The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-08-05
investigating COMMITTEES two

pine land investigating committee two
There is much more could say in re-
gard to Donnelly's position In 1884, but
this letter - already sufficiently long.
In conclusion, let me express the
hope that you may set all the facts and
tear the mask from the false Donnelly.
tocracy In certain directions ~ believe
INN to be. -E. L. Writ.
Cookeville. Tenn. July n. 1885.
A matter which was well known Of my
connection and participation in the legis-
lative contest in Ramsey county In the
campaign of 1894 made my Office the head
quarters Of a number Of candidates for the
legislature Of this county In the campaign.
My hostility to the election Of Mr.. WASH
burn was well advertised, and cost me
the nomination on the Republican ticket
that fall as 1 was reputed to be Populist
In disguise and which did not deny.
The prospect of securing majority Of
the legislature in that campaign made
me specially active in trying to bring
about an understanding with the Demo-
cratic nominees for the legislature that
for the withdrawal of our Populist candi-
dates in such wards where we had no
show Of winning, they pledged their sup
port and votes to the election Of a Popu-
list candidate for the United States sem
ate. 1t was at this time that this creature
appeared at my Office and introduced him
self that he was the nominee Of the Peo-
pies Party for the state senate of the
Tenth and Eleventh wards, and complain
ing bitterly that he was not receiving any
support from the county committee and
that he was disguised with the whole
thing and that he would withdraw. and
cS1r
mittee would not pay him to pull OIL"
This informed him he could ascertain
by applying to the chairman of the Demo-
cratic county committee in person. He
said that 1t was worth $500 to pull off"
and that he would make them pay dear
for this, and asked me to do the best
could for him (supposing was the men,
Der Of the county committee who had the
money!. Up to this time he was one of the
most talented speakers and apparently
the most earnest and enthusiastic worker
the POpulists had on the stump and was
billed to speak at meeting and never
showed up afterwards. I heard that he
had withdrawn from the race, and while
I do not know for certain whether he got
his price or not, with the knowledge had
OF the man and the subsequent results to
me and others looked very suspicious.
However, he disappeared and l paid no
more attention to him.
w ueH MI. DOuuelly appeared III
st. Paul and made his great
campaign speech at che Auditorium ex-
planned the situation to Mr.. Donnelly and
requested him as "a choice between two
evils to choose the lesser one. and II the
Populists voted at all to vote for Mr.. Do
ram. the Democrat instead Of Mr.. Stevens,
the Republican, which would mean one
vote lesss for Washburn." Mr.. Donnelly
made this announcement at a meeting of
about 5000 people in the Auditorium, and
his remarks as near as / can remember
was: THAT IL he. (Mr. Donnelly) would
vote at ALL the Populist candidate having
withdrawn and as a choice between Doran
and Stevens he would vote for Doran."
e. Mr.. Donnelly was obliged to cut his
speech In order to comply with the request
of the Populist managers Of Ramsey to
say a few words of approval on the local
ticket and the above remarks were the
result of covering the whole range of
paign.
Mr.. Donnelly had no idea Of the work
which was doing, and while had hopes
that In the selection of a candidate for
United States senator that Mr.. Donnelly
would be the choice of our party, never
spoke to him on the subject, and my eff
forts were voluntary and above board.
The remarks above attributed to Mr..
Donnelly was received by that vast au-
dience with manifestations of the widest
applause, and expressions OF approval.
And now we hear from long range this
mercenary creature (whom we understand
the managers OF the Democratic campaign
secured possession of some knowledge or
facts about his career which they threat
ened to publish and which to escap, he
laid DOWN. at his old game OF assailng
some great man that he could use as a
stepping stone to secure nomination In
some other locality so as to be 'in the
WaV" of xSc.no wealthy candidate whom
he could --!ece by SELLING out" or have
the opposition raise the "ante'' by stay
ing on" Mr.. Donnelly it is well known
was engaged in making q campaign Of
the state trying to secure the election Of
Mr.. Owen and so far subOrdinated his own
personal interests that he permitted his
own defeat in Dakota county after he was
the stae senate. In his efforts to elect the
Populist state ticket. He Travelled this
whole state from one end to the other,
making speeches on the stump and sup
porting loyalty through the columns Of
the Representative, the whole state ticket.
We, in our wrath and Indignation at the
perfidy of man might exclaim In the words
of the poet, 1.-THE base of this weak world
rejoice to see the fair defaced, the lofty
in the dust" We hope that Mr.. Donnelly
will not halt long enough to notice this
scorpion tongued slanderer by giving his
ISLANDERS the dignity of a notice or denial.
Here where he Is known no apologies or
the heighth Of impertinence for us to pre-
sumo that we are the defender Of Mr.
DOnnelly's acts. and it is only when we
are in possession Of some facts pertaining
to the character and standing of the crea-
ture who makes the attack that we deem
it an act Of simple justice to Mr.. Dom
nelly or any other man>who Is assailed to
a q 10 md inf fi<,v, tn,