The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-07-06
RESOLUTIONS.

lONO.
Whereas, We have seen with sorrow
and indignation the late Peoples Party
convention turned over soul and body to
he neat ans
outrageous proceedings that ever dis
graced any political convention in the
state OF Minnesota, and
Whereas The following are a few of
the footprints OF the bloody trail OF
shame sha and debaucheSry which marked ssd
t1rst-Neglect or refusal to properly
call our primaries in many counties Of
the state. or calling them at such an
tending;
second-The packing of caucuses in
the most scandalous manner, the lead
many counties being displaced and over
ridden by men who We're never known
to vote the Peoples Party ticket:
action Of the chairman of the state
central committee in using every device
in his power to subserve his Democratic
place he did and under circumstances
calculated to suppress a free expression
Of sentiment on the part Of true dele
gates and in combining and conspiring
to have our deliberations flooded by
masses of Democrats and Free Silver
Republicans, who held their conven-
tiOns at the same time;
Fourth-When the convention assem-
bled at Normanna hall and it be-
came evident that in spite Of all
their tactics the true Populists were in
trarily admitted contested delegations
to vote to capture the convention, while
excluding those who contested their
seats; thing unheard OF in parliamen,,
tary law. which holds that both should
be excluded or both seated, until the
question at issue between them could be
determined by the convention, on a re-
port Of the committee on credentials;
Fifth-When 1t was distinctly shown
in GU; convention that Mr.. Dob
mittee, was opposing in his paper our
candidate for congress n the Fifth con-
gressional district. Prof. Cation, and
was supporting the Republican candi-
date. Hon. Loren Fletcher, the conven-
ton refused to remove him, although it
had full authority to do SO.
I slxth.Dur1ng the proceedings of the
convention no semblance of parliament
I tary rules was observed. but the chair
I man arbitrarily declared motions lost
I that were carried by a large majority
I and refused to entertain motions that
were clearly in order, and to cap the
climax, denied an appeal to the house
from his rulings; and when delegates in
) men and Populists, resorted to his hire
) ling sergeant-at-arms, and the police Of
} the city. to overawe the convention.
} Seventh-That when all these tactics
! failed to deliver the Populist convention
into the bowels of Democracy, one s. NJ
I Owen was brought upon the stage, to
I idiSC Il picCOllCtIleu pelSONdl row, TO
I distract and break up the convention
( and divert the attention of the delegates
from principles to factiopal strife.
Eighth-By these means the conven-
{ tion was forced into nominating, as one
! of It's candidates. Hon. William Mitchell.
} of Winona, a member of the supreme
J ing single gold standard advocates Of
the state. and who voted against us at
I the last election.
Ninth-We were also forced to nom
\ mate two other Dnnocrato Macoro
I Canty and Buck, who, as members of
( the supreme court united with three
clare unconstitutional the act of the
legislature authorizing the erection OF
) state elevator at Duluth, with the
money, money obtained .ss; from the farmers for
I these men killed measure that would
have been worth millions of dollars to
( the grain growers of this state. and they
( did this on specous and ridiculous pre-
lenses. so as to permit the elevator ring
! to continue. to plunder the people, az
! they have done to this hour.
Now, therefore. in view of the above
} facts and many more Of similar char
) acter, contrary not simply to order,
! decency and common sense, but consti-
J tatirg an outrage on humanity, a
} travesty on justice and reform and
! foul blot and disgrace to POpulism, we
I deIare that We repudiate the whole pro-
( to the state and nation that the result
( of the Peoples Party convention yester-
day does not express the sentiments Of
( the Populists of Minnesota. and we
! pledge ourselves. by our sacred honor
) as men and Populists, to redeem our
) party from the control Of the Demo-
} cratic schemers and politicians
: We put forth. therefore. the following
declaration of principles, and to it's sup
I port we invite every honest man in the
state:
First-The Peoples Party was born to
I live; and with the help of God it snail
{ not die
Second-We regard the shortening Of
the distance between the voters and the
legislators, by means o. the initiative
and referendum, as the great issue Of
the age, and as the only thing that will
I save this republic from sinking into q
!? universal sea Of corruption, which cor
I porattons and combines have inflicted
J upon our legislatures and congress.
Resolved, That this convention in
dorses the referendum plan as a substi-
tute for old party conventions and In
} structs our state central committee to
J arrange the details for the future NOM
} ination Of candidates and making Of
} platforms of our Peoples Party, accord
Z Ing to this method.
Resolved, That we believe that the
adoption of the initiative and referen-
{ dunn will furnish q means whereby all
I the great moral, social and economic
! questions Of the age. such as temper
} ance, female suffrage, single tax, gov
} ernment ownership, etc. can be placed
} before the people and settled by popular
I vote.