The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-11-24
MRS. LEASES HOME.

Quite correspondence has been going
this paper touching proposition made
by Mr.. A. r. Holston in the following
letter:
Editor Representative enclose here
with $1.OO for the Mrs. Lease home fund,
and permit me through your columns to
make the following offer: I will be one Of
100 men in the Seventh congressional dis
trict to contribute $50 each to the fund,
provided Mrs. Lease can find it convenient
and agreeable to make her home in that
county of our congressional district raising
the largest portion Of the funds used in the
construction of the proposed home. We
need Mrs. Lease in our district and as we
have more than 5000 POpulists up here who
are better able to help this good work
along than am, it ought not and 1 believe
will not, be any trouble to secure the nee
essary funds. Would like to hear from the
leading POpulists of our district. Yours
truly, A. r. HOLSTON.
We at once wrote to Mrs Lease in
New York and received a reply stating
that on account of her daughters deli
cate health she could not make her home
in our northern climate We wrote back
to her urging her to make this her sum-
mer residence and campaign in the win
ter elsewhere. The following article
from recent issue of the St. Paul Dis
patch tells the rest of the story:
CROOKSTON, Mimi, Nov. 16.-The peo-
pie of Polk county are always to the front,
whether the object Of their ambition be
political, social or religious. When Ignatius
Donnely, in his paper, the Representative,
proposed to raise fund for the purpose Of
clearing the mortgage from the home Of
Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Lease, of Kansas,
the faithful up this way were asked to
assist. At the time this proposition was
made, Hon. A. R. Holston, Of this city,
knowing the high esteem and regard in
which Mrs. Lease Is held in this, the ban
ner Popuist county in the state, suggested
that 1t would be a graceful act to buy and
present to Mrs. Lease residence in Crooks
ton. with the request that that distinguish
ed lady make this her home in future.
MIR. Holston wrote to a number Of his
friends in the Populist party, and was as
, sured Of the feasibility Of his plan. His
idea was to allow the friends of the famous
lady orator from the Sunflower state to
donate $50 each to the purpose, and in a
few days he had returns from enough to
assure the purchase Of as fine an establish
! ment as there is in the city. All were en-
thusiastic In the matter.
Before proceeding further however it
lady and ascertain her wishes in the mat
ter. This was done through Mr.. Dcnnelly
who urged Mrs. Lease to accept the offer
She objected. owing to the severity of the
climate, and Mrs. Lease was then asked
to make Crookston her summer home, and
lecture in the East on the Pacific coast
during the winter, thus avoiding the sew
Gritty of the climate. Iu reply Mrs Lease
wrote the following:
New York Nov. 4th, 1897
Hon. Ignatius DOnnelly, Hastings Mimi
Your very kind letter received, containing
| the proposition to present me with a home
| IN Crookston. l must say that find it i'm
possible to accept. I have twice tried to
| work In Minnesota, during the winter. and
have nearly lost my life both times as a
result While 1t is true that 1 might live
| there during the summer. yet 1 could not
| afford to keep winter hcme nor If had
| dates could l afford to take nv little girl
| with me- While l do not like the Alta
| coast. yet 1 am compelled to remain here
| for the time on account of NV invalid
| daughter
Express my heartfelt thanks to my kind
Minnesota friends
Ever gratefully,
MARY ELIZABETH LEASE
The answer Of Mrs. Lease has caused the
abandonment Of the plan, but her friends
here propose to do a large share toward the
work of lifting the mortgage from the
| lady's Kansas home, and by this means.
| show that they are loyal.
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