The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-02-23

| The conference at Nashville last July
organized to guarantee the people of ev
cry state an opportunity to vote simon
pure Peoples party ticket in 1900. The
action at st. Louis in '96 had left this
Z question in doubt. In some states the
Populists still had control of their Or
ganzation but in others Democrats were
| in control and in others still the Re
publicans were encroaching more, or
| less. To make the life and cause of the
| party doubly sure, additional committees
were appointed in all the states to up
hold the hands OF true Populists.
In Minnesota the delegates named by
the Nashville conference called a state
meeting in January and organized a
state committee of 21 members, three
from each congressional district, and
made demand for an early state con
ventiOn. The Democrats and the fusion
element contended for a triple alliance
convention to be held as late as Sep
tember. The situation was therefore
somewhat critical particularly as the ac-
| tion taken at this time and place would
| in great measure sound the key note
OF the campaign over the land 1t was
the most critical situation of the year:
A meeting of the state convention was
held the past week in Minneapolis, and l
went up to break bread with the breth-
eren. Senator Butler, our national chair
man, was there also, and Hon. Fred T.
Dubois, of Idaho; General Weaver, Of
| Iowa, and other friends of theirs of
! more Or less note. A number of large
| meetings were held, also a banquet
| which was largely attended. The pro-
visional committee of twenty-one was
| also in session. But all interest was
| centered in the meeting of the state CEN
| trail committee held Wednesday after
noon.
The world renowned and greatly be-
| loved Ignatius Donnelly had been sent
proxy by one Of the members of the
committee, but the opposition were loud
| in their boasting that he would not be
| allowed to take his seat. However, so
| far as the committee was concerned it.
| self, matters passed off very pleasantly.
After talking the situation over fairly
| there were only two or three votes
against Mr.. Donnelly's being seated. He
! then stated to them that he was not
| ton, but had come to do all in his pow.
er to hold the party together. The Peo-
pies party was not born to die The
| situation was exceedingly critical and he
expressed hope for careful speech and
absolute fairness. A little match at this
| time might cause a widespread confla-
| grafton, or a hasty word create dis
| ruption.
At the same hour the committee OF
| twenty-one were In session and upon
| their invitation Senator Butler was with
| them He made good talk counselling
| harmony, and they were pleased with
! his address. He urged all in their deal
i ings to meet face to face those with
whom they might. differ in party man
agement. It is much better that way, he
said, than to trust it to go-betweens or
to the newspapers. The committee told
Mr.. Butler what their differences were
In reference to the calling Of state con-
vention. They were determined, they
said, to have Populist convention in
the state Of Minnesota, but they would
not wait until September to call It. If