Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-03-08

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elected from the Second, Towne from
the Sixth, and some silver man from
the Seventh. That is. we can do that
If state fusion be left severely alone,
and we be spared from the strife and
luminosity it will necessarily bring
about. Then besides that if populists
and democrats can be saved from the
fusion brand, each Of these parties
can respectively. in different parts OF
the state, elect Il considerable number
OF popuIists and democrats to the
legislature. who can co-rperate to
their hearts content after they are
elected and possibly dictate the selec-
ton OF a Z. S. senator next winter.
Now we can Go this if we wish and
keep peace and harmony in our camp.
or we can start off on a wild goose
chase after something impossible, Jim
Hills scalp, fusion, and invite dis
ruptlon, disaster and defeat. And
this is just what the republicans want
US to do of course.
Now have said about all | want to
say on this question. If the populists
OF Minnesota don't want to do what
they can do, what common sense die
tates, but stand ready to be fooled
and humbugged by the first old party
politician that comes around with his
good advice, then the sooner the party
is dead and gone the better, and one
more dose of fusion will fix it.
If Lind could not be elected two
years ago with Clough as an oppon-
ent, he cannot be elected this year
against strong man and possibly a
Swede at that; and the rest of the
ticket wouldn't know it was in the
field. This is SO evident and obvious
that it is useless and worse to disguise
it. [ know a lot Of republicans seem
now to be anxious for Lind to run, as
was The case in the early season Of
1896, but when election day comes
these fellows will find it most conven-
lent to vote for the other fellow. But
then suppose we could by throwing
everything else away elect Lind to the
governors chair, what would we have
gained? Will somebody be kind
enough to tell me what great reform
John Lind can effect without a legis-
lature to back him up? Didn't we all
agree last fall that it was we'll that
neither Bryan nor Lind got in with a
republican congress and legislature?
Why not then use a little common
sense and try to find out where we are
at before we get too much excited over
''Fusion and Success" (republican) J.
l am credibly informed that the demo-
Gratis do not want fusion this year on
thea state ticket. A number of respect
able democratic newspapers of the
state are already out against it.
They claim they had enough Oft two
years ago.
This is natural and to be expected.
State fusion involves the existence of
the political party that enters into it,
and as I would not want to sacrifice
the autonomy or legal existence of
the peoples party for the sake of
electing any man governor, I would
not ask any other party to do so for
any of our men. The fusionists are
a little coterie of republicans, demo-
Gratis and populists, who by virtue of
peculiar circumstances got up the
deal two years ago and controlled
both the democratic and populist con-
ventions. They will in my candid
opinion control neither this year.
The move proved a disastrous failure
and cannot be repeated again.
Hon. H. E. Boon is authority for
Senator Buffers statement to Owen at
the entrance to the Windsor Hotel
that he himself (Butler) was middle
of-the-road populist. 1t was so stated
in the Fergus Falls Globe over Boon s
signature. Boon also stated this pub
licly in the hotel lobby and none of
Ovens friends then denied 1t. Han
ley and Foster do not belong to the
committee of which [ am chairman,
nor are they in any way conspicuous
middleroaders. However, I think
these gentlemen will compare very ia
vorably with Dobbyn, Lynch, Aver,
ct al, Ovens body guard. In fact, it
is a mystery to me how such respect
able men as Owen and John Lind can
allow themselves to be represented to
the public of Minnesota by such men.
CHRISTIAN JOHNSON.
Died.