The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-10-23
THE OUTLOOK IN MINNESf,
The Views of DR.. johnson O. c,ie
Willmar Tribune.
THE PEOPLES PARTY GROWING
RAPIDLY.

81 ust after the election last fall a
very intelligent farmer, Republican,
hailed US, and with a beaming coun-
tenance told US how times would soon
mend, wheat prices go up, ETC., ETC.,
and that soon times would be 80 good
good that the Populists would all be
glad to come back to the old party,
etc. He honestly believed SOFAS thous-
ands Of others did How is he feel
ing today? Well, he doesn't speak
about party politics now. We meet
him every now and then and have a
friendly chat. Lately in conversation
with him we referred jokingly to his
failure as prophet about the times
He answered us with some warmth.
"to Halifax with all politics, there is
not an honest politician in the state" !"
We felt the force Of Gen. Coxey's
warning, tread lightly, the ground
is covered with wounded Republi-
cans" Why, we know scores of men
that one year ago thought we Popu-
lists were only fit for the insane
asylum, and that just one look Of
scorn from some Republican big-bug
would annihilate US, that to-day are
quite willing to talk about the times,
with US. and even anxious to know
what is our plan and as a party for
the future. Populism Of Minnesota
dead. Don't fool yourself,a little bit.
But there is one other circums tance
that has occurred since last campaign
of conside rable Importance to us, and
that is the electi on of Knute Nelson
as U. S. Senator, and consequent re-
moval from the arena of state poll
tics. Senator Nelson has now got
as anybody that by 1901 some other
party than the Republican, is very
likely to be in power in the state. Be-
sides, Knute Nelson is mighty indie
pendent sort sort of man, and don t
hang to anYbody's coat tail. He has
fought two campaigns for his party
and got his reward. We doubt very
much that he will mix in State poll
tics again. Now, with Knute Nelson
gone, the Republicans are in a bad
fix. For it was Knute Nelson, and
not the Republican party that won
the campaign last fall, as well as in
1892. They havn't another man that
can come within sight of Knute
Nelson as campaigner among the
masses. The Republican leaders
knHw this very well, and that is why
there is such stir now among them
as to who to put up for governor. To
be sure there is Bob Dunn and John
Lind, both popular. But both of them
are really Populists at heart and
neither could begin to put up the cam
paign that Nelson did,
Now add to this that there will un-
doubtedly be combination of some
kind between the Populists and free
silver Republicans and Democrats
This would leave the Repu blicans
without single popular campa yner
AMI would re-enfOrce the Popllist
campaign team, SO as to make it in
vincible.
1t is furthermore certain that the
Democrats are not going to pull
cLestnuts out Of the fire a second
time for the Republicans. The Demo-
cratic leaders fooled the masses for
once, but they are not going to do it
again.
Taking all these things together it
is very certain that Populism is apt to
be right in it in the coming contest.
The Republican leaders know this
and are at present thoroughly fright
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