The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-07-08

state. and our members could not attend
without great sacrifice. The consensus OF
opinion as expressed IN letters received by
me from members Of the committee, was
that the convention had better be held
from the middle to the latter part Of Aug
ust or as late as the LIST Of September.
The article I'm question further states
that LETTERS and kilograms were sent In
abundance to T. j. Metghen, urging upon
him the necessity Of calling the committee
together to the end that the state conven-
ton may come ahead of the Democrats.
but Mr.. Meighen was in hiding and no
word was received from him. His silence
is charged up directly against Donnelly,
under whose influence Mr.. Mefghen is,
and Is one Of the evidences Of Donnelly's
unfaithfulnees to the party" .~o
would say that I have not, received
IAN abundance" OF letters and kilograms
for the purpose stated, to-wit: to call the
PopuNst convention ahead Of the Demo-
cratic convention. One gentleman Of Mn
neapolis, q member OF the committee,
wrote me June 26th, suggesting the 18th
Of July. wrote him in reply that
thought It would be better to hold the con-
vention about the middle of August. Yes
tcrday July 4th, I received telegram
from another member Of the committee.
also Of Minneapolis. urging that for i'm
portant reasons he thought the conven-
ton should be called for August Sd. I
Y0Dll0Q at OIlCc dShlIlS WHdl OlS vlIHEOII-
ant reasons" were. never had any CORE
spondence with Mr.. Williams or any one
else on the subject except Mr.. Lynch and
ne, think. approves Of my views. 1t is
evident therefore I was not "im hiding"
As to the charge that Mr.. Donnelly was
responsible for the delay I'm calling the
convention, 1t is entirely false. Mr. Dom
nelly wrote me, under date Of June 23d,
1896, as follows:
IT saw in the Penny Press a statement
that our state convention was to be held
August 9Th. took 1t for granted that
the announcement came from you. Mr..
Lynch tells me that this Is not the case.
That the call was made without authority.
It seems Mr. Thomas ]. McDermott, chair
man Of the Democratic state central COM
mittee (who is strong for free silver), prob.
ably saw It and thought it was adthori-
tafive. and he has called tne Democratic
state convention to meet In Minneapolis
on August 4th. thus bringing the two con-
ventions together At the same time Mr.
McDermott has an interview in today's
st. Paul Dispatch in which he expresses
the belief that that convention will be for
free silver. Under these circumstances
would 1t not be well for you to issue a
regular call for our convection for August
9Th? It may be that the free silver Re-
publicans will meet at the same time and
that we can make ticket satisfactory to
all elements. IT we can do this we can
sweep the state"
It thus appears that instead of Mr.. DON
nelly being as charged, the tool of Jas j.
2ill to influence me to postpone the con-
Vention and keep the reform force sepa-
rated, Mr.. Donnelly was doing his best
10 hurry up the convention with a view to
the union Of all the free silver elements. I
have great respect for the Judgment of Mr.
Donnelly, but I nevertheless adhered to
my own views and insisted that the con-
vention should not be bel until after har-
vest.
Mr.. w. w. Williams. OF the Penny
Press, Is quoted as saying: HAD we not
made repeated efforts to get at Meighen
we should say nothing, but we have writ
ten him and sent him kilograms until we
are sick and tired, and SO far without a
word Of reply. I am satisfied that it is
Donnelly's plan to hold OF our nominating
convention until the Democrats have met
and put up a straight ticket"
I have shown conclusively that this
charge u unwarranted; and cannot UNI
derstan1 why 1t should have been made,
unless there is a deliberate. purpose to get
up q quarrel In our own ranks for the ben
eft Of our opponents. 1t is to be presumed
that the state central committee is trying