davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-12-01

old flag. Similar disaster must never
again befall these faithful few. Fusion
has been indeed hard blow and our
only consolation is In the fact that LIES
most valuable lessons are learned in the
school Of hard knocks. We have learned
In this school that our greatest peril lies
In self-constituted bosses, self-appointed
delegates to conventions and caucuses,
and long list Of self-appointed commit
tees and other officials. The Peoples
party was founded upon the complement
tary principles Of self-government and
the rule of the majority.
The formation of our party was an
open revolt against boesism, against one
man rule or the domination of the few,
against the political machine and against
states. It Is in strict accord with our
party creed that a Populist boss is no
better than any other boss, self-ap-
pointed delegate or committeeman, styl-
ing himself a Populist, is possessed Of
the same characteristics of human ma
ture as when belonging to the old par
ties.
Recognizing these facts the Peoples
party cannot be too watchful of the
makeup of conventions, caucuses and
committees. If self-appointment is dis
covered expose it, tear away the ego,
unmask the deception and retire the
over-zealous patriot. Carry the princi-
pies of direct legislation into all the de-
tails of our own party organization,
and we will then have fewer leaders
whom no one seems willing to follow.
The party is 1aboring today under the
incubus of having too many leaders with
an attenuated following. Let us regain
our party enthusiasm and courage, get
together in the near future in conven-
tion, it matters little upon whose call,
and then and there depose self-appoint-
ments, select strong and popular lead
ers known to be faithful and debate the
proper ways and means Of effective re-
organization. We want renewed study,
renewed reading, renewed enthusiasm
and courage and courageous and indie
pendent action. AS our editor-in-chief
elsewhere expresses It, "The Peoples
party has reached a crisis. Something
has got to be DONE" E. A. T.
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-12-01
TO OUR FRIENDS.

Many of our subscribers are In ar
rears. Each one thinks that what he
owes is trifle, and that it makes no
difference whether he sends it this week
or next week. or next month, or ,,eXt
year. In the meantime we have to pay
cash for everything; and we have few
friends among the powers tina. be. The
banks do not like the doctrines we
preach and we doubt if the Representa-
tive Publishing Co. could borrow 500
from any one of them, with $1,000
United States bond attached to it's note,
as collateral. We do not want to put
our friends accounts in the hands of
collecting agency and make costs and
expenses for them; but we shall be
obliged to do so if we do not hear from
them soon. We have carried them
through harvesting, etc, and now is
the time to settle if they are ever going
to do so.
If we had what is due us we could
vastly improve our paper; but now
those who pay up suffer for those who
do not. He is not a good Poprlist who
will permit others to bear his burdens
Reforms are dependent upon each man
doing his share. Do your share and do
l. now. Send in your dues TO the paper
that is doing so much for you and the
cause. Do not compel us to be begsars.
e.. A, Z.
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-12-01
OUR PARTY,S PERIL.

Undo1ng mistakes is always attended
with peril. A reconstruction period calls
for the wisest craftsmanship.
The Peoples party has made the la
mentable mistake of fusion. The bomb
of dissention was exploded in our midst
by the we'll planned and cunning con-
trivance of old party leaders. 1t has
scattered our forces to the four winds.
A large and most useful fragment went
to the Socialist Labor party. Many
former Republicans. disguised with be-
ing driven into Democratic camp, desert
ed and returned to their old party. Per-
haps the largest segment landed square
ly in the lap of Democracy, and judging
from appearances in Iowa and Ohio, are
unable to get free. A most respectable
nucleus remained upon the Omaha plat
form and today are rallying around the
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-12-01
"ACK THE COIN"

No paper in the United States was SO
profuse and startling in it's declaration,
for six months after Mckinley was elect
ed, that good times had returned, as the
Chicago Times-Herald. 1t just doomed
and howled and exploded over prosper
ity-with big P. 1t covered whole
pages with gigantic cartoons and illus
trations, showing the country just roll
ing and rollicking in glorious happiness.
But in the issue of Nov. 9th it has
this item on it's editorial page:
1t may be well enough to retire the
greenbacks." but money Of all sorts seems
to be rather retiring nowadays
Is it there you are, Mrs Moriarty? Is
the brindle cat out of the cerulean bag !?
Money is RETIRING is it? And you
think it would improve things to ere
tire the greenbacks?" The money is all
concentrating in the banks, like the
blood in an apoplectic's head-and you
think that Is a sign of prosperity!
Oh blind leaders of the pnnd Id.
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-12-01
NOTICE..

The person who recently sent a sum
of money to the T. NJ. Roberts Supply
House and ordered bill of goods, order
being written on the back of a Van
Dusen, Harrington & Co.'s daily market
report, but failed to give either name
or address, will please repeat the order,
stating exact, amount Of money sent and
the goods wanted, when same will be
shipped at once.
In -ordering goods from this large
house, it is very important that you
should state just what you want and
not fail to give full name and address,
as it is impossible to send the goods
when they do not know where to send
them.
The Roberts people inform us they are
constantly bothered with the careless
ness of customers in this respect and
have been blamed for not shipping goods
promptly, when the customer alone is
to blame for such delay.
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-12-01
THE POPULIST PLATFORM.

The middle-of-the-road Populists have cut
loose from the Bryanites and in their con-
vention at st. Louis they adopted a plat
form which makes the Chicago platform
look puny and weak by comparison. Here
it Isl
l. Absolute paper money, based upon every
commodity and resource of the nation a full
and legal tender and receivable for dues to the
United States.
2. Free coinage of gold and silver at the
present legal ratio; the coin debts of the United
States payable in either at the option of the
government.
g. All money to be issued by the government
and paid out direct to the people for services
rendered, to be loaned to them at a low
rate of interest safe security and without
the Intervention Of private banks. provided that
the volume of the currency shall not exceed
$50 per capita.
4. Government ownership and operation of
railroads. telegraph and telephone lines.
S. The opposition to alien ownership and
holding of land for speculative purposes
g. Opposition to court-made law.
Z. Opposition to trusts.
S. We especially recommend the initiative
and referendum and the imperative mandate
It will be seen that this platform en-
bodies free silver coinage at 16 to l, de-
nunciation of trusts and government by
injunction" together with lot Of other
things which the Chicago convention was
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-12-01
FUNNY.
The Lease Home Fund.

The st. Paul Dispatch Is nothing if
not humorous.
This is the way 1t discusses our move
ment to raise a fund to build home for
Mrs. Lease.
When the good Populists of this state
volunteered to raise the mortgage on the
"home" of Mrs. Mary E. Lease, and learned
for the first time that the mortgage repre-
scented a sum considerably in excess of the
value Of the premises, they were in nowdse
discouraged or turned aside from their pur-
poses to do something for Mary. The truly
good and sympathetic Mr.. Donnelly had
dwelt upon the woes Of Mrs. Lease, and so
wrought upon the tear tanks Of POpulism
that briny deluge was threatened, and
was only averted when it was found that
the good Kansas lady had soaked" the
wicked holder of the savage mortgage.
Even then the sympathy tor Mrs. Ii ase
did not abate. On the contrary, she grew
and waxed stronger In the esteem of the
Populists, for she took rank as a shreWd
business woman. Men who voted to pay
their debts at so cents the dollar could
not we'll fail to commend the action of
Mrs. Lease in letting that mortgage go by
default when the premises were worth less
than the debt
So other means Of relief were devised
Polk county, which enjoys the doubtful dis
tinction Of carrying the Populist banner,
came to the front with the offer of home
for the homeless, and a shelter for the
unroofed. Contributions were solicited and
pledged sufficient to purchase and furnish
commodious and comfortable mansion in
the city Of Crookston, where rolls the raging
Red and raves the rampageous Ringdal
Options were secured on the premises pend
ing the acceptance of the same by the OBJ
ject of all this Populist solicitude and ador-
alton.
Then came the surprise, the amazing,
appalling CONSERVATION, Of declina ton.
Mrs. Lease thanked her humble admirers
and declined to enter upon the joys of resi-
dence in their midst The climate she said
was too severe for her health and that of
her daughter. She did not say a word about
her husband. He could probably have stood
the chilly blasts that sweep down from
Manitoba. after the experience he has had.
0, yes! Mr.. Mary Ellen could stand it all
right we opine, but Mrs. Mary would not
take chances on the cold. She had struck
a few frosts on her lecture tour in 1.-The
enemys country" and that was enough for
her. So all that Crookston gets out of it
Is the reputation for misplaced and ILL
timed generosity, and some advertising as
the only place in America too barren and
chilly for the grim visaged championess of
Populism.
1t was close call for Minnesota Gov.
Clough will probably not feel warranted in
issuing a supplementary THANKSGIVING
proclamation and including this close shave
among the things for which we are ex-
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-12-01

not radical enough to propose In addition
to free coinage the Populists want fiat
money and plenty Of It: they want the gov
eminent to turn money-lOaner and thus
place the money which 1t prints where it
will do the most good;' they want the
government to own and control the rail-
roads. telegraph and telephone lines-and
in the fifth plank they virtually endorse
the single tax theory Of Henry George by
declaring opposition to the holding Of
land for speculative purposes.
This platform constitutes almost as COM
plete a socialistic program as is to be
found in the writings of Edward Bellamy.
The Populist brethren are to be COM
mended for their frankness and boldness.
After the adoption OF such a platform there
will be no difficulty in knowing where
they are at" They have nailed their
colors to the masthead and are not Tight
ing under cover of any false pretenses.
We should think that Mr.. Bryan would
have difficulty in keeping his forces to-
gether upon the Chicago platform when the
Populist platform offers the radical re
formers so much broader field Of action.
Perhaps he will show his grasp Of the
situation by himself going over to the Pop
ulists. The latter have always regarded
him with favor. deeming him more Of a
Populist than Democrat. and would no
ooubt welcome him as their leader. The
1uslon OF $500 may reverse the formation
OF 1895 and place the Populists in front.
Yes, In 1900 we will place the Popu-
lists in front. The eighth plank of the
above platform shall be printed in ital-
les, and the votes of the reunited Popu-
lists shall bear witness that the Peo-
Pies party regards as equally absurd
John Sherman's demand for ''scarce
money and plenty OF it." and the Bryan
Democracy demand for coin redemption
paper. Yes, the old parties will need
make no mistake, they will know where
the Populists are at; then as usual the
Populists will be both seen and heard.
e. A. T.
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-12-01

the speakers who advocate such
movement trimmed and limited in their
utterances? They must not say this
fer fear it will offend that element;
they must not say that for fear it will
offend this element. We had an expert
ment is emasculated; its plane is lower
ed from principle to plumber.
We believe that the Free-silver Demo-
Gratis and the Free-silver Republicans
Of Minnesota are in complete unison
with the Populists of the state, upon
every issue Of the day. Why then
should they not come in under the Pop
ulist banner? Why keep up two or
three organizations to do precisely the
same work for the same purposes?
But it will be said in reply, why
should not the Populists then rally un-
der the Democratic banner, as some of
our prominent men have suggested.
The answer is plain-because the Peo-
pies Party is one and the same from
edO TAIACAllN " IuC dCluC, WullS CUS
Democratic party has no national unity.
In the West 1t sympathizes with Popu-
lism; in the East it is the tool Of
Plutocracy How can we afford to
march under the Democratic banner,
when in the midst of a national cam
paign, we may find the tiger of Tam
many elevated upon a pedestal for us
to worship. We may find our forces
split to pieces and devouring each other.
Besides that, the Democratic party has
been out Of power in Minnesota since
1854 period Of nearly 40 years. We
do not desire to hurt the feelings of
our Democratic friends, when we say
that there is a powerful prejudice
against the old party-a prejudice that
1t will be very hard indeed to eradicate;
a prejudice that is not due to the acts
of living Minnesota Democrats, but to
men, long dead, who were the Ben Hills
and Crokers Of 40 years ago. The Dem
ocrats have made terrific battles in this
state and sought to take advantage Of
public dissatisfaction with Republican
policies, and yet, under the most favor
able circumstances, they have fallen far
short OF success. Now, large segment
of them, calling themselves Sound
money Democrats" have left the Or
ganization, and weakened it numerical
ly still further.
The Peoples Party rose in four years
from nothing to nearly 10000 votes.
Why should not the Democrats come in,
and, marching under this advancing and
victorious banner, save the state from
the influences which now control it? Or.
if this cannot be done, let them meet
and adopt platform Identical in all re-
spects with the Peoples Party platform,
and having thus established unity of
purpose, ask our people to proceed to
unity of action?
These are matters that the voters had
better discuss among themselves and
take some definite and determined
course upon them. Id.
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-12-01
THINK OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

THINK OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
Elsewhere in this issue under the CAP
ton Death of Free Silver" read the
declaration of VIM. C. Whitney, eff the
Democracy be true to itself it will as
sumo control Of the nation in 1900" To
what Democracy does Mr. Whitney refer?
Does he mean the Bryan Democracy?
the so-called reformed Democracy? No,
he means the Cleveland, Dave Hill. Cor
man. Wall street, Tammany Democracy
which has triumphantly come to the
front in the recent elections. How will
our 10000 fusion Populist friends in Ohio
and like number in Iowa, like to tail
that procession?
When they by their votes in 1898 and
1900 shall have helped Tammany to as
sassinate liberty, whe nthey shall real
ize that they have been led by false
promises and slick leaders and delivered
over to the very money power they sup
posed they were fighting, then will they
longingly look back to their old asso-
ciates, to the brave few who counseled
against fusion; who founded the party.
stood by the Omaha platform, and main
tanned party home. What must be the
feelings of these Iowa and Ohio fusion
lists when they realize that upon them
rests the responsibility of again enthron-
ing Wall street and destroying their
own party? E. A. T.
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-12-01
WISE COUNSEL


STEP" Col. S. F. Norton has given some
sound advice to our free silver Republic
can friends. Hon. Thomas E. Watson
has argued the case with our Demo-
cratic friends under the title, tom Wat
sons Views" and on our editorial page
our readers will find the query "Shall
We Nominate in 1882"
1t was under the advice Of these three
writer's that the Peoples party made
it's phenomenal record between 1891 and
1894. 1t was against the counsels Of
these same three men that the Peoples
party met the disasters of 1896.
It is worthy of comment that these
three men located widely apart, with no
communication or interchange of ideas
except publicly through their papers.
should at this period Of our party's ,ex-
istence, so nearly agree in their dag
nosis of our ailments, and the proper
remedies to be applied Isn't 1t about time
to call in counsel our old family ply
sicians? Have we not had about enough
of these modern political quacks?
Hasn't pie hunting by the few resulted
in long fasting by the many?. Isn't the
belly ache furnishing the wrong parties,
can the many longer afford to fast for
the greed and gluttony and to suffer for
the sins of the few?
No. Let us profit by the experiences
of the past, let us note whence came our
wisest counsel. Let us gather together
the debris of the wreck and build from
the ground up. Suffer no unsound ma
terial to occupy prominent place in the
new structure. We have tested the
moral and political strength of our tim
Der and the culls should be cast out.
In the selection of new material too
much care cannot be taken in rejecting
that which Is of bad or doubtful repute
at home Some men in every party are
popular only among strangers. Such
men should have the good sense to not
offer themselves as leaders. If such
good sense is wanting then the party
should exercise good sense for them and
promptly turn them down.
1t is unfortunate that some men have
but to assume the leadership even in a
worthy cause to kill that cause. Our
party In it's counsels should take cog
nizance of this fact and act accordingly.
Organize we must and the sooner the
better. There is work on hand for all.
Our papers and little books have been
the mighty agencies of the past and will
still continue to do the work that can
be done in no other way. A three
months reading Of the Representative
will accomplish more than a thousand
oral arguments across the barnyard
fence. Organize now, harmonic our
forces as far as possible, and if in the
future we must cooperate, let us seek
our associates rather among those fur
Their advanced in reform than we are.
Let us not retrograde. Let us look for
word toward the cooperative common
wealth rather than backward toward an
oligarchy of wealth. E. A. T.
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-12-01
DEATH OF FREE SILVER.

NEW YORK, Nov. lin an interview
last night William c. Whitney said: IF
the Democracy be true to itself it win m
sumo control Of the nation in 1907 Mr.
Whitney was in England on election day.
he said he knew too little of election re-
suits 20 discuss the situation, but he con-
ceded the Improvement in Democratic con-
ditions and declared the outlook hopeful
for the party.
Restoration of the Democracy to power
depends on the party itself. If harmony
come it will win. 1 should say that the
tendency Of Democratic thought is toward
a restoration Of harmony To that extent
the status of the party as a political organ
ization is improved"
Does the complete restoration of har-
mony in the Democratic party depend upon
a change in the issues upon which the ma
tional battle was fought last year?"
L believe the issues will be changed -
replied the ex-secretary. Mr.. Whitney de-
clared himself out Of politics, and would
go no deeper into an analysis Of election
results. He did not say, however, that ne
would not take part in the future battles
of the state and national Democracy. AL
though he has held aloof from the councils
Of the party since the campaign of 1896. his
friends understand that his interest in it's
success has not waned and that he may
resume his former share in it's LEADERSHIP
when the occasion is timely. And that ue-
pendS on what is done with the silver issue.
While the Democratic platform and line
Of campaign in Greater New York were
laid down in complete independence of the
gold Democratic faction, to which in 1896
Mr. Whitney belonged, he was understood
to have approved the strict adherence to
local issues, and the waving the silver
question by the party managers. 1t now
appears that he, in common with many
other party leaders, believes that the sill
yer question will not be the dominant issue
in 1900. and that the party division result
ing from it in 1896 will not exist in the next
national campaign.
The former secretary of the navy expects
the present Republican administration to
create new issues before 1900, which will
give the DEMOCRACY it's opportunity for a
more aggressive and harmonizing cam
paign than it has had on the silver ISSUE
II the Populists will only stand firm
they may have the controlling voice in
1900
If Whitney and Tammany rule they
will shelve free silver. That is plain.
Then the free silver Democrats will
break loose, and come over to the Popu-
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-12-01

Funny isn't 1t. Before election TO got
Populist and silver Republican votes, the
Democrats hold silver rallies" After BIZ
metallism has won, it's great Democrat
&c victory 1t is like the patent medicine
before and after taking"-great results!-
The Nonconformst.
The real Populist vote of Iowa has
dwindled to about 5000. How can that
ever be built up into a great party
again? The rest had to call themselves
Democrats. How can they ever get out
from under the Democratic banner?
Let us in Minnesota stand together
and set an example to the rest Of the
nation. Our state may thus become the
rallying point for Populism, for the
whole country. IN
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-12-01
PLUTUCRATIC DEVELOPMENT.

Inc Scotch had trouble with football in
the hfteenth century. Following is from an
act OF the Scotch parliament in 1857:
Decreted and ordained that the futeball
ana goH be utterly cryit dawn and nocht
uSit.
Again in 1491 parliament let go as fol-
lows:
Futeball and golfe forbidden. Item. it is
statut and ordainit that in ma place of
the realme there be usit futeball, collie or
luther six Improbable SPORTS .
under the pain of fourtie shillings
II these worthy Scotchmen were alive
today they would recognize the fact that
'football' was the chief end of a COL
legiate education. While our young men
kick leather ball Rockefeller steals
the Mountain iron mine down to bed
rock. ID
The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-12-01
AN ANSWER

Acting on a hint in Gov. Leedy's Thanks
giving proclamation the people Of Kansas
devoted a day to shooting jack rabbits.
which were shipped east to the poor of
Chicago and New York. This Is a very
nice arrangement. 1t helps to rid Kansas,
OF the rabbit pest and gives the poor of the
big cities a good dinner.-Exchange.
And it calls the attention of the east
ern fools, who have been prating about
starving, Populistic Kansas, to the fact
that the West is rich enough, in natural
resources, to feed the East on the sur
plus vermin of its fields. And if the
grip Of the usurer and the trust-robber
was taken from it's throat it would soon
De flowing In milk and honey. Id.