The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-12-22
ACT NOW,

In another column under caption
mot Authorized" we publish a COM
municatiOn from H. A. Swain, of North
field. In our last issue in the st. Paul
column edited by ]. c. Hanley APP
peared a call for POpulist conference
on Jan. 4 and 5, to be held in ST. Paul.
Among the names appended to that call
was the name Of Mr.. Swain. The call
was printed as received by us, and as
matter of fairness we cheerfully publish
Mr.. SWANS letter that he may be- placed
in position of his own choosing before
his associates and Populist friends
These are times when it is important
that every Populist should know where
his brother Populist stands, and we
like to see every Populist define his
position. Mr.. Swain is evidently oppos-
ed to any party action except action that
after year Of hesitancy and inaction
has reached the stage of "contempla-
tiCn" in his committee.
Two hundred Of letters pouring into
the office of the Representative, many
OF which we are publishing, would seem
to Indicate that quite a respectable fac
ton Of the Peoples party are not wholly
satisfied with contemplation" and are
loudly demanding action.
1t would seem to us that the hosts of
voters who left us and went over 10 the
Socialists and Socialist labor party In
1896, the Nashville conference, the St.
Louis conference, the appointment of our
organization committee, and the ami
hllation Of our party in Iowa and Ohio
were all loud protests against party in
action. These protests come from the
rank and file of the party The Peo-
pies party sprang into existence 50 a
protest against the aggressive action Of
the old parties in robbing the people.
The above mentioned movements and
phenomena are protests against the hest
tating inaction Of the Peoples party
committees. The dailies have ANNOUNCE
ed a movement on foot headed by e. S.
Corser, c. A. Towne. John Lind and T.
D. O'Brien, followed by S. M. Owen and
Maj Bowler to form a fusion party.
These men have appointed committee
to formulate a platform. If they con-
struct platform broad enough for Pop
ulists to stand upon then our people will
admire the men who dared to act and
stand by the consequences.
If the usual so-called Conservatism of
the Silver Republicans and Silver DEM
ocrats shall frame platform with Pop
ulism left out the demand for independ-
ent Peoples party action will be louder
than ever. The rank and file of our
party do not indorse the idea of wait
ing for these Silver Republicans and
Democrats to act for us and formulate
for us our future platform.
Our party has never chosen E. S.
Corser, T. D. O'Brien, John Lind
A. D. Smith ct al, as it's committee on
resolutions to formulate Peoples party
platform and will resent any such as
sumed authority. Such platform would
gain very little strength with out party
from the Endorsement of one or two we'll
known Populists like S. M. Owen or
Major Bowler. No cross between a G.
0. P. elephant and Democratic Jack
will satisfy the rank and file. The de-
mand is for full blood. Mr.. Swain says
that in his opinion ''The gentlemen who
were intrusted with the interests of the
Peoples party in this state have both
the disposition and ability to maintain
the party's honor and manage It's
affairs" Without intending in any way
to reflect upon this committee we would
suggest that neither disposition" or
ability" can ever become manifest ex-
cept in action. The question is being
seriously asked by our country readers,
why does our state central committee
delay action, oppose a January con-
ference and hold the party back while
few fusion Populists, Democrats and
Republicans push ahead and map out
the future of our party. Whether we
WTiC oolu OuC dL 81. LOUIS mas Doen
questioned, but 1t is generally conceded
that at that convention there was a
delivery Of our party into the hands
Of Democracy. Predictions are being
freely made that when the next delivery
Is effected instruments will be required,
instruments of force. for there will GER
tainly be fight, and the people propose