The representative., 1896-07-08
An ATTEMPT TO DISRUPT THE
PEOPLES PARTY.
provoked and Malicious Assault Upon the
Chairman Of Our State Central COM
mittee and the Editor Of The
Representative.

ELECT CLOUGH-ANOIdEN MEAT
LITTLE GAME OF THE STATE MA
CHINE-w. w. WILLIAMS SAYS 50
HE SAYS DONNELLY HAS LONG
BEEN A FRIEND TO HILL 1T NOT
MORE.
There are rumors Of war in popdom in
Minnesota. Ignatius Donnelly II sus-
pected of having been hyptonized by the
Republican machine and James j. Hill,
and to be friendly to Governor Clough, to
the extent Of being willing to prevent fu-
sion against the Republican state ticket.
Some weeks ago the Penny Press. the
official organ OF the Populist party, an
nounced that the Populist state conven-
ton would probaly be held August s.
Following that announc ement very shortly
came the meeting Of the Democratic state
central committee, with the call for the
state convention on August 4. one day
earlier. The Penny Press uddenly found
that At had been reckoning without au-
thority, and that the pop state central
committee had taken to the woods Let
ters and kilograms were sent In abundance
mittee, urging upon him the necessity OF
calling the committee together, to the
end that the state convention may come
ahead OF the Democrats, but Mr.. Meighen
was In hiding and no word was recetved
from him. His silence is charged UP d.
4UCIly a8AlaASt AOAMA@Iy, uuOCI WAQ1SC Az
fluence Meighen Is. and IL one of the evil
dences Of Donnelly's unfaithfulness to the
party.
II the Democrats hold their state con-
vention in advance Of the PopuliSts, ana
nominate straight ticket, as undoubt-
John Lind, or any other silver man, will
be gone But let the Populists come first.
presenting Lind as candidate, and their
leaders figure that the Democratic indorse-
ment would come Of necessity almost.
One of the bitterest men in the city
against Donnelly, and one Of the loudest
in accusing him Of treachery. II Colonel
w. W. Williams, at one time editor of the
Representative, Donnelly's paper. It will
be remembered that about two years ago
Donnelly went to st. Clemens Mich, with
one Of his sons at that time i'll. While
he was there Colonel Williams wrote an
editorial in the Representative attacking
Hill, and for his pay received by return
mail letter from Donnelly, saying: go
light on, J. J. Hill; he Is one of our best
friends"
When the Representative was estab-'
lished In Minneapolis, it will be borne In
mind that practically Its only advertising
patronage came from local lumber firms
Colonel Williams, speaking today to 1
Journal reporter, said that those az
vertiseinents were secured by aid Of SarA-
uel Hill, ]. ]. Hills son-in-law. and that
-
nelly was beaten for reelection to the
senate.
"You are at liberty to use my name iD
this connection" said Colonel williams ID
a Journal man. Every word that (
say Ii true, and can be substantiated.
The Representative got those advertise
ments because Donnelly was a member Of
the committee aqqointed by the legisla-
ture to investigate pine land frauds and
az soon as It was seen that he was no
longer in q position to assist the lumber
men the advertisements were discontin-
ued More than that: The Representative
collected for those advertisements month
ly, Thomas Eckford presenting the bills.
Whenever the money was not forthcoming
from the lumber firms Samuel Hill al
ways advanced the money himself"
Colonel Williams 10 very sure that Dom
nelly Is now as he was then, secretly do
ing what he can for ]. ]. Hill and his
schemes and that the failure Of the Popu-
list state central committee to meet and
call the state nominating convention 10
due entirely to the influence which he ex-
erts over Meighen. Had we not made
would say nothing" said Colonel Will
liams: ''but we have written to him and
sent him kilograms until We are sick and
tired, and so far without a word in reply.
I am satisfied that it is Donnelly's plan
to hold off our nominating convention un-
straight ticket"
This is an astonishing utterance,-
most astonishing, as coming from
sub-editor of the Penny Press,-a paper
which has only recently moved into
the Peoples Party. It begins with
these words,-''there are rumors of
uar IN Popdosn."
Our enemies are disgusted at the
harmony which exists in our ranks
throughout the length and breadth of
Minnesota.-and they perceive that
the Republican party is doomed ii
that harmony is to continue. They
would be glad to see the good old days
of Doctor Fish revived, when we
were all divided into bitterly contend
ing factions. tearing each others hair
out; and they would cheerfully pay
any amount Of money to restore that
charming condition. Hence this as
sault upon the chairman Of the State
Central Committee, Mr.. Thomas ].
Meighen, charging him with "hiding"
himself and betraying the cause Of re-
form. Fortunately no man in Mime
sofa has go large q measure Of respect
and confidence. from men Of ell par.
ties, as Mr.. Meighen; and he IL hon
orcd and trusted without limit by the
members OF the Peoples Party.
Hence this attack on The REPRE-
SENTATIVE. whose editor has fought
the battle of Reform In this country
for quarter of century. 1t is paid
for.
MIR. Meighen has replied to the arti-
Gle in question as follows:
Mr.. MEIGHEN's REPLY.
Forestville, Mimi. July 5, 1896.
To the Editor OF the Representatives:
ind IN the Evening Journal Of yester-
day an unfair article. in which It n stated
that some weeks ago the Penny Press,
the official organ II the Populist party. an
nounced that the Populist state conven-
tion would probably be held August 5.
I desire to say that this Is the first in
formation have had tha. the emmy Press
IL the organ OF the Populist party. l
did not know that the party had ever Sc
lected an organ" Neither did I az chair
man Of the state central committee, nor
did the committee on its own behalf, ever
authorize the statement that the state
convention was to be held August 5th, or
on any other day. l had. as chairman,
been In correspondence, as was my duty.
with the members OF the state central
committee, to ascertain what date would,
In their judgment, be the best to hold the
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