The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-07-01
NOMINATED S. NJ. OWEN

FORCED INTO THE FIELD TO
DOWN LOREN FLETCHER.
A Large and Enthusiastic Conven-
ton Held at Normanna Hall.
The Populists Of the Fifth congressional
district convention assembled yesterday
at Normanna Hall disposed Of a great
amount OF business in spite Of the hot
weather. They had what may be termed
hot convention throughout. From early
IN the morning until S o'clock at night
they +sweltered in the heat Of debate, the
majority labOring with the minority until
finally victorious. Sometimes this vic
tory came high in point Of time consumed.
AFTER adjournment last night at 1t was
known that the convention had placed S.
NJ owen before the people as Populst
candidate for representative in congress;
had adopted a constitution and several
resolutions; had elected delegates to the
st. Louis convention. The morning ses-
sion. and great part of the afternoon,
was taken up, IN affecting an organiZa-,
ton Not until almost o'clock were the
delegates seated. The convention assem-
bled in Labor Temple but the hall there
was found too small, and besides the pro-
hlbltion state convention wanted that
hall to meet in, So when collection had
been taken to pay the rent, the Pops ad
Journed to Normanna Hall. There were
about 200 delegates besides as many spec
tators. who all the day filed the hall.
Chairman Ingalls, called the convention to
order and three candidates for temporary
chairman were put in the field. Capt. A.
H. Nelson withdrew, leaving f. R. Lynch
M # pAod tn. f3ur1%t
was elected. E. A. Cade was made tenn
porary secretary after beating out W. H.
Levan, of Excelsior, and A. A. Segerstrom
by the narrow margin Of two votes. After
some discussion the convention decided
to name its committees rather than leave
that responsibility In the hands Of the
chairman.
The permanent organization was settled
by making the temporary officers perma,
nent.
THE PLATFORM
The next business In order was the
reading Of the report of the committee
on platform and resolutions, after which
a discussion was INDUCED in and the re-
port unanimously adopted. The platform
was in substance as follows:
I'VE; the POpulists Of the Fifth con-
gressional district, in convention assem-
bled, renew our allegiance to the cardinal
principles OF our faith as expressed in
that historic document. the constitution
of the United States and in the Omaha
platform OF the Peoples party.
I'VE renew our faith in that doctrine
that government derives it's just powers
from the consent of the governed.
I'VE demand the extension of direct
legislation, and the direct election Of the
president and vice-president and United
States senators by the people.
I'VE pledge our loyalty to the freedom
and protection of the American ballot, the
American school, American laborer,
American dollar and the American home.
1--WE declare our belief that our coun-
try should never allow technicalities and
details to intervene between the old SOL
diers and the relief Of his necessities
1--WE favor the issue of all money by the
general government direct to the people
without the intervention of any banking
institution, to be legal tender for all
debts, lblic and private, based upon
the wealth, stability and integrity Of our
nation In issuing silver and gold as
commodities coined into money we favor
the ratio Of 16 to /, and their coinage to
be free and unlimited without the de-
pendence upon the consent Of any other
actment OF legislation instituting the ini-
tiative referendum and proportional
representation. The initiative, by which
the people originate end demand legsa-
ton; the referendum, by which unwise
and corrupt Legislation may be repudi
II,
that the rights Of rninorities be protected.
Such legislative machinery will enable
the people to settle such issues as those of
temperance, suffrage. ETC."
Resolutions:
1--WE repudiate the perniclous and fall
laciOus doctrine expressed by Loren
Fletcher that the interests of the people
were identical with the interests Of Wall
street, and that the overthrow of Wall
street involves also the peoples destruc-
ton"
1--WE present to the suffrage of the st.
dacy Of our eminent fellow citizen, Igna-
thus Donnelly"
A few hours were spent in the election
of delegates to the national convention,
resulting in William R. Dobbyn being
elected by reclamation, delegate at large
with Prof. T. ]. Cation, alternate; A. A.
Ames, F. N. Stacy, J. H. Lydiard, E. r.
Lynch; J. s. ingalls,, A. L. Gardner, L. A.
Lynch, J. S. Ingalls,, A. L. Gardner,
L. A. Mitchell and H. J. o. Reed
were elected by ballot. with alternates. L.
NJ. Aver, A. H. Nelson, A. S. Neal. A. A.
Soderstron, S. Kelliher, F. F. Clark and
G.. A. LindbeYg, elected by reclamation,
they having been the unlucky eight out
Of the 16 nominees
Upon motion of DR.. Ames, the conven-
ton decided to elect q district committee
to act as a congressional committee, and to
ward and three from the country. The
result of this election was as follows: First
ward, E. A. Martin; Second. w. j. War
rem; Third, H. S. Seed;' Fourth. l.. D.
Brown; Fifth, f. P. Hoskyn; Sixth. H.
A. Hanson; Seventh, w. A. Kennedy;
Eighth. T. ]. Cation; Ninth. G.. w. Day;
Tenth, C. D. Monroe; Eleventh. c. A.
Lundberg; Twelfth, o. o. Oyen; Thir-
tenth. NJ. j. Tomkins; country district,
L. A. Mitchell, w. H. LIE Van and Tim
Ryan.
The momentous debate and business
of the day was introduced by DR.. Ames,
when he moved that the convention pro-
coed to nominate a man to succeed. Hon.
Loren Fletcher in congress.
r. J. Cation was given the floor and was
called to the platform, where he made an
eloquent plea for postponement Of the
time Of the nomination OF Owen.
Capt Nelson then made a plea for a
postponement on the grounds that 1t was
poor policy for the party. But when DR..
Ames took the floor in support of the mo-
ton to nominate limmedia tely, the ia bles
turned in favor Of the motion.
F. N. Stacey then explained how the
Democrats were Just waiting to see
whether the Populists would make a nomi-
nation, and II they did not. that the Demo-
Gratis would be. tempted to steal a march
and try to corral all the silver forces into
their ranks. This speech settled the mat
ter, and the speeches which Dobbyn and
ingalls, had ready were thrown up. A
storm Of applause had greeted the senti-
ments of Ames and Stacy, and 1t was EVIL
dent that the vote to nominate would be
almost unanimous, as indeed 1t was.