The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-09-19
FIRST DISTRICT.
Thomas j. Meighen Nominated for
Congress-.

Friday, Sept. Z, 1894, the Peoples party
OF the first congressional district of Mime
sofa met in delegate convention in the
court house in Austin, to nominate a candi-
date for congress. Mr.. Johnsrud, of Albert
Lea, chairman of the district committee
called the convention to order and read the
CALL Hon. j. /. Nermilya, of Olmstead was
elected chairman of the convention and Mr.
Harrison, of Mower, was chosen secretary
A committee of five credentials was ap-
pointed also a committee of three on reso-
buttons, consisting of w. A. Hotchkiss,
George Dunn and Rodney Richardson At
ter the report of the committee on creden-
tails was received and adopted the chair
man of the resolutions committee reported
as follows:
/. We, delegates to the Peoples party
First congressional district convention,
deeply sympathsing with the American
masses in their struggle against monopo-
listic oppression and for the safety of their
homes and the inalenable rights of pos
terlty, to most heartily re-affirm the sub
lime principles declared in the platform of
the Peoples party of Minnesota, adopted in
state convention held in Minneapolis June
TO- 1894
.. For the total failure of the late con-
gress to give the people any relief whatever
from the ftnancial distress into which the
nation has afn plunged by the joint ac-
ton Of the leaders of both the old parties
under the dictation of the Wall street
money power, the supremacy of our new
reform party has become paramount ne
cessity to every wealth producer in the
land. 1t is the only remedy for the political
corruption that disgraces the nation.
5. For his obedience of corporate power
we declare the present Republican repre-
sentative in congress from this district I'M
worthy of a reelection. His vote against
the free coinage of silver was a direct blow
given to American industry, at the dcta-
ton of the Shylocks of America, and Eu-
rope. His retirement is demanded by every
sacred public interest.
4. The practice of electing corporation at
torneys to state legislatures, and to con-
gress, is an alarming evil that must be
put away or the liberties of the people can
never be restored. Such lawyers cannot
serve two masters. The corporations which
pay for their service get it regardless of
the rights of the people who elect them.
Why longer continue the suicidal course of
confiding to them public trusts that cannot
be sacrificed without wrecking the hopes of
posterity
gressional district an opportunity to express
his condemnation of the I'm OF
corporation lawyers in public Office, we Of
fer them candidate for congress free from
all corporation alliances: one who WILL if
elected labor faithfully to protect public
rights without being unjust to any private
right; who will be governed by the Lin
colnan rue--"the greatest good to the
greatest number" To carry this rule into
our halls of legislation, we solicit the aid of
all, regardless Of past party utilization.
w. A. HOTCHKISS,
GEORGE DUNN,
RODNEY RICHARDSON.
The report was adopted unanimously and
with the greatest enthusiasm. The dele
gates from the various counties were i'm
| bued with a spirit of perfect harmony.
| They comprehended the lofty purpose for
which the Peoples party was organized.
All personal considerations were laid aside
| that victory may be secured.
| With great reluctance Hon. Thos. j..
Meighen, of Fillmore county. finally yield
| ed to the unanimous wish of the delegates
and accepted the nomination of the con-
yention for representative in congress from
| the First district. The result was ratified
with three rousing cheers after which Mr..
| Meighen was introduced and briefly accept
| ed the honor. He said:
| Mr. Chairman, and gentlemen of the con-
| vention / came here without a thought OF
| becoming your nominee. / have a horror
of officeholding. I cannot afford 1t. My
private affairs absorb all my time We are
| in the Doodle age and professional polti-
| clans accept office for what there is in It.
! Honest men accept Office as duty and