The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-04-06

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letter from an up county friend refer
ring to something in The Minneapolis
Tribune in regard to Rice county poll
tics, with myself as. sponsor.
The paragraph is false in every par
ticular. I cannot remember that I
ever wrote letter to Mr.. E. w. Bon
ham, the only member of the committee
who resides in st. Paul. have never
yet posed as political "boss" and have
always advocated in county and state
conventions the most open and demo-
cratic methods Of electing delegates and
nominating candidates.
My correspondence has been such that
can place" my alleged friend the
prominent Populist" who has furnished
a CARRIED statement of my sentiments
for the plutocratic dailies to spread
broadcast.
I recently stated in a letter that Rice
county could be counted on to send a
solid anti-fusion delegation to the next
state convention. so Judged from the
fact that at conference held In Fari-
bault on Feb. IL the expressed sentiment
was unanimous for an Independent
ticket.
At the last meeting of the state central
committee advocated the adoption of a
plan by which a state ticket could be
placed In the field by direct vote at the
primaries, but, I am sorry to say, the
referendum plan met with nothing but
objections or equivocations.
In talking Of this plan to friends I
freely stated that Mr.. Lind would, no
doubt, receive the nomination and that
I would vote for Mr.. Lind at the prim-
aries under the referendum system.
But John Lind as a person around
whom the fusion idea is to concentrate
instead of around some essential prin-
ciples, stands, to my view, In a very
different light.
I always have been, and am now op-
posed to the union of two distinct po-
ntical organizations upon the same
candidates, and will never again support
such politically absurd propositions.
Three manifestoes have lately been
SHE'D into the political arena, all urg-
ing fusion, had these borne the date Of
February, 1897, and called upon the
committeeman representing the elements
that supported Bryan to unite in calling
a mass convention of reformers in every
county in the United States, said con-
vention to elect county committee and
delegates to state convention. the
state committee and delegates to q
national convention, the national SON
vention to elect a national committee
adopt a platform and choose party
name, the advice would have been ac-
cepted as eminating from the wisdom of
statemen and would have been support
ed by every reformer in the land. The
New Occasions" now the ''New Time,"
advocated this course and wrote to So
called leaders urging this action.
understand the answer Of the chairman
of the Democratic state committee Of
Minnesota was "The Democratic party
is good enough for me, everything is
coming our way"
The manifestoes issued now are the
we'll rounded platitudes of politicians
whose advice, If followed, will result in
O disintegration of reform force that was
centralizing around the Peoples party
standard.
The union Of reform forces, that is Of
citizens who believe alike politically,
should be made at the primary and the
resulting conventions. platforms and
candidates should be the reflex of their
desires.
l want to say to Bros. Long and Gull
yer that it appears to be too late to take
the steps necessary for proper union.
The fusion of delegate convention
should not be thought Of by any man
who honestly desires the liberation of
the producing masses Rom industrial
serfdom.
The party organization in each state
is in honor bound to uphold the national
platform and organization. This can be
done only by keeping our state organiza-
ton intact by unfolding the whole Of
our platform and by pledging all can
didates to our principles.
The "Turn-the-rascals-ou Down
the-Republican," "Elect-our-men- plat
form" has been tried and found wanting
in efficacy to supply succor to the op-
pressed.
hope some fusion Of forces advocate
will take up the twenty-three items in
Bro. Twitchell's reply to T. S. Fisk in
The Representative Of the 10th inst, and
show if any Of them are misstatements
or If correct, on what basis the Peoples
party can secure Honorable co-opera-
ton"
H. A. SWAIN.
POLITICAL PARTIES COMBINE.