The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-07-06


was Immediately surrounded by Dob
byn, Bowler, Ringdahl and another in
dividual who. as it. appeared to me,
wrote out the committees for him. A
little later Dobbyn announced to a
friend: 1T is all right. There amt
damned mid-roader on it." About this
time l recalled the Incidents of the
Meighen caucus, related above. During
Reishus' occupancy of the chair he was
continually advised by a coterie on the
platform, and on one occasion there
came from Bowler's corner these words:
What are you doing? Why don't YOU
put that notion" The motion was
put.
It was while the committees were de-
liberating that the Donnelly-Owen epi-
sode occurred.
The convention wanted speech to
fill in the time and called prof.
Cation" "Caton," "Caton." AS lie did
not respond they then called in the
same manner for "Donnelly." who at
last came to the platform. His speech
was short, eloquent, pathetic in it's ap-
peal for the preservation of the People
party, and courteous t. all. He adyo-
Gated the citizens independent ticket as
that Of MIR. Meighen and Mr.. Stewart,
and said if that plan was adopted he
would give it his best support, would
lay all personalities aside, and that what
personalities he had INDUCED in, in the
past, was not because he Lad in his
heart desire to injure any nan, but
because he believed the continued exist
ence of the Peoples party demanded it.
1t was mastery effort in the direc-
ton of harmony and honorable CO.
operation" From the platform l saw
it applauded by at least half the cou-
vention; and when Owen came to the
front moment later expected to hear
him second Mr.. Dcnnelly's appeal for
good will and harmony. But. alas. I
soon discovered that harmony was the
last thing Mr.. Owen wanted He took
Mr.. Donnelly's mild words of fair prom
Use. and turned them into a hidious ex-
aggregation, placed upon them the most
violent factional construction possible,
and then proceeded to arouse all the
slumbering embers of political differ
enceS and personal discOrd between
members of the convention, both before
and since the Peoples party was organ
lied, and fan them to white heat. He
attempted to excuse himself by saying
he had remained S: lent in the past. in
the interest of harmony, but it recoiled
upon him with tremendous force, for
every man present knew chat he had
avoided an open discussion through his
own paper. and that in it's stead his
through Dobbyn's Progressive Age, and
that now, in the midst Of q state con-
vention, TIE last place on earth to dis
cuss personal grie yances, he was rapid
~ precipitating riot To assist in
stirring things up, the scholarly 90 and
gentlelnanly (7) Dobbyn at appropriate
moments yelled out such extremely CO.
operative sentiments as Tear i'm open.
damn him." If, after all this, anyone
is so dumb as not to understand that it
was the intention OF Owen, Dobbyn,
Gibbs & Co. to force bolt, 1 ask them
to listen to Mr.. Owens words: What
we want to do is to get rid Of this
man" And this in the face of the 400
men who stood shoulder to shoulder
with Mr.. Donnelly in front of Mr.. Owen
at that moment Remember, fusionists,
that the convention of the 10Th and it's
results was according to Mr.. Owens ex-
pressed desire.
A recital of the biased and autocratic
rule of the permanent chairman, Aus
tin, is unnecessary. II is truthfully told
in the platform adopted by the Peoples
party convention of the 18th. quiet
but earnest gentleman from Duluth told
me that Austin was Democrat, as was
also Murphy, of the committee ca per-
manent organization.
The organization of the convention
and the ticket was not Populist but
Democratic, and when Major Bowler
made a motion to have the Democratic
chairman appoint state central COM
mittee for the Peoples party, was con-
WINGED beyond all doubt that Bowler,
and hence Owen, Dobbyn, ct al, were
more Democratic than Populist
An incident that expresses the effect
Of the events Of the day upon honest
men. A delegate from this county who
went to the convention full Of prejudice
against Donnelly came to me, mad as a
halter, and said: They amt giving
Donnelly and his friends any show at
ALL This is the worst thing l ever
saw" Later when the chairman want
ed a collection to pay for the hall this
delegate said You had better pay for
it yourself You have had this hall to-
day, we haven't had it."
Now, then I went to Mime
apolis as a delegate to Peoples party
convention, and in favor of honorable
cooperation On the 18th l found my
self in the midst Of a gathering (my
conscience will not permit me to call it
a convention), controlled by Democratic
politicians, and in favor of dishonorable
fusion There is not man on the tick
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