The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-09-11
pop OF POPULISTS.
,he Convention Meets and Ad-
jOurns, Meets Again and
AdjOurns.
Hard Work to Divide the Spells
of Office With the
Democrats.
In the End They Are Forced
ed to Give the Best pIums
to the Democrats.
Combination Ticket That
Makes an Easy Victory
for the Republicans.

4 The Populist county convention
fmet in Union hall Tuesday, with
IA fair attendance of delegates. Pre-
Jyious to calling to order, several lead
Ving Democrats were to be seen hob
inobbing with the delegates, arrang-
ling the preliminaries for the fusion
(Which had been planned. Several
democratic candidates fitted around
lamont the delegates, looking after
Their interests. There was no con-
ftest over any county office, and there
jfore little interest shown. There was
1some question as to the division of
1.-THE offices between the Democrats
land Populists, and particularly on the
Legislative ticket. The Populists
WANTED all the representatives and a
3share of the county offices. A few
democrats dropped in during the con-
lvention to watch the proceedings.
Chairman A. H. Matteson, of the
Populist county committee, called
the convention to order at promptly
ieleven o'clock, and read the official
call.
T. NJ. Currier was chosen temporary
chairman without opposition, and DR..
Garrett Murphy, of Garden City,
temporary secretary.
Mr.. Currier opened the ball by
springing speech on the delegates,
whom he tried to cheer up by giving
them encouragement that the chances
] for getting the offices looked brighter
than ever before. He said that The
would speak as a farmer and manu-
facturer. The prices of farm produce
are cut in two as compared with ten
years ago. On quarter section of
land, the crops ten years ago would
have brought 81 $50, while at present
prices they will only bring $3.50. The
cost this year would be $500 to raise
the crop, leaving $3.50 to pay debts or
make improvements. He had figured
out that living expenses are about
twelve per cent less than fifteen years
ago. Freight rates are about the
same as when prices were high. The
two old parties will not give any re-
lief on the transportation question.
The tax system in this state is rotten
to the core. Men who own large pro-
perties are escaping taxation. He
closed by pleading for harmony in
the convention, that the corrupt rings
in the state could be downed.
The chair appointed e. w. Parker,
E. L. Thayer, Ole Olson, David Wilson
and Chas Davis as committee on
credentials.
DR.. Murphy was called on for a
speech to fill in the time while the
committee was out, and was happy to
respond in his Characteristic manner.
He started out by admitting that the
depression in agricultural prices be-
gan in 1865 instead of in 1878, but said
that it was because the government
had at the close of the war issued
bonds and destroyed one-third OF the
country's currency with them. He
said that war makes great prosperity
in every country. IL is blessing in
disguise to the common people, but
only the uncommonly stupid cannot
see that it is due to the great enlarge
ment of the currency at such times.
The doctor undertook to combat some
of Congressman McCleary's arguments,
and went into the usual Populistic
theories. to the extreme which the
people of that peculiar party relish
more than bread and butter. He said
that silver enough could not be dug
out from the mountains to supply the
need Of the people. If the delegates
liked the present condition, they could
vote to put in Mckinley and there
would be four years more Of the CleVe-
land gold standard. He said I'M
blushingly and eXcitedly that the
eastern manufacturers had raised
$3.50, 900 to nominate 1.-The bankrupt OF
Canton, !" whose creditors expect to be
paid if he is elected to the presidency.
He admitted that these were hard
words to say about a presidential
candidate, and went on to say that
nothing could be found against Bryan.
The speaker, as could have been ex-
pected, wound up by denouncing the
national banking system. His wind
held out until he was interrupted by
Chairman Parker, of the credentials
committee, which had returned.
K. Knutson. of Medic, said that there
was sentiment for fusion prevailing,