The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-08-22
SOME PLAIN TRUTHS.
A Letter to the Commercial Bulle
~

A Letter to the Commercial Bulle-
tin.
The following communication was sent
to the Commercial Bulletin of Minneapolis,
and by it refused publications:
Editor Commercial Bulletin: Sir-I have
been reader of your paper for several
years, for which 1 was induced to subscribe
with the understanding that is was strict
~ non-partisan trade journal, devoted to
the interests of the merchants of the
Northwest. Notwithstanding it's SO de-
elared mission, l have for some time back
noted the trend of it's editorial comments,
and found lurking there all the partisan
venom and bitterness, united with ignor-
ance that could possibly emanate from the
narrow , feeble-minded or purposely de-
PRAYED mind of man. Such being the case
l charge that you have betrayed my conf
dence ana 1nsulted my intelligence. Your
uncalled for attack upon silver coinage and
nearly support of Mr.. Cleveland in the re-
peal of the purchasing clause of the Sher-
man law most conclusively proves, not only
your intense partiSanship but your COM
pete subserviency to the national bank in
terests, instead of to the mercantile classes
of the Northwest. You told us last year
that all that seemed to be in the way of re-
'oiAiHS prosperity was tnat law, ana de-
clared that its repeal would restore conf
dence and business activity 1t was re-
pealed. Did the good times follow? Hard
~! Out OF your own mouth l convict you,
for in your issue of June 8, 1894, you say:
we are pretty near bedrock business
depression In the face of such blunders,
purpoSely or otherwise, how dare you as
sumo to mould public sentiment or dis
ouss issues of the day? l have noted you
intense hatred of the labor unions, your
demand for more law to crush and force
them into abject slavery to the corpora
lions, but space forbids that l dwell upon
II, and L pass to the browning climax of
your misstatements and vituperation. Your
issue of July IA contains as foolish and
silly, yet vile, an assault upon as noble
ana patriotic, and intelligent and we'll in
formed body of men ever met together
in convention in the city of Minneapolis
| had the honor, my dear sir, to be men,
Der of that convention, and am in posi-
ton to know whereof l speak. You say the
state Popul1st convention was held in Min
neapois this week. and that you was in
terested in observing the farmer from
business standpoint, and continue a fool
farmer is perhaps the biggest fool there is
in the country today. BY what right did
you sir, take 1t upon yourself to insult the
members of that convention You speak of
1t as as composed wholly of farmers, but
want you to understand that in that con-
doctors and teachers who were more than
proud to mingle and associate with many
OF the brightest and most intelligent farm
erS of our state. You say he comes to the
city and takes possession while he f1aunts
his ignorance before the public What do
you mean by taking possession? Are not
your hotels ready and anxious to to enter
tam the public for a recompense? Well
might the public boycott your city as
place of public gathering if your paper ex-
pressed the sentiment of even decent
minority of it's citizens. but l know that
such is not the case You proceed to say
most of these farmers smoked cigars it
was very funny. What can you mean. sir,
by such a foolish expression as that
fancy l see you as you watched us, as
you say, from a business standpoint.
(Whlle we were gathered in groups earnest
ly discussing such topics government
ownership of railways, the free coinage of
silver, and the initiative and referendum
intent upon sowing the great problems of
American citizenship and the restorati ton
of our beloved though nearly ruined coun-
try to prosperity and happiness,) hardly
knowing what comments to make, when
of sudden your face lighted up, you
eagerly grasped your pencil, your massive
brain throbbed with the vastness of it's
labor and you wrote, It's funny to see
farmer smoke a cigar. Wonderful, Won
derful; will wonders never cease? Your
article from beginning to end contains
neither sense nor honesty. But [ shall con-
clude by quoting you where you asserted
that the wives of the delegates were at
home performing manual labor the
farm. No blacker falSehoOd ever found
it's way into the columns of the Bulletin
and l demand from you apology for
the same. My wife at the time in
the city of Minneapolis, the royalty treat
ed and honored guest of relatives and
friends of ours residing on Harriet ave-
nue., the wife of another delegate from
our county was at one of the best hotels
in the city. The wife of another lie Sueur
of Watervile surrounded by all the COM
what manual labor in a field is. The wife
in her beautiful and stately county home
which is surrounded by several hundreds
of acres of the choicest lands of our coun-
ty simply experimenting its domestic ar
engagements and felicity. What l have
said in regard to the wives of lie Sueur
county delegates is undoubtedly true of the
majority of the other counties, but 1 must
pause. Words fail to convey the contempt
[ feel for the man that would SANDER
the name of woman and especially when
one of them is my hOnOred wife | hope
that you will never again be guilty of such
act, to the ignorance of the delegates
which you maintain, l hereby challenge
you to a discussion through your own pa
per with anyone of the delegates from
our county upon any OF the great political
problems of the day. l have the honor
to be yours for truth and justice,
F. C. GIBBS
Waterville Mnn Aug II.