The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-09-08
HOW THEY WORK IT.
Working for Nothing and Finding
YOuPself.

Working for Nothing and Finding
YOurself.
Some years ago. before Jim Hill'
got possession of the Great Northern
railroad then "the st. Paul and Pa
cific," the lands of the company, in
Grant and Stevens counties, Minnesota,
could be obtained for about a dollar
an acre, by buying the bonds of tho
company, on which interest had not
been paid for several years, at about
fifteen cents on the dollar. There was
lands, and men set out to tramp all
over that region to pick out tho best
sections. There was an old friend IF
ours living in St. Paul at that time,
since dead; a shrewd, tactical chap,
who had established confidential rela-
tons with one Of the officers Of the
company in St. Paul.
Our friend knew that two worthy
men, who wanted to secure homes, had
gone up to Stevens county, from St.
Paul, to pick out land. They were good
farmers and good judges Of soil, and:
with shovel on shoulder, they tramped
over the lands of the railroad COM
pany; and having found two fine Sec
tions, they telegraphed to the land Of
flee of the company at st. Paul: Ere
serve for us sections - and -.
We will come down tomorrow and
pay for them"
But OUT tactical friend was there,
waiting in the office to hear from them,
and as soon as their message arrived
he entered the sections in his own
name, and the land officer telegraph .
back: "The sections - and - are
taken"
Disappointed, the two farmers started
OH on another weary tramp, and day
or two subsequently telegraphed to
have two other sections reserved. But
our friend was there again, and again
the answer came back that the land
was sold.
A third time the explorers went forth
and a third time the sections were
taken
It looked as If they were in for a
summers job; and our friend in St.
Paul was audibly chuckling over his
soft snap" and the excellent land-in-
spectors who were working so hard
for him, without a cent of compensa-
ton.
But the explorers began to 'smell a
MICE as the saying is; and so after
making several selections they started
for St. Paul, and going into the land
office asked to see the maps showing
the unsold lands. And thus they at
last were able to make selections and
secure homes.
We were reminded of this little incl
dent by the course Of political events.
The Populists met in 1892, and adopt
ed platform in which they demanded
free silver, an income tax, greenbacks,
the initiative and referendum, and
other matters. Both the old parties
hooted and yelled their contempt for
the ''cranks," and went on with their
sham battle over protection and froe
trade
But after the election was over the
Democrats passed an act for an income
tax, and the Republican supreme court
vetoed it. But still they had nothing
but contempt for ''the fool Populsts
Then, in 1896, when it looked as If
they would not carry single state
in the Union, driven by sheer despera-
ton, and amid great blowing OF
horns and explosion of works, they
went in for 'free-silver" But still
they had nothing but contempt for
the fool Populists." They would not
even concede us the vice-presidency.
although they we'll knew that the2
could not win unless we helped them
And now the Southern Mercury. >
OF Texas, says:
Even this early in the struggle for the
supremacy Of the people in the UniteA
States. William ]. Bryan openly declares
Tor the Populist principles set forth by
the middle Of the readers at Nashville-the
initiative and referendum Not satisfied
with purloining from our platform the
principle of free and unlimited coinage Of
silver at the ratio OF 16 to l and other
undemOcratic CD doctrine, he has thrown
his lariat around our capstone-the initi-
alive and referendum-and proposes to
brand 1t as cardinal principle of Democ-
racy. In a recent speech he used these
words
The principal Of the initiative and
referendum IS Democratic. 1t will not be
opposed by any Democrat who indorses the
declaration Of Jefferson that the people
are capable Of self-government nor will
1t be opposed by any Republicans who hold
to Lncoln's idea that this should be
government of the people. by the people
and for the people,"
What a pity that there is not a prom
inent Democrat in all this country that
is satisfied to stay the platform made
by his party.
And all this reminds us of our St.
Paul friend, who had the two farmers
exploring for him without charge, and
stole their selections as soon as they
had made them.
We are the intelligent pioneers, who
are to break road through the wilder
ness for the darned fools to enter and
take possession of the land.
But if when the Democracy steal our
principles they would only treat us
decently we might submit to the rob-
berry. II they would be manly enough
to say: "Our statesmen are pack OF