The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-12-22
Intention of gain

Ing doubt as attention of gain
ing control of flHt; government in be-
half of its fundamental principles. The
growth: that demands that each party
shall be intact from all others; that
each party shall make it's fundamental
principles the issue in every contest;
that no party shall advocate the eles
ton Of a candidate not pledged to its
own principles.
Shall the Peoples party disband?
The fusion deal was not made by the
direction of the membership. Had such
proposition been submitted at the
primaries 1t would have been defeated
ten to one. 1t was made by the schem-
ers and politicians who were entrusted
with the interests of a great reform
party.
Our members are loyal to the princi-
pies declared in the platform. What
shall we do?
We must regain that which we have
lost; our prestige as political party.
Ihls can be done only by repudiating
the action of 1896, by declaring that
fundamental principles only will be ac-
cepted as campaign issues; by declar-
ing that we will support no man for
office who is not pledged to support our
platform as adopted in national con-
vention; by declaring that we will not
affiliate with any other political party.
We can then proudly promulgate our
doctrines; open the doors of our pri-
maries; place the legend, champions of
Reform over the portal and invite al,
who demand, and are willing to gran:
justice, to enter
| 40 not believe that a candidate for
president and vice-president should be
nominated next year. The state cam
paigns should be fought with vigor and
used to place our party squarely on it's
feet; our nominations will have more
weight if it is seen that we can stand
alone.
Again, most states have local issues
that reform party can take I'D and
make good fight upon and national
politics could be ommitted as far as pos
sible. l do not think that any man
should now be doomed for nomination in
l9oO-let us attend to laying the found
alton for the 1900 campaign.
l believe that with judicious and en-
ergetlc work we can secure a major
lty in the state assembly and elect sew
eral congressman. To do this we must
not let the grass grow under our feat
before defining our position in an ar
thoritative manner.
we should have a conference of all
committeeman, state, congressional and
county, also editors of Peoples party
papers, only known Pcpulists to have a
vote. Let this conference decide the
policy to be pursued
ComparE with the other factors Of
the reform forces of the last campaipn
the Peoples party is not so sadly de-
moralized as might be inferred from
some official utterances that have been
promulgated. The statement that
they (meaning silver Republicans and
Democrats) "are better organized" is.
IN my opinion injuriously misleading.
The silver Republicans are not organ
lied in this state. The liberal minded
and good men who did most noble edu-
cational work under that name will
have to affiliate with some friendly
camp during the next campaign The
personal influence of some half dozen
men may be unduly magnified for eff
feet upon the Peoples party, but the
mass of those who left the Republican
party did not even adopt the name OF
silver Republican, but associated with
the Populists, and had we not united
with the Democracy their numbers
would have been a hundred-fod more
than it was.
The Democratic party has a fairly
good organization in the cities and
larger towns, and are ahead Of the Peo-
pies Party, but in the country districts
and some whole counties we are in
good working order while the Demo-
Gratis could not muster corporaPs
guard, not even having a chairman of a
county committee.
The Democratic state central COM
mittee having headquarters in working
order a month ahead of the Populsts,
and having a thousand dollars to thl
Populsts' hundred the silver clubs
reported to them and applied for liter
ature and speakers.
The silver clubs were composed large
ly of Populists and liberal Republicans,
and cannot be fairly counted as part of
the Democratic party organization. We
need have no fear of the result if we
enter the lists making principles the
test of recognition in our party. l hope
there will be a general expression on
this subject. H. A. SWAIN
Ignorance is one of the greatest foes
Of the race. 1t is a curse to faith and
hope and an ally to oppression.