The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-18
TO MINNESOTA DEMOCRATS.

The state convention of the Demo-
cratic party in Minnesota is approach
Ing rapidly. Very little attention seems
to have been given thus far to the pre-
liminaries of that meeting or to coun-
sci among Democrats as to what shall
be its policy and who it's standard
bearers. There is, however. unmistak-
able and ceaseless activity on the out
side to control it's probable movements
This is the phenomenon that was so
obvious before the assembly of the con-
Vention at Chicago. In every state the
regular old line Democrats were too
Indifferent and apathetic, while there
was uneeasing labor on the part
of outsiders to control the con-
vention. That movement was success
full. Is the history Of events to be re-
peated in the state gathering of Min
nesota Democrats?
Have we or have we not Democratic
principles to support and a policy to
be presented to the voters of this state?
Are there or are there not Democrats
enough to go around, or is the party to
be obliged to look to the Republicans
Tor. Its leaders? AT the present mo-
ment the drift Of things is decidedly
in the latter direction There never
was better time than the present for
the Democratic party to make a
straightaway fight for control of the
government of Minnesota. The pro-
foundest discomfort Of the people finds
vent against the party that has adj
ministered affairs for so MANY wears
The nominations that were made
against the ardent protest of so large
portion Of the Republican party it
self will bring to the opposition ardent
and numerically respectable support
There are issues local to the state on
which the Democratic party can an
peal to the people with every probable
ity of success.
The proper control of the elevator
combinations and the furnishing. by
law, of free and open market for
their grain to the people of this state is
In Itself platform enough to assure con-
trol OF the next legislature and tbe
probable election of state ticket The
. Gil o b has investigated the condition
OF the farmer from one end of the state.
to the other and laid the facts before
the people. Nothing can free him from
the abuses to which he has been SUBJ
Ject heretofore, or save to him the
heavy tolls levied by the elevator com
panles, in so many cases unjustly and
oppressively, but the passage of sucb
laws as will make him Independent Of
this monopoly The evil has been dem
onstrated to exist. The remedy is not
difficult to apply. With this as the chief
plank In its platform the Democratic
party can make a gallant and a win
ming tight. If it permits itself to be
led away into the bog of fusion
and the attempt to move our voters
on local issues by questions that annIv
only to national politics. we believe
that it takes all the chances of invited
failure.
The well-matured scheme of the Re-
publican boilers is to fasten their CON
troll permanently upon the Democratic
party in Minnesota. They hope to do
this by rushing the free silver issue to
the front in this state 20 the exclusion
OF all others. We ask every Democrat
to consider nationally for one moment
what earthly consequence his views
upon the financial question can be, as
applied to a state election. Let us be
bimetallists, or gold monometallists. or
silver monometal1ists. as we please. in
national affairs. but let US not be fools
enough to apply this test to our own