The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-06-10
fed to help our enemies. The free tele-
graph much nrecede the free press

fed to help our enemies. The free tele-
graph much precede the free press
H. w. Day, of the Hutchinson Leader,
represented the Republican contingent.
He expressed heaftyh sympathy with the
sentiments expressed and confessed that
he shared the views of those present and
also Of the farmers of his county in dis
satisfaction at the existing regime. He
said that there was bitter and general I'M
rest among the farmers of his district at
the way things were being rum and that
events were shaping themselves in the d.
rection Of an improved condition. Il
hope to be able to do something myself"
said Mr.. Day, "along this line. 1 pledge
myself to help this movement here to-
day.
DR.. c. Johnson, of the Willmar Tribune,
made one of the most practical and val
liable speeches of the day, on the subject:
''The Press and the People" He found
that the press and the people were closely
allied. There was a time when the
church was the people, and also when the
king was the people. But now the press
is more nearly the people. The powerful
classes recognize the fact by purchasing
and controlling the press. If they do not
subsidize directly, they establish plants
and hire editors. They have done it with
the daily press, and are now sending out
small weekly plants into the country to
control the local press as they have in four
/, cases. to my. knowledge in my district
Mr.. johnson made may practical sugges-
tions along sthe-lin of a union of forces
at st. Louis. He thought the thing to do
was for the Peoples Party not to insist
upon too many planks The main thing
was to select a dominant issue upon
which all could unite and leave other
questions for time to settle. He thought
free. coinage and government issue of
money such a dominant platform. The
reform press of the state was now disor-
gained, mob, and the essential thing
was to get together and make a system
attic campaign of education.
Capt. Lowe, formerly prominent in the
Peoples Party campaign of South Dakota,
made vigorous talk against fusion and
advised initiative and referendum as a
dominant issue
Mr.. E. S. Corser, one of the prominent
officials of the minneapolis Gold and Sill
yer Club" was introduced as one who had
been through the furnace Of the present
gold standard" Mr. Corser made an earn
est and practical talk which was warm
ly applauded. He pleaded guilty of being
lifelong Republican. He wished it un-
derstood that at this time, however, the
Republican party was the chonsen instru-
ment of plutocracy. The oppressors of
the masses had elected the Republican
machine as their agency, and the latter
and the manipulatOrs Of Wall street and
Lombard street We're now under COM
mon proprietor. Mr.. COrser laid great
hopes in the prospect of a union of forces
at st. Louis. He looked upon free coinage
as an opportunity to strike the common
enemy at it's most vulnerable point, and
that was why he pointed to it as an issue
upon which all could unite. He looked
upon the cause as one Of religion. He be-
lieved that all religious and patriotic
souls could unite on this cause in the
campaign now. opening.
The morning session closed one of the
characteristic and eloquent addresses for
which Ignatius Donnely Is famous. Mr..
Donnelly cautioned all to charity and will
ingness to consider the views of others.
He outlined what he considered practical
basis of union at st. Louis In brief, it
was for each element-Populists, Bimet-
allists, National party. and all others. in
Guiding free silver Democrats and Repub-
licans-to frame their own respective
platforms, all uniting on one electoral
ticket and indorsing such common causes
as free coinage, government issue of
money, and opposition to the power Of mo-
nopoly. Mr.. Donnelly walked eloquent in
mapping out the program, and believed
that 1896 would see the greatest and
grandest union Of reform forces in Ameri-
can history, and that it would secure VIC
tory in November.
The meeting adjourned for lunch. The
afternoon business meeting was in session
at the time of going to press. There is
common sentiment for cooperative action
on the part Of the reform press in secur-
ing news and statistics from a common
reliable source.