The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-05-13
LAMPHERE SPEAKS.
Says That He Is Net an once Seeker and Never
Was in the Past.


Says That He Is Net an ONCE Seeker and Never
Was in the Past.
Editor Geo. NJ. Lamphere, of the Moor
head Daily News is up to his ears in the
Seventh district congressional agitation.
Lamphere, last winter, resigned his posi-
ton as chairman Of the Cay County Re-
publican committee and went to the Peo-
pies Party, because of the Republican. af-
filiat.On with the Eastern god contingent
and corporate interests. Because of his
ability as champion of free coinage and
allied causes, Lamphere was Immediately
taken up by the Peoples Party press and
leaders of his district as a good man to send
to congress. This did not please ex-Con-
gresham Boon, of the Fergus Falls Globe
He has charged Lamphere with seeking Of
flee, and has brought against Lamphere's
candidacy the complaint that the latter has
not been Popul!st long enough. To the
complaints Of Boon and his following LAM
phere has apparently addressed himself in
the following interesting document:
To the Peoples Party, Seventh Congress
sional District, Greeting:
1t has come to my knowledge that objec-
lions have been raised to the suggested can
didacy OF myself for the nomination as rep
resentat.ve in congress from the Seventh
district of this state by the Peoples Party,
on the alleged ground that l am a recent
convert to the principles of that party and
that may have performed the Topping act
with the motive in view that might there
by secure Office at the hands of my newly
found political friends.
Those best acquainted with me know this
to be an unjust and undeserved reflection.
They know that am not an Office seeker
in any offensive sense; that curing my four
teen years residence in Minnesota / have
never sought an Office but once. Once again
was nominated against my wishes for
county clerk of court and accepted for the
good OF the party organization when the
election of a Republican was out of the Ques-
ton. I was also handicapped by reason of
position as chairman of the Republican
county committee, and worked during the
entire campaign for the whole ticket and
gave not an hour to my own interests as a
candidate. have twice held an honorary
Office in this state, either without emolu-
ment or with slight compensation, as
member Of the board Of Worlds Fair mana
gers and as member of the state normal
school board, both of which Offices were ten
dered to me without solicitation on my part
and without the slightest previous knowl-
edge that such tender was contemplated by
the governor.
AS to the reasons for my change of party
affiliations l will say that have advocated
IN my paper the Moorhead News, since early
in the year of 1891, the free and unlimited
coinage of silver as we'll as of god. At the
commencement CT this advocacy possessed
childlike and confiding trust and belief
that the Republican party was sincere in
it's declaration that the double monetary
standard was one of its cardinal principles
and that It only needed an awakening on
the subject to induce the party to take the
necessary action to avenge the ''crime of
1872 which demonetized silver. The ma
tional platform of 1892 declared that the
American people by tradition and interest
favored bi-metailism and that the Repub,i-
can party demands the use of gold and silver
as standard money. This declaration tend
ed to confirm my previous belief, but in
1894, my trust was rudely shaken. In that
year newspapers in several counties in this
district advocated my nomination for con-
gress as Republican because of my per-
sstent, and, as they were pleased to say,
able advocacy of the silver question. The
result was that all my friends were shut up
so tight that they dared not, in the district
convention, which was largely made up Of
bankers, trust agents, money loaners and
professional men, utter so much as a sup
pressed squeak in my favor. In the cam
paign of 1872, the influence Of my paper
while not advocating the claims of cand:-
dates was directly helpful to the Peoples
Party and am egotistical enough to believe
that to its influence was largely due the
greatly increased vote cast for Hon. s. NJ.
Owen in Clay county that year.
So much for my "recent conversion" and
as to my seeking Office, it is false. l have
done no work further than in answering let
tiers of friends who urged my candidacy and
in few instances writing to friends inquir-
ing how the suggestion of my name was re-
ce:ved in their respective counties. de-
sire now to say in the pla.nest terms that
can be employed that am not seeking the
nomination for congress. Friends in DIFF
ferent counties and the reform press quite
generally have urged me to become candi-
date or commended the suggestion that
was a possible candidate, and have been
good and partial enough to say that pos
sess the requisite qualifications for the res
ponsible Office of congressman and deserve
it in recognition of what l had done and
stand for. / have written some of these
friends saying that l was not seeker after
this or any other office and hereby make
this public declaration to the same effect. I
am simply in the hands of friends and the
servant of the people. If they call me
will respond as in duty bound. am in nd
sense candidate unless such condition is
developed that the delegates in convention
assembled consider that my nomination will
best subserve the interests of the party and
the great principles it stands for, which are
deemed essential to the restoration Of equal
ity of rights and the prosperity of the peo-
pie in this county. If / am not called
shall continue right along attending to my
duties as citizen and an editor, advocating
those public policies that will serve the
whole people rather than privileged classes.
Such policies I believe are more nearly ex-
emplified by the Peoples Party than by any
other. Very respectfully,
GEO. N. LAMPHERE.
Moorhead, Mimi. May Z, 1896.
A POETS VIEW.
Eve know that IabOr'S brain and Drawn