The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-01
QUESTIONS FOX HOGAN TO ANSWER.


A . Fusis.ist He IL Asked 10 Explain
His Own Record.
To the Editor of The Anaconda Stand
ard:
VIII you kindly allow me space in
you paper to ask Hon. T. s. Hogan a
few questions? I would write him a
personal letter. but for the fact hat
the whole matter Ia OF interest TO the
voters of the entire state. he being a
candidate for representative in con-
gress Of both b peoples party and
silver republican.
In 1894. Mr.. Hogan was a member OF
the peoples party club of Anaconda:
and At q meeting of hat club, or the
night before the county convention was
to be held In Deer Lodge. I. as a men,
Der Of the club. made a talk cautioning
the members against their prejudice
toward the middle class. stating that
their assistance and influence vas
needed in h party II success was de-
sired. I stated that the interests OF
the middle class was Identical with the
laboring class. I included In the mid
die class all clerks. ONCE and small
business men who depend upon the
daily patronage Of the public. Dr. their
salary for their daily bread. That
rotary OF state. his clerks and all
county n city employees n officers
who are dependent upon their salary.
as well as station agents and other
well paid but dependent salaried en-
ployes or railroads. in foundry. smell
ter. mine: and farmers who own their
farms and stock and depend o their
crops for their living. I stated that in
this state the peoples party was COM
posed of day laborers almost to a man.
and that IL they desired success for the
party they should strive to interest
the middle class in the principles of
he party and obtain. II possible. their
cooperation. as their interests are
nearly allied with those of the laboring
men. That II the laboring men ex-
pected to form a successful political
party. they should cast aside their
personal and especially their class pre-
judice. Inc seek the cooperation OF all
classes whose interests may be iden-
teal.
Upon the conclusion of my talk. Mr..
Hogan jumped to his feet in a raj of
excitement and delivered one Of the
most rabid speeches / ever heard
against the middle class. holding tSat
the influence of the middle class was.
II not for sale. controlled by the cor
porations and plutocrats Of the coun-
try. That the peoples party should
stand out. in bold relief. the laboring
mans party. m that none but labor
ing men should be placed upon the
ticket as candidates for office. He
charged me with seeking to influence
the delegates. In advance of the county
convention. to vote for some middle
class man for q candidate for some
county ONCE. He was opposed to all
alliance (fusion) with other political
parties. He charged that the methods
Of all the other political parties were
corrupt and that the politicians were
worse h the parties and that the
parties were under the full power and
control Of the politicians. That the
success OF the peoples party and the
we'll being of the laboring class pro-
hibited any kin of entanglements or
alliances with either OF the two old par
ties. At the city election in 1895,
when there was much desire expressed
by the citizens of the city that the cit
liens should get together and nominate
a citizens ticket, and thus do away
with party politics. Mr.. Hogan was
one of the most rahid opponents. claim
ing that the peoples party could not
afford to drop out as a party. in the
interests of the city or for any other
reason, but that the interests of the
laboring men of the community and
nation demanded that the peoples
party do business at the "old stand"
and champion the great cause of the
laboring men. independent n alone.
In fact, IL was his efforts mainly that
kept the party from fusion with either
of the old parties up until the state
election held in 1896. when the peoples
party fused with the democratic party
with Mr.. Hogan the nominee for sec
rotary of state, to which position he
was elected, and is now occupying,
with two years unexpired term to serve.
In the spring of 1897, at the city cleo
ton, he supported a fusion of the peo-
pies party with the republican party.
This fall. 1895. his party-the same peo-
pies party-is fusing with the silver
republican" party. and Mr.. Hogan is
the nominee. on that fusion ticket, for
congressman.
Now what I want to know Is: What
Is II, in either of the old parties. that
Mr.. Hogan could not stomach until he
became a candidate for Office on a flu
sion ticket? And why is 1t that he a
vomit up eithe one and swallow the
other at will? He certainly does IL out
OF pure motives and from the great in
terest he feels for the laboring class Of
people. None would charge him with
fusing his party first with one of the
hated old parties and then with the
other. and then finally with a third-a
muc younger party than his own
merely for his love for Office. The fact
that he is a candidate for Office cannot
be the cause for his s~anctioning a flu
sion of the peoples party with any
other party. 1t must be that he was
assured by the platforms of the party
he sanctioned fusion with that the mid
die class and plutocrats were shut out
and that nobody but himself and the
laboring class were TO have any infu-
ence in the administration after the
election of his fusion ticket.
One more: Mr.. Hogan was on the flu
sion committee in Anaconda from the
peoples party convention, 1898. Why
did he sanction the report made TO the
peoples party convention that the sill
yer republican state convention had
agreed to the terms of the agreement.
when he knew, or ought to have known.
that the silver republicans had rejected
the agreement n had already filed
their nominations in total disregard OF
the terms Of the agreement? He can
not say to the laboring men and popu-
i 49, 49, - lsL.l -. -. .i----