The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-19
ON WHAT PLATFORM, THOUGH,
NOW PUZZLED AND SEEKING
THE LIGHT.
REPETITION OF 1896 TICKET,
However, Would Suit Many of the
Braves-Initiative and Referen-
dunn Demanded by Pops.

some very important political canvass
ing on state and national issues in the
Twin Cities resulting from, or as
part Of, Hennepin county movement
for a state league or club. Two secret
meetings held in Minneapolis by equal
representations from the Democratic
and Peoples parties and of Silver Re-
publicans, the last held Saturday even
ing, set the state politicians agog, so
far as they leaked out, and will do so
still more when fully explained by the
G | b e, showing the full purport Of
the movement to be plan of campaign
for combining all the forces opposed
to the Republican party, state and con-
gressional.
The Hennepin county movement
originated with the Silver Republicans,
the leaders being Elwood S. Corser H.
These secured cooperation with promi-
nent Democrats and Populists, the
former represented by A D. Smith,
better known politically as the Mime
sofa Tillman, and the Populistic rep
resentation being Hon. S. NJ. Owen and
e. X. Lynch, the latter secretary of the
Peoples party state committee. The
prime object was organization of
local club. or league, which, if it ac-
complished a reunion of so-called re-
form elements, might be used in the
general state campaigns the coming
year A conference of these and others
who were called in. resulted in the
much talked-of, but as yet unreported,
meeting of Saturday last
From all reports there was a stormy
time at the meeting mentioned, which
sat with guarded doors, in the rooms
of the former Democratic league, New
York Life building. Fifty men, more or
less, good and true" are said to have
been present. From all accounts it
was a give and take fight from start
to finish between Democrats and Pop
ulists, with the Silver Republicans as
umpires, who urged on the fun, by sug-
costing, at proper intervals, points of
we'll known difference in the two par
ties who pulled in the fusion yoke in
1896. The battle was over the "consti-
tuition" to be adopted and the declar-
alton of principles. Points in the
fray are said to be that the Demo-
Gratis accused the Populists of insincer-
ity and a wish to capture the national
organization, while the Populists
charged that Democrats were out to
capture the offices by their votes.
Among fire brand throwers are said to
have been "Tillman" Smith, H A.
Stockwell, for the Democrats; Mr..
Lynch, Mr.. Hoskins. Mr.. Burke and
Paul Fontaine, for the Populists; Mr..
Bartlett, for the Silver Republicans,
while Mr.. Owen, Mr.. Corser, and ex-
State Senator and Past Department
Commander John Day Smith, for the
most part sat on the safety vault, de-
string to avoid extreme declarations in
the platform.
The biggest discussion was over the
Initiative and Referendum, demanded
as a sine qua non by the Populists No
direct legislation, no union, was their
platform. and, as the sequel will show,
the Populists are likely not to have
fought in vain, and what they got is
said to be due more than any one else
to Mr. Owen. 1t is said that a letter
was read from Mr.. Bryan, advising
merely essentials in the platform. 1t
is also said that a Populist speaker
event back on" 16 to l, and declared
that they did not want any redemption
money After a whole evening session,
little progress had been made, and the
whole matter was recommitteed, on an
elaborate plan like this: Messrs. Cor
ser (Silver Rep.), Smith Oem) and
70 dr-of hn
claration, to accord with the spirit of
Saturdays meeting. This they will do
on Monday. Then they are to call in
forty-five men, fifteen from each of the
three parties, who are to be selected
by appointed committees, and these
will agree, if possible, on the draft,
when a general meeting is to be held,
also equally propcrtioned politically, to
finally decide.
Now, since the initial club or league
movement, the aim has broadened, till
il brings in the whole state, and it is
now the understanding that the work
done here is to be that preliminary for
the next state and congressional cam
paign So during the present week
number Of state politicians have taken
hand, chief of whom is Maj. j. Nj.
Bowler, of Bird Island. who has been
on deck all the week. AS a result, 1t IS
said, there has been a great change in
sentiment, and it is believed, for one
thing, whatever goes in the platform,
the Initiative and Referendum goes in,
or there will be no platform agreed en-.
But Democrats and silver Republicans
are said to have assented, and further
controversy over that is at an end. The
bluff old major, who was next to the
head of the fusion ticket last year, is
said to have read the riot act, and with
Mr.. Ovens firm stand, secured the
Pcpulist ultimatum.
These on the inside now say that
success is assured, and the union
movement for the state sure to be in
augurated. The platform is expected
to be such as will do for next years
state and congressional declaration,
with such state declarations added,
and such live topics covered as may ap-
pear from congressional action at this
session The state declarations would
naturally be left to Mr.. Lind and others
who may be most interested, and 1t is
said to be a purpose in this Hennepin
movement, to start the boom for the
same ticket of last year, Lind for
governor and Bowler for lieutenant
governor, with a Democrat for the
third place, secretary of state. 1t is at
least a coincidence that the meetings
so far held are in the same rooms, and
largely the spirits are the same as
those who wrestled with the man from
New Ulm, when, under the pressure Of
Frank Nye especially, who afterwards
deserted, Mr.. Lind was induced to con-
sent to head the Dem-Pop. ticket
The present week will see all the
work On foot, if the plans do not mis-
carry.
The appointment of Senator John
Peterson, Of st. Peter, as collector of