The representative., 1897-10-27


It is said that these middle Of the road
men are so earnest that they win walk
out Of the convention II there are only
beggarly dozen of them. This view OF
the case explains In large measure the
fierce and prolonged discussions that for
weeks have been going in between Igna-
thus DonneIly In the Representative, and
such men as Professor w. r. Dobbyn.
Major J. M. Bowler, H. G. Day and s.
NJ Owen. These men are fusionists and
represent what at present seems to be the
dominant spirit of Minnesota Popuism.
The campaign has been opened early
among these gentlemen. just as it has
been opened on the Republican side of the
house, although for different reasons, as
will now DO understood. 1t will be Don
nelly's aim to thoroughly advertise these
fusionists as such between now and the
convention time and bring to bear upon
them his rich and variegated vocabulary of
invective and sarcasm If the plan works.
there is slender prospect that fusion may
be beaten; If 1T doesn't, the ranks of the
middle of the road men will be added to as
a result of the discussion.
The middle Of the road men will not ad-
init that Bryan is authority for Popu-
lists in the matter OF fusion. Bryan, say
they, is not a Populist, but Democrat OF
the rankest store, man who is bent on
capturing for the Democratic party what
ever there is that is worthy in the Populist
movement. "Of course" they continue,
Bryan advises fusion. Why shouldn't he?
Every time there Is fusion the peoples
party is weaker, and in the end it will be
wiped out, leaving the new Democracy
as the worthy heir Of the fruit of the
heroic labors OF our founders over period
of years. OF course Bryan is for fusion"
I am not at liberty to give the name
of the man from whom l secured Che above
information. He is a figure Of more than
state prominence however, and when the
time comes promises to throw himself
heart and soul into the movement to pre-
serve the Populist party and give 1t besides
the prestige of a large personal following.
These nIIddle-road leaueTs pont out that
the election law of last winter may play
smash with any attempts at fusion next
year. Under this new law, before there
can be any satisfactory work in Conven-
tions the leaders on both sides must get
together somewhat after the plan Of 1886.
and divide the spoils. If one party has
governor for instance. the other. at the
convention will leave this place open SO
that the nominee will appear on the ticket
as the nominee Of one party only. Under
any proposed arrangement next year 1t is
said that the Democrats will be inclined
to attempt a monopoly Of Offices The sill
yer Republicans will, cf course, get COVER
nor in John Lind. but the Democrats want
auditor, secretary Of state and two judges
of the supreme court already. There will
be a chance. it will thus be seen, for the
m ddle-road people to make trouble when
this question of division Of spoils comes up.
All in all, Populist affairs promise to be
quite interesting as usual.
This middle-of-t -the-road idea will prob
ably appear in those districts whore the
Pcpulsts think there is a chance to defeat
Republican congressman. In the Seventh
it will. perhaps. have fullest and freest
swing. The Democrats control the opposi-
ton in the Third district, and a Democrat
will probably be put up for congress and
indorsed by the Populists without serious
trouble, owing to the influence of Major
Bowler, of Renville county. In the Sixth
district, however, there may be an effort
at preventing Populist Endorsement of
Charles A. Towne. In the Seventh district
it is already said with much earnestness
that no Fusionist can be elected against
Eddy. LOmmen was a FuSiOnist, and Ring
dal of Polk county, who will probably be
the Populist nominee next year, is also
Fusionist. His blunt refusal last yeai
when chairman of the state convention to
recognize the middlc-road crowd on the
various committees may return to haunt
him. The mddle-road men will not fight
him openly; they did not fight Lommen
openly, and yet Eddy went back to con-
gress by upwards of two thousand clean
ma jority. JERRY }.
We don't believe that there Is going
to be any necessity for such picturesque
and tragical results as are fOreshadowed
in this article. Neither Mr.. Donnelly
nor any other man has right to say
to the Populists of Minnesota what they
shall do, or what they shall not do.
when they meet in state convention in
1898 Certainly If there Is any attempt
made to place the Peoples party of
Minnesota in the desperate condition in
which the fusion movement placed it in
Iowa, the other day, there will be war
In the camp and very savage war at
that. We cannot permit the Peoples
party, after having been built up by so
many years of labor, and by such large
of time and money, to be =,
wiped out of existence simply to give
a few men offices. We want to be fair
and just by all men, but the party must
live and not die; and those who seek to
destroy it will be themselves destroyed.
The best way to prevent discord in 1898
is to thoroughly discuss and understand
the situation in 1897. We are not here
to take the role of dictator, and the
party would not stand it if we did.
Let there be harmony and peace and
good will. But for one, we will never
consent to see men placed in the leader
ship of our party, who have attempted
to drive it into the arms of any other
party, simply to secure an office for
1t seems to be conceded that Mr..
Towne, of Duluth, will again be the
candidate for congress in the Sixth dis
trict; Mr.. L. c. Long, of Magnolia, is
the general choice for congress in the
Second district; and Mr.. T. j. Meighen
for the same position in the First dis
trict. While two or three others sre
spoken Of Hon. John Lind seems to be
at present the preference in this state !
for governor
In saying this we are simply echoing
public sentiment; not trying to make it. |
" course the progress of events NAV
change all this
Let the Peoples party of Minnesota !
hold its state convention first and NOM |
mate ticket so wise and Just and lib
eral that ALL OTHER REFORM ELF
WILL BE GLAD TO ACCEPT !
AND ENDOPCE TT w. ;.