The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-21
tiles unlimited money to buy, il neces

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sary.
Again, the greed for Office is Just as
apt to creep into the Peoples Party as
any other, and candidates so possessed
OF political greed are prone to resort to
political methods to secure their elec-
tlon, that have proved so successful by
unscrupulous, selfish individuals in the
old parties. There is no way this cor
rrpt tendency can be kept in check SO
we'll as through the influence of nom
partisan organizations, such as the
Farmers Alliance and Industrial Union
and the Knights Of Labor which should
either be consolidated or be so federated
together so they could act upon all i'm
portant questions, political or others, as
one solid body. In no other way can in
fiuence be brought to bear sufficiently
strong to overpower the combined cor
ruption of concentrated wealth. as rep
resented by trusts and corporations.
All must concede that the larger and
more united these organizations, the
greater their influence, and it is appar-
ent at this time that it will require the
presence of most powerful organiza-
tlon to keep the servants of the people
honest. What influence do the common
people of this state exert over our pres
ent legislature? Not the smallest par
ticle; yet every member received his
election by the votes of the laborine
classes. Scrutinize all the laws passed
at this session and see how little the
people can find to feel thankful for. ey
cept that the present session could not
do much worse.
One Of the gravest dangers to the DO
Itlcal success of the Peoples Party in
this state at this time is the lack of or
ganization, permitting few individuals
TO pose as oracles and get the ear of
the people, and outline what shall he
the future course of the reform party
IN this state. It will be noticed that
rev, II any, of these self-constituted
leaders were identified with the reform
movement until quite recently. They
are people who continually advocate
conservative measures and oppose at all
times radical men and radical measures
ever offering compromise with wrong
ana packing up men for office who are
SO extremely conservative that one is
puzzled to know upon which side 0f the
line to look for them. Their plea is il
is the only way you can elect men 10 of-
nee. NO one can point out in history
"here conservative, compromising
measures for right have ever been suc
cessful in removing radical wrong As
Well meet an armed enemy who means
great bodily harm with open palms. OK
pecting by that means to defend yr,ur.
Sell. Observers of such contest would
laugh at an individual who met an enc
my IN that manner, and have but LITTLE
sympathy for his condition when car
rled away to the hospital upon =
stretcher. He might be piticd as a moor
fool who had got lesson he would
learn IN no other way. So it is with the
oppressed people at this time. if thew
are led by this conservative twadd,e
and are carried from their political field
on a stretcher. they will deserve but
little sympathy, but might lie pitied for
being such fools.
Inc political combinations last fall
were foced upon the PEOPLES PARTY nv
this conservative element, who were
previously aligned with the parties that
had tried to destroy the true roform
party--the Peoples Party They sup
posed the average voter would forget
the odium cast upon the National Demo-
cratic party by Cleveland, and the odj-
um cast upon the same party in this
state two years before by their s,,nnort-
ing knute Nelson's hired man, Becker.
for no other purpose than to defeat the
radical reform party in this state. the
Peoples Party, even to the extent ae
appealing to the Republican campaign
committee for funds to keep this hired
man in the field. Did they suppose that
the average farmer voter forgot that
this same hired man is upon the board
of railroad commissioners; that he al
ways has and always will use his in
filenco TO prevent the people from get
ting any redress from railroad cxtor-
ton.
This conservative element in cont-o,
last year could surely count upon the
patriotic reformer to support the ticket
that came the nearest tc advocating the
reforms he knew must he secured ia
give relief to tie people Rut the rank
and file Of the voters who year after
year havo had their political prejut.ices
played upon, cannot be brought into
line to support any ticket successfully
that carries the Democratic name, even
If it is an annex.
CONTINUED next weekly