The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-12-14

brings the armed braves of democracy and
populism, armed with petitions and hungry
for scalps-the scalps of republican office
holders. They flock into Limbs law Office
on Main street at all hours CT the day,
and make for his house ON the hill at all
hours of the night. Lind has sought New
Ulm as a refuge in vain. There is no seclu-
sion and no escape for him either in his own
law study or in his attic at home. In writ
Ing his message and consulting authorities
ne cannot go to his own library in peace,
nor consult the public libraries in Mime
apolis or st. Paul. 1t looks as though he
would be driven from the state.
Every mail brings in about hundred let
tiers, some fat and bulky, in ten-inch en-
velopes, petitioning or inquiring about a
state appointment. Lind's Minneapolis mall
Is extensive. A portion of his mail is con-
gratulatory and does not petition for office
but the of1ice-seeking species of correspond
ence easily overtops and outclasses the
rest. ~
The first object which strikes ones atten-
ton upon entering John Lind's law office,
as a representative of the Times did yes
terday, is row of letter stacks and petit
tons covering the Office sofa and adjoining
shelves and variously labeled according to
the office sought. This is Lind's unanswered
political correspondence. Mr.. Lind's office
associate has tackled the job of opening the
letters and classifying them. There are
about so stacks of opened letters, each bear
ing Its proper label.
One pile OF correspondence, a foot and a
half deep, bears the label, Public Exam
iner;" another, ION Inspector" and so on
ooWn through the list of appointive posi-
tons A stack of brief letters and tele-
grams, about two feet deep, bears the label
Consratuatory, and another, 'MiscoAane-
Gus Correspondence Today Private Secre-
tary l.. A. Rosing, recent chairman Of the
democratic state central committee, appears
a NIT
Will undertake the contract of replying to
the piles of correspondence
1t is, of course, important to the fam
lilies of John Smith and John Brown
and Bill Jones that they should get
share Of this patronage. ''The family is
out of meat, and must have the wood
chuck!'
But how about the tens of thousands
who have no political pull, and cannot
get hold Of the wood-chuck's tail? How
Is fusion going to help them? They are
as poor as the fellows that will dig out
the fat little animal, but where are they
to come in? They can't even lick the
plate. They won't be within smelling
distance of 1t. We don't blame any
body for trying to get fat office. That
is natural; but how is that going to
help the rest of the human family? Does
that constitute reform? Is that a
sufficient compensation for breaking up
the Peoples Party and crushing all it's
great hopes, aspirations and purposes.
If the death of Christ had destroyed
the Christian religion, would the world
have been compensated by the Jews
making Judas Iscariot collector Of GUS
toms at Jerusalem, with good, fat sal
airy?
We call on Brothers Owen and Bowler
to answer this conundrum.
But, says one, Mr.. Lind is going to re-
form all the abuses the people complain
of.
Could he if he would? Would he if he
could?
Let us wait and see.
Be sure, if he does the people any
good we will give him full credit for it.
But he is neither the legislative depart
ment, nor the judicial department, nor
even all of the executive department.
He will be like the voice of one crying
in the Wilderness 1. d.