The representative., 1898-05-04
More of the Same Game.

More of the Same Game.
We showed last week how cunningly
the Peoples Party state convention was
called. SO that the Democrats and all the
rest of the world could pack it. and de-
stroy it's distinctively Populist character.
The law Of the state requires that
none shall take part in the primaries EX-
CEPT THOSE WHO HAVE HERETO
FORE AFFILIATED WITH THE
PARTY whose primaries are being held:
but the call for the state convention in
IN AN INDEFINITE FUTURE, TO JOIN
THE PEOPLES PARTY.
1t seems this game was widespread.
We find in the Fergus Globe a call for
convention of the Populists of the Sew
enth district, to be held at Crookston,
June 49, to nominate a candidate for con-
gress
It says:
All electors who have supported the
Peoples Party in the past, or who in
good faith INTEND TO AFFILIATE
WITH SAID PARTY IN THE FUTURE.
are invited to participate at said pri-
maries.
Dated at Crookston, April 25th, 1898.
MARTIN O'BRIEN,
Chairman. 7th Dist. Congressional Com
mittee of the Peoples Party.
The use Of the word affiliate" shows
that Mr.. Martin O'Brien, who is a law
yer, consulted the law, and knew he
violated it when he put forth such a
call. Mr. O'Brien is one Of the Owen
gang, and 'fusionist" from the soles
OF his feet to the crown of his head.
He wanted the Democrats to control the
congressional convention of the Peoples
Party. And to further that end the call
provides that representation shall be,
not on the basis of Mr.. Lommen's vote
in 1896, or Ovens vote in 1894, but on
John Lind's vote in 1896! Now, John in
1896. was the nominee of the Populists,
the Democrats and the Free-Silver Re-
publicans Hence. under such a call, the
counties Of the Seventh district will have
representation in the Peoples Party con-
vention FOR THEIR DEMOCRATIC
VOTES; and the more Democrats coun-
ty has the stronger it will be in picking
out Populist candidate!
1t is certainly horrible that lot of
village attorneys, like Martin O'Brien.
and e. J. Lynch, who is also a Dem
ccratic office-holder, should assume 10
control the action of hundred thous-
and honest and earnest Populists, and
sell them out even before they can get
together in their conventions, state and
local, to decide upon their course of
action. A good hanging bee would
improve the situation. No political party
in the world would patiently submit to
such rascality; in no other party would
it be attempted. But the Populists are
regarded as set of "chumps" who will
stand anything.
How are we going to untangle the knots
IAO0C oSc1AApo AdSC lieu al Ouuu IL
Democrats come up, in the primaries, and
say they INTEND to be Populists, u
some day, not named, can they, under
the call, be prevented from voting, ex-
cept by force? And when they get
their agents and delegates into the state
convention, or the congressional conven-
ton, how are you going to get them out
again? elf-government is thus poisoned
at it's very source; and the people have
no remedy but revolt or revolution And
thus the great Peoples Party. is torn
to pieces and utterly destroyed; and all
the labor of years thrown away; and the
hopes of mankind for redress of griev-
ances crushed.
And the fountain-source of all this mis-
chief is that sanctimonious and sanity
pretender, S. M. Owen; who fills his
arms with poisoned arrows and hides
behind bush to shoot against the heart
Of the party.
First, he wanted late state conven-
tiOn to be held at a time to be agreed
on by the Democrats and Silver-Republi-
cans, but when the state central commit
tee refused to be party to such scheme
and called the convention for the un-
precedented early date Of June Is, the
schemers persuaded the Democrats and
Silver Republicans to CALL THE CON-
MENTIONS ON THE SAME DAY.
And then our chairman refused to is
sue the call for our convention until all
three parties had secured the exposition
building in Minneapolis, so that they
could all get together in one grand love
feast; and the tail end of the Peoples
Party could be seen sticking up, out OF
the conglomerate mass, like the caudal
appendage Of a mermaid out of a school
Of herring.
Rise up, Populists! You are betrayed
by your own officials. You are led to the
shambles like an OK to the slaughter
Why, in Gods name, cannot the Peo-
Piles Party, which was organized in 1892
without the help Of these men, and in
some instances with their positive oppo-
sition, WHY CANNOT 1T BE PERMIT
TED TO LIVE?