The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-05-27
OPPOSED TO FUSION,
But Favors Holding Out the Hand Of Friend
ship to the Free-Silvepites Who Come Out of
Roth Old Parties.


But Favors Holding Out the Hand Of Friend
ship to the Free-silverites Who Come Out of
Both Old Parties.
Editor Representative.
l see by the daily papers that there is
q movement on foot in the Second con-
gressional district to consolidate the PeO-
pies party, free silver men and Demo
Gratis all in one party, and that one or two
worthy and prominent gentlemen have
signified their willingness to pose as can
didates for this conglomerate cOmbina-
ton. In the beginning of the Peoples
Party history, there were several lead
ing men of the party in the district who
favored fusion, but they have adj either
been converted to the true faith, or drop
ped out by the way side. From the first
l have fought against every thing in the
form OF fusion with the Democratic ma
chine and l shall continue to do so.
- 1.-THE only way to judge the future is by
the past" and we have seen both the
Greenback party and the Union Labor
party go down simply because they fused
with the Democratic party. 1t was sup
posed that it was the quickest and surest
way to power. but the reverse proved the
fallacy of such reasonings.
If the honest rank and file Of the Dem
ocratic party wish to vote for our prin-
ciples they can do so without any fusion
with the plutocratic machine, which Is
just as bad, If not worse, than the Re-
publican machine.
Just after the campaign of 1892 GER
tain Peoples Party paper in this district
severely criticised the Populists for what
it termed our foolishness in not combin
ing with the Democrats and hoped we
would be wiser in the future.
There canGbe no better time than now
for me to ask these who believe in fus-
ion, what would we have gained in either
the campaign of 1892 or 1894, if we had
fused with the Democrats. In the cam
paign of 1892 the Republican candidate
for congress received 1S,207 votes,
the Democratic, II, 299 the Populist
6,26S; making a majority of $40
for the Republican candidate. Does
any sane man believe that combination
candidate would have received any more
votes than the Democratic and Populist
candidates combined vote?
1t stands to reason that with fusion
ticket the Republican majority would
have been larger than it was, because
there are thousands of Populists who
were formerly Republicans who still
have greater antipathy to the Demo-
cratic machine than they have for the
Republican machine. Besides, fusion is
all wrong in principle 1t implies trades,
tricks and bargains between office seek
ers, and does not express the free voice
Of the people. Let us beware of barter
ing our principles for a few offices to
crafty the ambition Of few self-seek
ing politicians
have received several letters from
good Populists asking if have joined
the silver men, etc. No. brethren, still
stand for the three great reforms: FL
nance, land and transportation. But
fusion with the silver men is not like
frsing with an old party machine.
There is no silver party, and in many
states cannot be, on account Of the laws
which prescribe that a party must have
such a percentage of votes cast at the
last election before they can put candi-
dates in the field, therefore if there are
two or three million silver voters in the
nation who are anxious to leave the old
parties and cannot start a new party,
am in favor of allowing them a chance
to vote the Populist ticket even if they
do not endorse all of the 35 planks which
our state platform.
Another brother sends me clipping
from Republican paper, and wants to
know II 1t is true that l have sold my
farm and joined the money changers
No, am still plugging away on the farm.
and If this brother was a Populist in
practice as we'll as theory he would read
the Representative and therefore have
been posted in this matter.
received a paper a short time ago
where in one short editorial was de-
nounced as ''lunatic, fool crank, rank
anarchist, and liar" which shows that
one Of the tools of the money changers
does not agree with me, and wants me to
know It,
All these things go to show that the
honest patriots who have made the
Peoples party what it is, want no fusion
with any old party machine. 1t is bet
ter that we fight for a generation to elect
men who on the ladder Of principle shall
have scaled the barricade of despotism,
which is maintained by the two old par
ties than to run few men into Office on
any clap-trap, fusion, mugwump plat
form.
Any man who claims to be Populist
and advocates any trade at this stage Of
the game deserves to be hot-potted on the
plan Of the Amahagger of the plains Of
Kor. L. G. Long.
Magnolia, MINI.
BANKERS IN THE WAR.
Not as Numerous as in the Republican State