The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-05-02

free-coinage bill, what then? They would
not be united on any other reform measure,
and as consequence we would have to
commence at the bottom again. the slow
work of building up a new party.
Let The Representative explain
Yours for middle of the road" plat
form. c. v. METCAIF.
Now that is what we like. Let us reason
together. Let try to find out what is
right and wise. There is no necessity for
abuse or passion
What is the Peoples party OF ganized fort
1t is to effect certain reforms by legisla-
ton
That is clear
One of the issues advocated by the party
Is the reconciliation of silver. Why? Be-
cause the legislation adverse to silver,
enacted by the two old parties, has in
creased the purchasing power of gold, and
thereby increased every mortgage, note
and bond in the United States The debtor
class have to pay their debts in a dearer
currency than was In when the debts
Were contracted. They have to pay in As
cent wheat instead of 70 cent or 81 wheat
This is gross horrible injustice to every
man who owes a dollar. Mr.. MetcaIf wants
to see this righted So do we. How can it
be r1ghted? Simply and solely by electing
members of congress who will vote to re-
peal past acts and pass new ones, to re-
store silver to the place 1t occupied for 80
years in this country, before the Bank of
England sent Ernest Seyd over here with
| 100000 to corrupt congress.
Now what did the Des Moines conference
recommend? They recommended that
where the Peoples party had any show of
carrying district the fight should be
| made by that party. solely and alone. Isn't
that right? But if there is no Peoples
party In that district, or if it is hopelessly
! In the minority. what then? Is all effort
10 save the debtor class to be abandoned?
| Would that be right? No. Is it proposed
| to fuse" with the Democratic or Repub-
| ncan party in that district? No. That
would be mixing oil and water What then
! remains? Why let Democrats abandon the
| Democratic party and Republicans the Re
| publican party and come over and Join us
In an independent movement. To the Dem
ocrats and Republicans that would be a
| radical STEP for it means sundering the
| OLD ties that have bound them for life
| tlme. 10 US 1t means nothing of the kind
| we are independents. The party is known
| by mat name IN some states-as in South
| dakota. 1t simply says: Let us bury past
! distinctions and all pull together for prac-
| teal results-for one especial purpose-the
restoration of silver; the lifting up of the
| price of wheat; the lessening of the mort
| gage; the creation of good times
| But Brother Metcalf thinks this would
| destroy the Peoples party. We differ from
him. The Peoples party of the state would
remain intact; it would have it's own state
| ticket in the field. standing upon it's own
| platform; it would still exist in every
| county of the state. The PEOPLES party is
| in a minority; it is about one in six of the
| whole vote. We need immense accessions
| from the old parties to constitute us a ma
| Jor1ty. How can we get them? Is there
| any better way than to have the Republic
| ans and Democrats break ranks leave
tneir old parties and join in
with the despised Populists in
| non-partisan movement? There are
tens of thousands Of intelligent Democrats
| and Republicans who are utterly disguised
| with their own parties. If they leave
| them now they will never return. And it
| will be great deal easier for them to go
| into an independent, non-partisan move
ment than to move body. boots and bag
gage into the Peoples party
Understand, that 1 shall be the last man
| in Minnesota to abandon any of the prin-
| clples of the Omaha platform Neither have
l any personal interest in the matter
| under discussion, for under no circum-
stances shall I be a candidate for repre-
| sentative at Washington. 1 trying to
do what is best for the people. If I was
| corrupt, / would go to the Republicans
as a nameless wretch did in 1890 and 1892
| and take their money, and howl for 1.-The
| middle of the road and prevent any possi-
| bility of anyone but Republicans being
| elected to congress or the legislature or
| anywhere else. But our party estab-
1ished to achieve practical results-not to
| whistle against the north wind. Shall the
| next congress, which will assemble in 1895
| restore silver to it's ancient place. or shall
| 1t not? That is the question Shall Mime
| sofas seven members represent the pro-
| ducers of this state or the non-producers
| OF Wall street? That is the question. If
we can send seven Peoples party or indie
| pendent congressman from Minnesota
| should we not do SO? 1 am opposed to
'fusing" with the Democratic party or the
Republican party, but an in favor of CO.
operating with all men, no matter what
| they were in the past If they approve of
part of the Omaha platform, even if they
do not approve of all of it. To take any
other position is simply to say to the enc
mics of the people, Rule forever"
We want Brother Metcalf to think this
| all over and see if we are not right
| And remember, that if such a convention
is called in any congressional district, of
| Independent men, it will be for the dele
gates assembled to say what their platform
| shall be. 1t may be possible that they will
| adopt our entire Omaha platform. Or they
| may adopt half Of it, or third of it.
Look at our vote in 1892. In the Third
district out of 37,037 votes we had but
2,342. In the Second district out of 81 SOY
| votes we had but 6268. In the Third dis
trict, out of 1886 votes we had but 1854
| The candidates were good men and made
| strong campaigns, but these were the I'M
| fortunate results.
Of course all this is speculative for
| neither Mr.. Metcalf nor myself can have
| any control over the action taken in ca CHI
| district. The Peoples party men must de-
| eide that question for themselves, but a
candid discussion, in friendly spirit, may
| help to form public opinion one way or the
| other, and question can be of more i'm
| portance to all our people. Let us have a
| free expression of opinion, in a brotherly
| spirit. 1 may be wrong, but am bound to
| give our people the best results of my
| judgment, and 1 am courageous enough to
! give it, even at the risk of being misun-
| derstood. l. D.