Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-02-22

johnson committee. Tuesday morn
ing the fusionists were all on top of
the mountain, and confident of vic
tory. But as the old sturdy "pops'
from the different sections of the state
came in one by one and entered their
emph attic protest against the Dobbyn-
Owen program, of fusion, wonderful
change came over the countenances of
we'll known politicians at the Windsor.
Wednesday morning the conference
meeting was called at Labor Temple.
Several incidents there showed even
in this gathering of their own choice,
| the fusionists were in the minority,
and feared to put test question for
discussion. We then knew the victory
was ours and the fusionists knew they
were beaten, the state central commit
tee Of course reflected the dominant
spirit Of the party and proceeded to
issue the call for the state convention.
The reports in the twin city dailies.
are with possible exception contrary
to the facts. The doctored reports
about fusion being triumphant are
sent out by fusionists to influence other
states. Our committee passed the fol-
lowing resolutions:
Whereas, Many earnest populists
had observed, with great regret, that
the merging Of the peoples party
with or into the democratic party, had
led to the decentralization and almost
destruction of populism, in many of
the states. reducing its vote in Ohio
from $4,000 to 5000 and in Iowa from
1000 to 5000: and knowing that
''fusion' would inevitably produce
like results in Minnesota;
And, whereas, An informal gather
ing of patriotic populists was held in
the city of St. Paul, in January last,
which declared emphatically against
''fusion" and appointed a committee of
twenty-one members to call a state
convention in case it was attempted to
trade the party off to democracy, and
to call it at an early date:
And, whereas, The state central COM
mittee met to-day and by unanimous
vote called the state convention of the
peoples party for June Is next, bas-
ing the appOrtiOnment on the vote of
1894, the last campaign when we acted
separate and apart from all other par
ties:
And, whereas, The state central
committee has appointed a committee
OF three to prepare an address to the
public, which will, we understand in
sist upon seperate and distinct action
on the part Of the people, party:
And, whereas, We learn that the
state central committee would have
called the state convention at an even
earlier date than the 18th of June, ex-
cept for the fact that it would have oc-
CURED at a time when the farmers were
busy with their seeding.
Therefore, Resolved, that we con-
graduate those who participated in the
January conferences on the excellent
results which have followed their ef-
forts.
Resolved, That we thank the state
central committee for rising to the full
measure of their duty in their action
to-day.
Resolved, That we will do our best
to make the state convention of June
18th a splendid success, and we call
upon al populists to make special ef-
forts to see that good and true men
! are elected as delegates to that con-
ventiOn, so as to resist: all attempts
that may be made to merge our party
with any other organization.
Resolved, That this committee
should not adjourn sine die, but
should continue in existence as an
adjunct and help to the state central
committee in thoroughly" organizing
the peoples party of this state.
Resolved, That the peoples party
| is not dead, and is not going to die.
1t is to-day stronger in Minnesota than
it has ever been before. Our doors
and windows are all open, and we in
vie all good men of all parties to
come in and march under our banner
and redeem the state and nation from
the rule of plutocracy.
Dr.. Christian Johnson, Chairman.
DR.. H. B. Fay, secretary.
| CHRISTI N JOHNSON