. We have had to borrow
largely, for the first, from the repor rt
of the Minneapolis Tribune, and we
desire to thank the General Manager
and editor of that paper for the judi
clal fairness with which they have
treated us, and for the excellence of
their report of our proceedings. In
fact all the daily papers of the twin
cities are deserving of our thanks in
this particular; and it is grateful
improvement on the course of the
press in past years, when their pages
teemed with caricatures of our lead
ing men and in ridicule of all that
was said and done. The Peoples Par
ty has grown to such proportions, and
has been so reasonable in it's demands,
and SO wise in it's action that it is
commanding the respect even of it's
opponents.
The state convention of the People s
Party was remarkable and most
creditable body of men. A more in
telligent assemblage has never con-
vened in this state. They were
neither cranks nor lunatics. They
met at time Of great public excite
ment, when it looked as if a universal
outbreak of violence was imminent,
and they maintained, through it all,
their discretion and good sense un-
shaken. They said all that was neces-
sary to be said-and they said not one
word more.
The nomination of Mr.. Owen for
governor was foregone conclusion.
He had been designated by the people
of the state long before the conven-
tiOn met, and the nomination will be
ratified at the ballot box. Public
opinion has settled upon him as the
man to get the state out of the slough
of despOnd into which it has fallen.
We are confident that he will give
the state an honest, economical ad-
ministration and faithfully carry out
the principles of the platform. The
people ask for retrcnchment and
economy: but more than that they
ask the great leaks by which millions
Of dollars of the peoples subs tance
have been annually drawn away shall
be closed, and closed forever. The
pine-land robberies must cease: the
administration of the mineral lands.
about which so many scandals cling.
must be reformed; the books, which
have been in the hands of the Repub-
licans for thirty four-years, must be
carefully eXamincd: the board of rail
road commissioners must be recon-
structed from the ground up: the
twine plant must be enlarged and so
changed as to furnish a market for
our own textile raw materials in
stead of those Of Kentucky: and the
whole power Of the administration
must be thrown, actively, effectively
earnestly, passionately against all
trusts and combines. and in favor of a
free market for the farmers produc-
tiOns: and reduced railroad rates on
will enter the office thoroughly and
peculiarly equipped for this great
work. AS editor of EARN, Stock
and Home" the leading agricultural
paper Of the state, he has been, for
years. touching elbows with the farm
ers: while his residence in the larges t
city of the state has brought him in
close contact with the labor popula-
tion. He knows just what the people
want, and we have faith to believe
that he will give the people an admi n
istration that will be historical, and
that will represent the turning point
in the destiny of Minnesota. If he
does his duty, and we have every rea-
son to believe he will, he will occupy a
high place in the hearts of the people
and of posterity. Everyone knows
that this state has for many years
past been governed by rings, cliques
and combina tions, until the wealth of
the people, produced by their indus
try, has been concentrated in the
pockets of few men. This must
cease. We have reached point where
it cannot go farther with safety to
peace and order. The rogucs must
withdraw, with their bundles of spoils
on their backs; and the people must
take possession Of the state, and SO
run it that it will, in the language of
the preamble of the constitution of the
United States, promote the general
welfare That is all we ask. That
we must have.
The second place on the ticket was
by general consent, given to Senator
E. E. Lommen, of Polk county. He
made sple ndid record as Senator; he
is man of fine ability; and, as Lieut..
Governor, will prove an excellent pre-
siding officer. The nomination was
due to him, not only because Of his
personal merits, but because he was
regarded as the representative Of the
great Norwegian race; race that was
never enslaved; and that has always
loved liberty and Justice and been
ready to fight for them. They are the
backbone of the Peoples Party of
Minnesota. But for the courage with
which they broke away from their ofd
party moorings the Populists of this
state would hardly rise today to the
dignity of protest. The way in
which they stood by their candidate
for governor in 1892, against one of
their own countrymen, raised them to
heroic level for devotion to princi pie