The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-01-05

piCu6c IAdI we Will never, uuuor any
| circumstances, at any time, or for any
| purpose, take part in or sanction fu-
sion with either old party-except un-
der the name, banner and leadership
of the Populist party
We will even agree to bolt any con-
vention that adopts or sanctions fu-
sion, either directly or Indirectly.
We will go further, and agree to
vote to expel any and every man who
even suggests fusion.
1t is proposed by some to call a con-
vention next spring and nominate a
candidate for 1900. We do .notsbelieve
the idea is sanctioned by any consider
able portion of the party.
Steps have already been taken by the
National Organization. Committee to
call such a convention. And it is re-
ported that several aspirants have all
ready prepared lightning rods for the
occasion
1t is we'll to remember that the Ma
tional Committee is the custodian of
the party : machinery at the present
time, and Marion Butter is the chair
man of that committee. Nothing but
delegate national convention of the
Peoples party can reorganize that COM
mlttee; and no one but that committee
can remove the chairman.
new party may be organized. and
it may be composed entirely of Ponu-
lists; and 1t may absorb the Populist
party (Which would be perfectly legiti-
mate, and may become necessary. hut
WHEN ANY MAN OR SET OF MEN
UNDERTAKE TO STEP IN AND
DRIVE, THERE BEING A REGULAR
LY ELECTED AND RECOGNIZED
TEAMSTER HOLDING THE REINS.
THEY ARE BUCKING THEIR HEADS
AGAINST A STONE WALL. IT IS
NEITHER GOOD SENSE, NOR IS 1T
GOOD POLITICS. We regard men who
would take such course as unsafe
leaders, however honest their inten-
CIOlS Htdy De.
we believe, when the proper time
comes, Chairman Butler will duly call
the National Committee together and
that it will fix a suitable time for a
nominating convention. We, in fact,
are inclined to believe that Mr.. Butler
could be very easily persuaded to call
nf ho
almost any time to consider the wei
fare and future policy Of the People's
party.
Just when this idea of an earlv con-
Ventlon and nomination for 1900 orig
mated we have never learned-nor are
we particularly interested as to it's
source. 1t is either too big fool idea
to be worthy of notice, or too brilliant
to be within the range of our compre
hension.
The only excuse that we have heard
is that it would head off fusion"
That it would save us from the willy
Vaccinations and the seductive infu-
ences of the Democratic party!
Think of it! A MAN WANTED TO
TAKE CHARGE OF THE POLITICAL
VIRTUE AND INTEGRITY OF A MIL
LION MEN WHO HAVE HAD THE
! COURAGE TO STAND UP AND VOTE
THEIR CONVICTIONS! Ye gods and
little fishes; where is such man to
be found?
We should suspicion any mans in
tentions and motives who would ac-
cept a nomination under such c;rcum-
stances. We should doubt the integri-
ty of his intentions and the unselfsn
ness of his motives.
He would be a rare egotist. indeed
who could even consent to be the orlv
custodian of the fate of the Populist
party for two and half years inter-
ve,ning before. an election. That fact
alone would be the best evidence of his
incapacity for leadership
We are yet to be convinced that anv
considerable portion of the party is
ready to say that any one man is great
er and more to be trusted than all 9TH
er men.
BY what standard of political hon-
esty do men measure themselves, who
| can select any man, no matter how
great and noble, and say to him: I'VE
are not fit to be trusted with The affairs
| OF the Peoples party in the future; will
you kindly take charge of it's platform
and policy and see that no willy Demo-
crat or Republican gets away with the
outfit between now and the election in
1902"
We are willing that such men should
be the judges of their own political wis
dom and good intentions, but we don't
want them to stand sponsor for ours,
and we believe that Populists as a rule
feel the same way.
There is great work of education.
agitation and organization to do, but
IAN early nomination. is not essential
to the work On the contrary, it would
be a drawback. Not only are there
great and weighty questions crowding
| to the front, upon which issue must be
taken, but the Populists themselves are
! feeling their way upon several very i'm
| portant questions just at the present
Ill