The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-08-25


tuated by selfish or ambitious motives:
they probably desired to take what they
thought was the shortest cut to sue
cess. When the Peoples party state
convention met, two of these men, one
OF whom had been quite prominent in
reform ranks, Mr.. Hugo Preyor, desiring
TO force their fellow Populists into the
abandonment of their own party and
went to the chairman Of the Republi-
can state committee, and told him they
were ready to sell themselves out to
the G. O. p, and asked that he fur
nish them transportation to the con-
vention and $25 each, and they would
/, fight fusion. with the Democrats. The
Republicans, Of course, were willing to
buy men who would oppose combination
with the Democrats. and they gave
these two persons what they asked for:
and they, working in the interest of
the Democrats against their own party,
came before the convention, and one Of
them fourished in it's face a check for
$25, which he had received from the
Republicans. 1t was hoped in this way
to stampede the convention over to the
Democracy 81
There Is no doubt that other menu
bers OF the convention, if they had seen
fit to resort to such a trick, could have
cono Al tho nou,ocro rio COMMITTEES onA
have obtained similar evidences of blib-
cry; for both sides equally desired the
Populists' votes. The convention, how
ever, refused to be stampeded, and pro-
ceeded to put in nomination complete
Peoples party ticket; they did this by a
large majority. the vote being 535 for
straight Populist ticket, and 40 FIR
fusion.
There can, of course, be no hope I'M
der the circumstances that the Populists
can carry the state, and Gen.. Jacob S.
Coxey consented, when others declined,
to lead the forlorn hope and keep the
members of his party together. He de-
serves the gratitude Of all Populists for
doing so. The general has his faults,
and there are some of his ideas which
might not be generally Endorsed, but
he is true, honest and devoted man.
We understand he Is no longer rich,
and his paper has been forced to Sis
pend. 1t will be therefore a great deal
Of sacrifice for him to make the cam
paign, and he does it without the slight
est hope of reward of any kind.
If he had not led off in this way, the
entire Peoples party vote of Ohio would
have been transferred either to the
Democrats or the Republican party, and
our organization would cease to exist
in that state; and when it had SO
ceased to exist in Ohio, it would he
difficult to maintain the party as a ma
tional organization. When the roll was
called in 1900 in the Populist conven
ton Of the states, there would be no re-
Spouse from Ohio.
1t is a sad state of affairs in which
we find ourselves surrounded by men
ON both sides who are ready to corrupt
our leaders and scatter our membership.
At the same time the Democats of the
United States are not showing that de-
votion, even to free silver, that we had
a right to expect from them. In Mary
land the Democratic state convention
adopted platform in which, while de-
handing bimetalism, they ignored ut
terly the question of ratio between sill
ing away of the whole question:; even
Rothschild would be willing to con-
cede the reconciliation of silver at its
market price, which today is about 40
cents on the dollar, for with the ma
chinery that plutocracy possesses, they.
could beat down the price of silver i'm
til it was practically worthless.
Even in Minnesota we find Democracy
taking the same position. We quote
from the Minneapolis Journal of the
10th inst. the following:
'"rhe Young Mems Democratic Club re-
solved last night, and among other things
declared in favor of the money of the con-
stitution, and recognizing that silver has
been unjustly Disseminated against they
demand such legislation as will restore it
to its proper place as a basic monetary cur
rency of the country But there was no
16 to business in the resolutions. no re-
affirmation of the Chicago platform. More
signs of the passing of the free silver
craze.
We have no doubt that the Demo-
Gratis of the East would be willing to
accept Mr.. Bryan as their candidate
in 1900, provided he would give them
any secret assurance that the silver
question would not be pushed to ex-
tremities. And in consideration there
for they would assure him that they
will unite the party in a solid mass,
and that all the funds necessary fer
tremendous campaign will be forthcom-
ing.
We have great respect and regard FOR
Mr.. Bryan, but the temptation of the
presidency is terrible one to place be-
fore any man. 1t made even New Eng
lands greater man-Daniel Webster
turn his back upon the cause
Of human freedom. He was
willing to ooncede the eternal slav-
cry CT the negro of the South, if only
he could reach the presidency Mr.
Bryan is a good man, but he is only
human
IN ,,,;y1