The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-10-26
\ DISAGREEABLE DUTY.
The ey-GeMer0lsh hip.

In June laSt-the 15th-the fusion Pop
ulists and Democrats nominated one
John l.. Kelly for attorney general of
Minnesota, and when the real Populists
met, the next day, they had no candidate
of their own, and were persuaded by the
earnest young men, delegates from RAM
sey county, to indorse him, on the state
ments that he was really at heart Pop
ulist.
We knew he had compiled an edition
of the statutes of the state, over which
there had been a big battle, some years
ago, in the state legislature, in which we
fought for Mr.. Kelly, because of natu-
raj sympathy with the under dog in the
fight Hence we cordially agreed with
his nomination by the mid road conven-
ton.
1t was afterward claimed in our state
central committee, that We had been
misled and that he was not a POpulist.
But again we championed his cause; and
the storm blew over, and our committee
got up petitions for his nomination and
filed them, and he is now regularly en-
tered on the mid road ticket
few days ago the st. Paul Dispatch
published the following article: ..
Evidence has never been lacking that
the fusionists of this state had only in
contemplation the office of governor. when
they made the nominations on their state
ticket. and they have certainly done nothing
since the state convention to correct that i'm
preston. Republican papers made - COM
ment upon the fusion nomination for at
torney general, for instance because they
supposed of course the absurd action of the
convention on this point would be corrected
later on by the substitution of the name of
some practicing attorney for that of John
l.. Kelly.
The Dispatch has no desire to speak harsh
ly of Mr. kely.It has been inclined to
Be to his Virutes very kind
And to his faults a little blind
but neither MIR. Kelly nor the fusion party
can expect to see the farce of such Il NOM
ination for such place pass unnoticed by
the Republican press. The office of attorney
general ranks second in Importance only to
that of governor. The incumbent is the
legal adviser of all the departments of the
state government. including the legislature,
and the man the Democrats have nominated
for this position is a telegraph operator in
the office of thte Western Union company,
Mr.. Keily's feelings by an further COM
ment upon this subject. 1t not necessary
to refer to any popularity of habits or tenn
permanent that might disqualify him for the
place. 1t is only necessary to inform the
public that he is employed as a telegraph
operator. and that upon the only occasion
where we informed of his appearance
in court as an attorney. his right to appear
In that capacity was called into question,
and though finally settled in the affirmative,
it was after a sharp discussion.
THE people of the state at large have
become familiar with the name and fame
of Judge w. L. Kelly. of the district bench,
of this city, and in the minds Of many he
has become confused with the Judge Kelly
nominated by the fusonists for attorney
general 1t is chiefly for this reason that
the Dispatch feels called upon to publish
this very sparing statement of the facts in
the case"
Anxious to stand by Mr.. Kelly, if it
was at all possible, we sent to St. Paul
Democratic attorney in whose word we
have the highest confidence. and asked
him to let us know if the attack of the
Dispatch was justified by the facts We
quote the following from his reply:
I'm regard to Kelly, Iwould say he Is
absolutely no gOod-a poor, miserable
broken-down, worthless drunkard, whom
it would be a disgrace and a calamity
to elect to any office He stands as much
chance of being elected as a SNOWFALL
would have of heightened existence in
SheOl. Since his nomination he has
been, most of his time, so drunk that
he could not tell you his own name They
had him over in the Office of the clerk
of the courts here the other day laying
in the most helpless way across the back
of chair. like an old dish rag; and were
having fun showing him to every one
that came in as the Demo-Pop candidate
for attorney general and out of pity two
lawyers carried him into the vault,
where he would be out of sight"
1t is with pain and sorrow we dis
close the infirmities of any man; but as
Mr.. Kelly is on both the Demo-Pop and
mid road tickets he stands a good chance
of being elected; and if elected he would
be burden OF disgrace too great for the
real Populists to bear. 1t would crush
u.s.
Under these circumstances we think it
better to tell the whole truth.
We are profoundly sorry for Mr.. Kelly
personally, but man who cannot keep
sober at the very crisis of his fortune, is
not fit to be the legal counsellor of a
great commonwealth. Weak as water
| he cannot excel"
| He has made his bed and he must lie
| in it," ID
PROF. CATION.
| Reports from the country districts tes-
| tify to the strength of the congressional
| canvass Being made by Cation. His audi