The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-04-13
Honorable Cooperation.

Editor Representative:
That the noble bands OF Democrats
and Republicans,-th silver-plated va
riety OF the old parties, 1 mean-would
find some way to gobble up the cussed
Populists, | never doubted, but just how
was mystery until OF late when the
program came to light.
The Populists of the state felt en-
couraged when the state committee called
our convention June the 18th, and hoped
that they might be left in peace to settle
their own affairs, and without molestation
proceed to adopt their own policy with
regard to the future of our party.
But not SO, however. The fusion
schemers never sleep. The Democratic
party and Silver Republican party will
into bed with us, nolens volens. And so
tho Democratic party proceeds with a
nonchalence that defies the ordinary
mortal decency to call their convention
at the same date and place as ours, and
takes presumption on the hall In which
1t is openly asserted they intend to ceie-
brate their repast after they have swal-
lowed us up body, hoofs and breeches.
And to give us more specific notice of
our fate, and show their political acu-
men and brazen faced effrontery In
this honorable cooperation" they base
their representation on the whole vote
cast for Bryan in the state! They tally
us Populists who voted for Bryan as
Democrats. HONORABLE cooperation,
Louder, on the honorable! This count
Ing Of the Populsts who voted for Bryan
as Democrats, is fine move. 1 fancy
Owen, Dobbyn, Lynch ct al. are rubbing
their hands in glee. and saying to their
Democratic bosses, Splendid! We
delivered the goods! You are counting
the Pops of Minnesota Democrats as we
guaranteed you should in this blessed
year 1898"
Impossible" said a leading Demo-
crat to me when I told him what his
party had done, "the Democratic party
cannot base their representation on fl-
sion candidate" But they did do it. They
state to make q pretext for an unheard
OF size of state convention. For what
purpose? Evidently to march it up along
side Of our convention based on Owen
vote in 1894, and show the people of
Minneapolis, and have it heralded to the
whole country through the newspapers
that the Populists in Minnesota are
nothing alongside of the Democrats.
HONORABLE cooperation, again!
Suppose the -Populists had based their
representation on the whole vote for
Bryan or Lind in 1896. Just suppose
such thing if you can. Why, we would
have been the laughing stock Of this
country for all time to come, and Justly
so. Why, the honorable co-operators in
side and outside Of our party would have
raised their hands in holy horror at
such a thing! But the Democratic
party, the immaculate, the pure and un-
defiled. the unwashed Jeffersonian
Democracy-louder on Jeffersonian-t
can do anything under the sun when
the object Is 10 boost it and give the
Peoples party kick at the same lick!
Honorable cooperation!
But Chairman Gibbs Is satisfied. So is
Major Hotchkiss. John Lind and Charley
Towne, ditto. | presume. The latter said
recently that the Democratic conven-
ton at Chicago was the first convention
since the war that voiced the demand of
the common people! How about the
Omaha convention? How about the
Peoples party movement that lifted
Bryan to the front, and made both Lind
and Towne prominent, and forced the
Democratic party to take up the silver
question? o. we'll. know I ought not
to ask such questions; they were I'M
doubtedly prompted by Jim Hill and Ig-
Mathis Donnelly his servant. Start the
band playing. HONORABLE coop
Grafton"
But those noble patriots. the silver
Republicans Of Minnesota will be on
hand too, June 18th. 1000 strong we are
told-that is, If that many can be found
in the state. Otherwise some can be i'm
ported from elsewhere. They are not a
party exactly And 1t is we'll for the
sake of harmony that they are not, lest
they should insist on counting the Pop
ulists a second time on their vote for
Lind. and raise contest. with the Demo-