The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-09-16
Taking WAR ON CHAIRMAN
GIBBS

GIBBS.
The Minneapolis Tribune Repub-
1ican) is very naturally. trying to kick
up row in the Populist ranks. I'm
ner the guidance Of the common ru.
mors, set afioat by 1.-THE Temple Court
gang" it is making war on Mr.. F. C.
Gibbs. chairman Of the Peoples Party
State Central Committee. as follows:
While Ignatius Donnelly is out of
Minnesota, there is every reason that
the Populist party should dwell to-
gether in le:ce. Donnelly was so
busy about something. no one knows
just what. at present, although it will
probably develop later, that he did
not write word Of roast for his last
weeks aper. Yet there is anything
but harmony in the councils Of the
party. DOnnelly does not appear in
suspicion that he has pulled the wires
and set the factions BY the ears.
! 1t will he remembered that at the
recent state convention at which the
Populists Endorsed the nomination Of
John Lind for governor, and nominal
ed Maj. Bowler for lieutenant-gover-
nor, and A. S. keyes, of Duluth, for
attorney general, Donnelly was very
meek. He made one or two brief
nominating speeches, and advocated
one or two motions, but he was any
thing but the great Donnelly that
had started the Peoples Party in Min
nesota and could destroy it IL he
wanted to. But all the same Don
nelly came out Of the convention on
top. He and his friends secretly man.
AGED fn hav = m itritv of tho NOM.
bers OF the state central committee
elected from among Donnelly's trust
ed friends. The anti-DOnnelly men
were jubilant, but they laughed too
soon, and this was discovered when
the committee was organized. The
anti DOnnelly men wanted E. r.
Lynch, of Minneapolis, as chairman
OF the state committee; Donnelly's
candidate was Thomas J. Meighen
AS d compromise the Donnelly men
proposed +. G. Gibbs, of Waterville,
and he Was elected.
Gibbs was an unknown quantity to
most Of the men in the party, and lie
was considered a fair man to produce
harmony. He was, however. much
more satisfactory to DOnnelly than
than the opposition, and the facts
since the meeting Of the committee
have more than confirmed the worst
suspicious. Gibbs is clearly Don
nelly man, and he is running the cam
paign exactly as Donnelly would ran
it, il he were in control. This is what
is claimed by the Minneapolis Popu-
lists, and they are getting ready to
issue letter to the POpulists Of this
state protesting against the master
ly inactivity" which is being dis played
by the chairman of the state commit
tee.
Immediately after the meeting at
Brunswick Hotel in this city about
two weeks ago, headquarters were
opened in the Globe Building. in ST.
Paul. w. A. Swain was named as act
ing secretary, and there the matter
rested. Chairman Gibbs went back
to Waterville and was not heard OF
until John Lind wired him to come to
Minneapolis to consult upon the prep
arations for the cam paign. Mr.. Gibbs
came, and that was the end Of his ef-
forts. He has practically abandoned |
the campaign, apparently under the
impression that the efforts to elect |
John Lind will be cloves labor lost"
He has not even appointed secre-
tary, and it is claimed that there are,
in headquarters in St. Paul, scores of |
letters unanswered, and not a single |
speaker has been sent out. 1t is I'M
derstOod that Mr.. Gibbs has assured |
the POpulist leaders that he will 90 |
ahead at once. He told some that he
would have secretary appointed at |
once, and the name of E. r. Lynch, of |
Minneapolis, is connected with the ap-
pOintment. 1t does not seem proba-
bic that Donnelly would have ap-
pointed Lynch, as he is a pronounced |
anti-Donnelly man, and 1t is not
probable that Gibbs would dare to
name Lynch for secretary for fear of
Offending the men to whom he owes
his election to the head Of the com
mittee.
All This while the Populists arc
wondering what has become of the
state central committee, and the feel
ing which has been smoldering is
ready to burst out into flame.
When Donnelly returns there is
likely to be fun
There is very little truth in all this
chatter. The officials Of the state
central committee have secured a
suite Of rooms in the Globe Building
in st. Paul, and are prepared for busi-
ness, and ready to do all they can, but
they hare no funds. It was our inten-
ton at the recent state convention in
Minneapolis to have made an appeal
for funds, as we did in 1892, when we
raised thousand dollars at once;-it
was flung upon the stage in shower
of checks, bank notes and silver coin.
But what could we do? One-third of
the convention was afraid to let US
open our mouths les3 we should dis
cuss Mr.. Owens betrayal Of the initi-
alive and referendum; and we did not
want to force ourself upon the con-
vention to precipitate confusion worse
and so the opportunity
passed.
But 1t would be much better for the
crowd, instead of filling
the Republican newspaper reporters
with all this trash, to 20 ahead and
raise some money themselves and turn
it over to Mr.. Gibbs. He is COM
poor man. and cannot be
asked to bankrupt himself.
We are not candidate for any
office; and we are doing our part main
tanning The REPRESENTATIVE; and
We have no responsibility for the con-
duct OF the campaign. Let the men
who ran the campaign at St. Louis,
and made all the local nOmfn a tiOns in !