The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-09-29

union OF the reform forces of the state Of
Minnesota for political action
We said at the time. in this paper.
I'VE attended the banquet believing that
1t was simply what it purported to be, a
social reunion of the allies who had fought
together for free silver in the recent cam
paign. If We had understood that 1t was
intended to use this festive merry-making
as an opportunity to inaugurate an or
ganizatfon. that was to supplant and over
throw the Peoples Party, we should not
have attended it. But the introduction Of
the resolution placed us in the position
OF either marrng pleasant occasion by q
fractional battle, or submitting in silence to
an tll-advised movement. We chose the
latter course"
Is not Mr.. Bowler today advocating
precisely what Mr.. Owen advocated at
that banquet? Does he not tell us that
1t is impossible for us to succeed as a
Peoples party, and that we can only
win by uniting with the Democrats and
free silver Republicans?
We don't desire to take up the valu-
able space of our paper by further cita-
tons from speeches and articles by Mr..
Owen; but we can prove conclusively,
if necessary, that Owen wanted, and we
believe still wants, to see the Peoples
party destroyed, and it's elepents
fused" with some other organization.
which is to be built up on its ruins.
AS to the insinuation made by Maj,
Bowler that we have been actuated by a
desire for office, we certainly are not
fool enough, Gf that has been our AIM
to leave party with $4,000 majority and
go into a new movement, when there
was no certainty that it would ever
amount to anything, SO far as the get
ting of Office was concerned. Although
our name has been repeatedly named for
office; and, in 1892, we became the party
nominee for governor-We do not think
any person can show that we ever asked
for his support or ever put Ourself for
ward as candidate for anything. Even
when named extensively last year, for
president and after five out of seven
congressional districts in the state had
instructed their delegates for us, we
never opened our mouth, or wrote a
letter, or raised our finger, to obtain the
nomination. On the contrary we sub
mitted patiently without protest, to see
the little positions we held, on two ma
tional committees taken from us by
Messrs Owen and Dobbyn.
We have not the slightest expectation
Of ever receiving any Office in the gift
of the people of Minnesota or of the
United States. We don't want any Of
fee.
We are vain enough to think that we
have mine of honors in our books
greater than any that can be conferred
upon us by the votes of the people. Last
fall after having been stripped of our
poor little feathers" and Inundated in
the face Of the whole country we still
remained faithful to our party and to it's
action taken at st. Louis. When our
friends in Dakota county nominated us
for the lower house of the legislature,
we paid no attention to the matter, but
went to Kansas, Illinois, and other
states, making speeches for Mr.. Bryan
and Thos E. Watson; and did not return
until the night before election. And
now Maj Bowler who, for three years
.past has been conspicuous as candidate
for high positions turns upon us. who
have had nothing and asked for nothing
and in a most unkind spirit talks
about the "lust for office!"
If we were "lusting for Office" we
would try to trade the Peoples Party
votes away to the Democracy, on condi-
ton that we should be pu, upon the
fusion ticket and SO have an opportunity
to obtain a fat Office. We have more
friends among the Democrats of Mime
sofa than Mr.. Bowler or the whole Owen
cabal put together; this was plainly
shown by the reception given us. in the
Democratic state convention last sum-
merit amounted to tremendous ova-
ton.
We have no hostility to the Demo-
Gratis; we have a great many friends
among them; but we don't think it is
just and right: or even good policy to
turn over the principles and membership
of the Peoples Party to Democracy. 1t
would not be good policy even for the
democracy.
We are not hostile 10 Major Bowler;
personally we like him. In many re-
spects he is good man. And we again
offer him the use of our columns to de-
fend himself and his position--all We
ask to return, is, that he will not indulge
in personalities, for we may at last lose
our temper. We are very infirm in
that particular. Julius Caesar once said
TO young man who tried to stop him
from entering a certain temple that II
he did not get out of his way he would
kill him; and when the youth recoiled,
Caesar added, that it would have been
easier for him to have done it than
to have said it. And in the same spirit
we might remark that it would be a
good deal easier for us to lose our tenn
per than to restrain 1t.
AS to the charge made that we have
tried to rule the party, it is wholly un.
warranted. When have we attempted
to do anything except to insist that the
party must live and it's principles be per
petuated What congressional district
in this state can say that we ever enter
ed its borders to pick out candidate
for them for congress? What county
n