The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-01-12
P0PULISTS IN
A GREAT GATHERING.
They Want No FusiOn-They Order
Gn Early COnventiOn-NOt Later
Than March 15th-Read! Read!!

Than March 15th-Read! Read!!
We copy from the reports of the daily
papers the following account of the
mid-winter meeting of the Peoples
party, of Minnesota, held JAN and 5,
in ST. Paul:
Anything that savored of fusion or that
deviated in the least from the exact at
ttude of true-blue Populism, gagged by
the standard of the Omaha platform" was
in disfavOr at the mass meeting, as it was
termed. of Populists of the state. which as
sembled at Market hall yesterday morn
ing.
man and DR.. Fay, of Minneapolis, temper
airy secretary.
Mr.. Long expressed a curiosity, in ac-
cepting the honor, to know whether the
Populist Of the future was to be pure-bred
or mOngrel.
On motion of p H. Rahilly, of Lake
City. Mr.. Donnelly was called to the plat
form to speak on the purposes of the meet
ing.
Mr.. Donnelly gave an account Of tie
birth Of the Peoples party at Cincin.
natl in May, 1891, the great gathering at
st. Louis Feb. %, 1892. (Washington's
birth day., and the first formal conven-
ton of the new party at Omaha, July 4,
1892 He showed the necessity that ex-
listed for such party. and it was not in
tended to be "a recruiting office" for
either Of the old parties, both of whom
had opposed free silver for many years
He argued against fusion" with eth
er of those parties now.
Fusion meant the giving up, in some
sense, Of party organization and merg-
ing it with another party 1t was a
very dangerous proceeding If the other
party was larger, Or more active. or
with more capital to organize, 1t was
very apt to absorb the lesser party.
In saying this he was not actuated
by any personal hostility to Democrats
or free silver Republicans; some Of
them were among. ais best friends. To
show that this was the case he would be
willing, II the rank and file of the Peo-
pies party desired it, to be very lib
eral as to the selection of candidates
upon our state ticket. While Mr.. John
Lind was not especially friend of his,
yet, if the party saw fit to nominate him,
he would support him cheerfully, al
though he had not enrolled himself in
the Populist ranks He would even lie
willing. If a good and true Democrat
could be found, who is as earnestly in
favor Of our principles as Mr. Lind
seems to be, to support him for lieuten-
ant governor. He did not say that he
advocated subj course, but he was
willing to accept it if the Peoples party
were in favor of it; but he would not
be willing to support any man for these
or any other offices, unless they declar-
ed unequivocally their acceptance of our
principles. We had but few lawyers In
our party, and for one, he was willing
to accept legal gentlemen from the Dem
ocratic and free silver Republican par
ties for attorney general and judges of
the supreme court; if we could be sure
that such persons were thoroughly in
sympathy with our views. He said this
| to Indicate not what the party should
| do, but to show that, for one, he was
| not governed by any personal hostility
| to the free silver element; and that II
| was not on the grounds of personal hos
| tility that he opposed fusion If we
nominated our own ticket and elected
it, it would be the triumph Of the PEG.
| pies party. There would be In that
event. no merger of organizations
| Those who adopted or Endorsed our can
didates would be merged with us, in
stead of we being swallowed by them
He said he had never attempted to play
the role of director or boss, and should
not try anything of the kind now
Whatever the action of the Peoples
| party in the state convention, assembl-
ed was, he would sustain it unless il
implied actual destruction Of the party
If the party did not want John Lind, he
for one, would not urge him.
Zone gentleman" said Mr.. Donnelly-
Major Bowler-has gone so far as tt
| say ludl ILLS meoIluS is W Ue d JlE
Hill affair, because Archbishop ireland
is to address the Farmers Alliance
which is in no way allied to lis. Thi!
Is the meanest attack l ever have seel
during all my political career. Hun
dreds OF good men have thus been bull
dozed and intimidated from comm:
here.
1T was high treason to the party, OF
the part Of the. fusionists, to try an,
force the anti-fusionists into paths II
which they did not-care to 60"
Mr.. Donnelly further said he felt tina
Bryan's nomination was not "spon
taneous accident" but cunningly de
vised plan arranged months before t
save the Democratic party from ruin il
the recent campaign. There were 81
many men among the Populists VIII
wanted to 60 to congress or to boil
some other Office that the advocates G
Independent action at st. Louis in 1896
were unable to control the convention