The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-02-16
READY TO FIGHT.
Middle Men Dig Up But
Ter and Weaver's Records,

anu W CAN CT RccOruS
1t is not probably that in the bed Of
roses prepared for National Chairman But
Ter and Gen. Weaver, by local fusionsts
there Will be found a thorn or two before
today's conference is ended. The anti
fusionists have not been idle. They n2vc
been running down the political records of
Messrs. Butler and Weaver and claim to
have unearthed the fact that neither of
the gentlemen in question are true Popu-
lists. They are not, the anti-fusionists
claim, imbued with the spirit Of true Popu-
lism, and it is not fitting therefore that
Peoples party men should follow their die
tates.
DR.. Henry B. Fay has mailed to middle
of-the-road Populists throughout the state
a circular, to which was attached a brief
political history of Messrs. Butler and
Weaver The circular is emphatic pro-
test against the action of the fusiOnistS in
inviting Butler and Weaver to the con-
ference ito intimidate us lowly men OF
Minneapolis into a previous Endorsement
Of FUSION Continuing, the circular says
1T is more than ever apparent that the
state convention must and shall be held
in March. That will be doing what our
enemies do not wish to do; it will make
them show their hand; it will end their
time for dark schemes it will give time
in case the convention goes fusion to Orga
nize on true Populistic lines. Even then we
will have no extra time for an educational
campaign or be able to select j better time
for the afrmers. Moreover, we must call
it in March, or be recreant to our duty to
the convention which created our committee
and ordered SO to do
In regard to fusion the circular says: 1T
is not a question of fusion, but the question
is, was the Peoples party born, its prn-
ciples conceived then indorsed by 2UD,0 600
voters, to be an abortion, dead thing?
This can only be decided by voting against
an early convention. Now let rise up
1pfv them and fell them the time for
harmony has passed away, and that We will
only consider and accept Il convention in
March with the nomination of true Popu-
lists on the true PopuiisJ platform, and q
fight to the death, or victory against the
unjustly privileged classes, allowed now the
same before, by Republicans and Demo-
Gratis alike.
In regard to Senator Butler one of the
documents says: "Butler was originally a
Democrat, then a Populist, then a Repub
Hcan and fusionst, again a Popuist, then
Democratic tusionist, and full
fedged Chicago oBryanDemocrat Butler in
the last presidential campaign, being only
a trickster traded the Peoples party candl-
dates wherever he found market; Illegally
and feloniously suppressed the letter of
acceptance of the party's nominee for vice
president; betrayed the sacred trust imposed
by the convention; consorted with and la
bored for the success of the Democratic
nominees instead of Popuiist nominees All
thlS during Inc campaign.
''Since that campaign, by virtue Of his
office chairman of the Peoples party
national committee, he has impeded the
growth of the party, paralyzed its energy,
embittered it's followers, refused to counsel
with or take counsel from the rank and file,
ridiculed and defiIed the work Of the army
in the trenches as they labored to pro ect
the remnant OF the army from surprises
and capture, and when invited to visit 4
Populist camp he treats the invitation with
silent contempt and hurries to coafcr with
the commanders of our deadliest enemy
In regard to Gen. Weaver. letter to
Mr.. Fay from j. o. Blake, Of Iowa. says
Gen. Weaver, when editor Of The Trib-
une wrote many of US autograph letters
promising to stay in the middle of the
road until victory was won. In 1853 he
stated to the state central committee that
he wanted to go TO congress. and asked
permission to choose any district in the
state in which to run. 1t was granted, but
in 1894 no district showed q Populist ma jor-
ity. In an evil hour Weaver fell and traded
a part of the state and congressional
tickets for Weaver votes. The writer Of
this letter, being then on the state central
committee from the First district, by virtue
of which he was chairman of the First
district, summoned to Mount Pleasant
to consummate the deal. He pleaded with
Weaver for hours, but in vain, to indorse
the platform upon which he had previously
for president. Our Gen. Arnold had de-
serted to the British. For the last two
years Weaver has openly appeared before
the Democratic state convention commit
tees, and actually bargained the Peoples
Party vote away"
DRIFTING.
The elections everywhere indicate
spirit of drift and uncertainty among
voters, a searching around FOR some
thing they fail to find, namely, a party
that will lead them out of the wilder
ness or darkness in which they now
grope, leaders who they can trust VINO
will instill confidence, who will give di-
rection to the chaotic forces seeking
relief. This party, this leadership, they
have sought in the Republican party,
they have sought it in the Democratic in
vain, both old parties have failed them,
there is growing body Of men who
will never go to the support of either
old party again. Thus it is, that
great opportunity lies before the Popu-
list party, an. opportunity that should