The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-02-16

and 1t was accordingly agreed to pass
around the hat. The collection amounted
to $5S
S. M. Owen threw bomb into the COM
mittee meeting by announcing that John
Lind was in the city, and, although the
gentlemen had not been approached upon
the subject 1t was probable that Messrs.
Lind and Dubois would appear before the
convention and deliver addresses.
W. G.. Daily moved that Lind and Dubois
be invited to address the convention.
A r. Rudolph, member of the state
central committee from Duluth, who has
been considered among the doubtful ones
in the fight between fusion and mid-road,
showed his colors by souarely opposing
the mOtiol.. He declared that the presence
of Lind and Dubois would be very map
propriate. I'VE have met here. as Popu-
lists, for conference, and not to listen to
speakers from outside parties" said he.
Editor w. A. Hotchkiss tried to pour Oil
on the troubled waters by suggesting that
the motion be withdrawn.
MORE TROUBLE SIGHTED
Mr.. Daiy agreed and withdrew the mo-
ton, but before the words were out of his
mouth, DR.. II. B. Fay was on the floor
saying:
Mr.. Chairman, I understand these gen.
tlemen in the city. and are very anx-
lOuS to give US their advice and to speak
to us. For my part l am anxious to have
them address us, and make us present Of
their advice. There are Others who are
also anxious to advise the Popuist party
and 1t would not be amiss to send for
some of the barons of Wall street, and al
low them to advise u.s.
This outbreak was received with an up
roar and S. NJ. Owen. who got the floor.
had to wait some time before he could be
heard to say that he did not believe it
was wise to have the two gentlemen adj
dress the convention, and he had intended
to make a few St ha
tiCn. He resented, however, the remarks
of the preceding speaker.
The house had been wrought up to fight
ing pitch, and matters We're looking very
threatening. Chairman Gibbs pounded des-
perately with his gaVel, and declared the
incident closed. After some time he man.
aged to secure order and regular business
was resumed.
1t was only too evident, though. that the
fires were only smouldering and were liable
to burst out at any moment.
Chairman Gibbs called for the regular
order, and the chairman of the various
congressional committees were asked to
reports to the condition of the party in
their locality.
r. j. Meighan, from the First district,
thought such matters should not be dis
cussed at a public meeting. 1t would only
be exposing the condition of the party to
the scrutiny of its enemies. This protest
was not needed, however, and the Second
y.
sponded by saying that he did not care
what others said of the party. 1t mat
tered not to him if the other parties knew
the condition of the Populist party in the
Second district For himself he knew that
it was by no means a corpse, and at the
right time would show UP in good shape
and do what he expected of it, H. A.
Swain, for the Third district, was like
Mr.. Nteighen unwilling to discuss the af-
fairs of tie party at public meeting. r.
I;o%y, y,so
cared that the Populist party in his To-
cality was in good shape and constantly
growing.
Chairman L. D. Brown, of the Fifth dis
trict was more explicit and emphatic. He
took a bold stand and declared that he rec
cgnized the existence of two factions with
in the party, and he admitted that he was
an adherent of one faction. He was very
sorry that Lind and Dubois had not been
invited to attend the meeting. He thought
those gentlemen had the interests of true
reform at heart and what they had to say
would have been of value to the conven-
ton. If this factlonal friction could be
avoided success would be easy and certain
IN 1868 and 1900.
DULUTH HEARD FROM.
Then came the explosion. Z. d. Austin
responded to a call for u report from the
Sixth congressional district, and his words
did not lack for point. He began by de-
claring that he was a md-roader himself,
but not 'mid-rOaQ ODStructOn1St, uko
some of the gentlemen who claimed to be
the only patriots in the party. AS chair
man of the Sixth district congressional
committee, he had been called upon to de-
mand the resignation of certain members
OF that committee, and he had not hesi-
tated. He should not hesitate to do so
again should occasion offer. He denounced
the mid-roaderS as aids to the Republican
party, and inSinuated that they were sup
piled with funds from the Golfers of the
Republican party. He declared that the
nlid-road faction had been built up by the
Republican machine in the state of Mime
sofa. and in general his language conveyed
a contempt for the mid-rOad faction, which
it would be impossible to reproduce in print.
Then came the interruption by DR.. Fay,
noted above.
Before finally adjourning the meeting lis
tened to a report from the committee on
naturalization and resolution declaring
that the war in Cuba should cease was
unanimously agreed upon, and short
speech from Prof. Cation was listened TO.
1t was arranged that each congressional
delegation should meet in the afternoon to
consider matters pertaining to the welfare
Of the party in their respective districts,
slider the subject of naturalizat tiOn was ap-
pointed.
Thus closed the first chapter of the days
tribulations.