The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-05-26

AS VIEWED DY HON. II. l.. LOUCkS.
We adverted last week to the screed
of w. H. Standish, in the Evening
Press, wherein he advised the free sill
yer voters to boycott all Peoples Party
newspapers that did not advocate the
dissolution Of the party by merger with
other political organizations. Hon. H.
l.. Loucks, the able leader of the Popu-
lists of South Dakota, and one of the
old guard and pioneers of reform, who
advocated Peoples Party principles loag
before a great many of the would-be
boycotters had cracked the egg shell of
their prejudices, has written an inter-
esing letter to the EWING Press, from
which we make the following extracts:
First. we think reformer should be
thoroughly posted on any subjec, before
ne attempts to write on tive regret that
the general has not observed this requisite
Under the deceptive phrase of I'VE are in
formed he accuses Tom Watson Of aiding
In the election of Republican lii North
Carolina. and charges that up 10 the mid
dle-Of- t he readers
watson has emphatically denied this an,
branded the charge as a falsehood. The
election of Prtchard in North Carolina
was the result of a fusion deal opposed by
Observation-Disclosures. True. it was called
cooperation. but that was simply a sugar
coat for fusion
Again he says: 1.-The same element in
South Dakota by fusion with the Republic
cans have elected Kyle, who is now said
to be working with the Republicans in the
senate. when 1t was within their power
by remaining loyal to the other silver
forces, to place in the senate a true man .
etc.
There is absolutely no excuse for such ig-
norance as the above. 1t is a vile SLAM
der the South Dakota. Populists, who
believe in straight Populism. Not one
''middle-of -the-road" Populst voted With
the Republicans for Kyle. The only
Pop votes he received when elected were
from those counties where they had fusion
on the county tickets, and his election may
be credited to fusion along with that of
Pritchard
There is a difference Of opinion In our
ranks today to the best course to pur-
sue in the future, and the best way to rec
oncile that difference is to get together
and find out. if possible, what is the cause
and what the remedy. We have never
known any harm to come to any reform by
earnest reformers getting together for
consultation. The generals remedy, viz:
to boycott all reform papers as shall in the
least favor the Memphis convention" DEM
onstrates two things. viz: First that he
is too narrow for reform leader
The conference was projected by the Ma
tional Reform Press Association, In ma
tional convention assembled and whether
we agree with them or not, emanating
from such a source it deserves our re-
spectful consideration. The reform press
is in MUCH closer touch with the people
who do the voting than are the politicians
who do the talking. They understand the
peril of the present situation much better
than does our national committee or our
representatives in congress. 1t is most alb
surd to talk of boycotting that element
of the Peoples party.
Might Just well talk of boycotting the
Peoples party.
We have known Mr.. Standsh for II
years. He is an able man and made a good
attorney general He secured his election
by a fusion deal, and like all others who
ever did cannot get beyond fusion He
overlooks the historical facts that fusion
has always everywhere resulted in con-
fusion and diffusion. We are we'll ac-
quainted in North Dakota. No state in
the Union has brighter prospects for re-
form supremacy than it had. But the
blighting curse of fusion whilst giving
them a temporary victory, has caused their
permanent defeat.
The middle of-the-roaders are opposed to
fusion. In this they are consistent with
principle. They have the courage Of their
convictions they cannot be bulldozed; the
best way is to meet them in conference
and advise with them. They will be found
both reasonable and patriotic They will
do all in their power for union of the re-
form on principles. Gen Standish should
cultivate their acquaintance.
This is all very right and very sensi-
BILE. The pretense that because we
agreed to support Mr.. Bryan in 1896 we
therefore dissolved our party and be-
came Democrats-or. Republicans-is
too absurd to be considered for a mo-
ment. The party was not started at
Cincinnati and Omaha to be sold out,
in the first fight, to any other party that
should adopt part Of our principles God
and man both demand that the People's
Party shall not die.