The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-03-09
WHERE IS SENATOR BUTLER ATc

WHERE IS SENATOR BUTLER AT:
A letter from Senator Butler to Chair
man Young, of Oregon, appearing On the
first page of this isue, will be of great
interest to most of our readers. 1t con-
talns many declarations that will 20 far
toward setting him right in the estima-
ton of Minnesota Populists He very
frankly declares: Il am not in favor of
fusion with any party and l am not
even in favor of cooperation unless such
cooperation can be On fair and honor
able terms and the result of which will
be the advancement of our principles
and therefore victory for the people,
should never favor another national CO.
operation on the same terms as the one
Of 1885," Again he says: Suffice it to
say that it is practically the unanimous
sentiment of the Populists, so far as l
know that there can never be another
cooperation such as the one Of 1896"
He expresses his confidence in the good
faith and honesty of the rank and file of
both old parties, and says, "Then let us
so act that these elements can be
brought either under our party banner
of Jeffersonian Democracy and Lincoln
Republicans, or if that cannot be &C
complished at present by an honorable
cooperation"
HONORABLE COOPERATION"
seems to be Senator Buffers slogan. He
admits the dangers from the Democratic
machine On page five of this issue, in
very able article copied from the
Arena, Senator Butler, speaking of the
trusts, says: 'They select the conven-
lions they will control, they elect the
candidates they have selected, of course,
they control them after they are elect
ed Many Populists will wonder just
what Senator Butler would consider
honorable cooperation" Populists will
generally heartily indorse what the SEN
ator says in his Arena article about
trusts and his declaration therein that
the only cure for the evil lies In govern
ment ownership. Most Democrats stand
opposed to government ownership. Most
Democrats are also opposed to direct leg
ildation. They regard both as Populistic
fads. We will suppose that in Oregon
Democrats should propose as candidate
for congress a free silver man opposed
to government ownership and direct leg
islation, it is pertinent to inquire how
Senator Butler would advise Populists in
such an emergency. Would it be pos
sible for Populists to honorably vote for
a congressman who stood opposed to
the tw principle articles Of their faith.
We will suppose that in 1898 and 1900
the prevailing sentiment of congressman,
senator's, president and vice president
proposed by the so-called reformed
Democrats and silver Republicans is op-
posed to these two Populist fads. Can
any honest, self-respecting Populist hon
orably cooperate for the election of such
a ticket We approve of much that SEN
ator Butler says in both these articles,
but the senator has left some very vital
and important questions wholly unan-
swered, among them, how can Populist
hOnorably vote for law maker known
to be opposed to the principal tenets OF
Populism7
AS long as the corrupt element Of
Democracy holds power in the party
councils to put Sewall on the ticket and
hold him there. put coin redemption
clause in the platform and turn down
government ownership and direct legisla-
ton isn't it decidedly paradoxical to talk