The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-07-07

A large number Of representative
Populists of Kandiyohi county met at
P. J. Dale's grove last Thursday and
Notwithstanding the unfavorable state
of the weather had a very enjoyable
and profitable time. Had 1t not been
for the threatening aspect Of the
weather, and also that there were q
number Of picnics at other places on
that day the attendance would have
been immense. However We noticed
POpulists from every town in the coun-
ty. with possibly one or two exceptions,
and they came of course in the interest
Of the party.
Hon. Nels Guam presided and intro
duced some of the leading Popuists
present for short speeches. among
whom were P. H. Frye, DR.. Johnson,
o. A. Forsberg. The next speaker was
Attorney Frank P. Olney, lately moved
to Willmar from Appleton, Swift coun-
ty Mr.. Olney is an earnest and forci-
BILE speaker and greatly pleased the au-
dience, and undoubtedly will prove a
valuable addition to our forces
Mr.. Guam then presented the real
question before the audience, tO-wit:
Whether the Peoples party shall con-
tinue as Of old, an independent political
organization, or whether we shall let
our party organization drop and cali
ourselves Democrats?
This question was then discussed by
the audience and the sentiment was
practically unanimous, and or a vote
entirely so, in favor of unfolding and
standing by the straight Peoples party
organization.
Many Of the Oldest Popuiists of the
county expressed themselves as strong
ly opposed to fusion, and declared that
they would stay at home on election
day in the future If they simply had 20
choose between voting the Republican
or Democratic ticket.
DR.. Johnson spoke somewhat .eelingly
on this question. He said his position
had been somewhat misunderstood in
this matter. He said he was net op-
posed to honorable cooperation With
principles held in common, out he was
decidedly opposed to any such fusion
program as was carried out last sum-
| mer. He would not bargain the honor
| of his party even for such success at
the polls as the fusion ticket promised
| last fall. He said that the action OF the
| Democratic state chairman in sending
! letters to leading Populists all over the
state asking them to organize Demo-
cratic clubs in Populist strongholds
showed that they wanted not simply
| fusion but absorption of the Peoples
party. With that he would have moth
ing to do whatever, and if Populst.s of
| Kandiyohi county were in favor of such
a program he would step down and out
from politics for good. He said his in
terest in the Tribune was for sale to
Peoples party men at cost at any time
if they thought that his views did not
truly represent the Populist sentiment
of the county. AS long as he owned
an interest in the paper and wrote for
it he should express his honest convic-
tons in any event He did not Wish 10
dictate in any manner what the policy
of the party should be in the future,
but his mind was made up, that it was
the preservation of the Peoples party
organization or the end of all hope OF
political reform.
P. H. Frye, Nels Guam, Swan Mel
son and others spoke in this strain.
On motion this sentiment was unani-
mously adopted as the future policy Of
the party.
The fact is, as was freely expressed
by some of the speakers, Mr.. Guam
especially, that the Peoples Party is
the real power behind not only all po-
litical reform movement of the times
but even of the free silver cause. It is
the Peoples party as political organ
ization threatening to overturn the
Democratic party south and the Repub-
lican party in the northeast, that has
|
silver and take up such men as ". J
Bryan, and also given the Republicans
courage to fight for free silver ant
brought such men as Charles Townt
and John Lind to the front. But the
instant that the Peoples Party goes on
of existence as an organization, it il
very probable that both of the old par
ties will resume their old tariff figh
for the amusement of the public, ant
= that w. J. Bryan, Charles Towne AM
John Lind will be thought of no more
, Then the prejudice among the reopl
, of the northwest against anythin!
called Democratic is SO inveterate tina
it may be safely said that no north
western or western state will ever s.
Democratic in this generation. TIL
Cleveland regime has made the Demo
cratic name a by-word and reproacl
out here and as Hon. l.. c. Long, ex
pressed it some time ago, no amount o
fumigation or renovation can remov
| that stigma from the name in tn
| minds of MANY of orr neoDle Tbi