The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-10-26

An Interesting Letter.

get nominated Election day is so near
and we will all have an opportunity to
see after the smoke and flames of battle
have cleared
Such a quartet of earnest reformers as
these self-constituted leaders were, those
loud expressions as to what to do to
sweep the currupt Republican party out
of power in this state and now when we
expected to hear their "din of battle"
how quiet they are now. Are they dead?
In letter written to the Wilmar Trib-
une last February before the grand
banquet meeting in Minneapolis l quote
say to your readers that our meeting is
to be strictly Populist meeting where
POpulist speakers will discuss POpulist
principles and where we will endeavor to
make it manifest that the Peoples Party
is still potent factor to be considered
in the great contest which is now on in
behalf of humanity This So
called fusion" is largely Pigment Of
a disordered imagination. Let us treat
each other as men.
No one who read the above and be-
lieved the writer was an honest reform
er and witnessed what took place at the
/ February meeting also heard expressions
made since by the writer of the above
and received internal abuse from him
that has destroyed friendship of twenty
years standing is forced to this conclu-
sion that this writer has that the most
terrible of all diseases that can affiict
man living under a free government
itch for Office'-a disease that never
leaves man except when death takes
him hence. In proportion as that dis
ease strikes in the true, self-respecting
manhood leaves the man. hence the dis
ease is far worse than the "barber's
itch, which is claimed by some to be
! incurable, yet man having it may re-
tain his manhood.
Farm, Stock and Home, prior to the
June convention would not admit that
fusion" was intended nor did it favor
fusion" like the writer above quoted
it was loud for union of reform
forces" but since the June 18th conven-
ton l have read an editorial in that pa
per upon what has been gained by
fusion" and it promises to show us in
future issue what fusion has done for
reform in England.
II fusion" can be so frankly advocated
since that convention why did those
parties so strenuOusly deny fusion be-
! fore June 18th? Have they been strictly
honest? For one l firmly believe reform
and reformers are best provided and
| equipped by sticking to the truth
Last week speaker in Bird Island,
one of the fusion candidates who was
| sure.
! of Lind sweeping this state, openly ad-
| mits he sees no chance of being elected.
| We must look to something else as a
motive for his work in forcing fusion
tense of sweeping the state" at the COM
ing election is admitted by him publicly
as having no show, we are forced to be-
lieve he never thought it had a show of
endowed with common sense and SINGER
ity could think for a moment the state
could be carried by fusion, especially
when that fusion" has been brought
about by such methods as were resorted
to at state and county conventions. If
his public admission forces us to drop
that motive, there is only one other mo-
tive, and have long been convinced this
| is and has been the sole and only motive
for fusion to completely destroy the
Peoples party in this state, when it was
likely to make showing this fall, so
there would be clear field for the two
old parties on the national ticket in
1900.
If my convictions are right as to their
motive, then in view of the present con-
dition of the people. history should place
every prominent person engaged in this
crime far below Benedict Arnold and all
other traitors.
AS result of their work at this time.
we have the greatest apathy ever known
in any campaign in this state. and, as I
publicly stated last January, there will
be the largest "stay-at-home" crowd of
voters ever known since this state was
organized, and the Republicans will come
nearer polling their full vote of any
party in the state, which gives them a
sure walk-Over
In this county We farmers have the al
tentative of voting for a merchant or
banker for senator, or stay at home and
there is at this time the biggest trading
game going on in this county ever
known, and the dupes will be in Doubt
il they were even running for their
health" after the votes are counted.
Not one candidate committed as tn b;s
position in regard to Irvine swindle" or
any other questionable act OF the loudly
denounced corrupt Republican party: it
seems to be sheer race for Office.
When will the farmers awaken and mr..
ganize and make positive demands of
candidates upon questions Of vital inn
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