The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-06-01

now-the privilege Of sitting on the
fence. Why have l renewed the situa-
ton? BECAUSE WITHIN THE PAST
FEW WEEKS LIND HAS GIVEN US
TO UNDERSTAND THAT, AS THEN,
SO NOW, HE WILL NOT ACCEPT A
POPULIST NOMINATION AS SUCH"
Lind still holds the same evasive posi-
tion he did two years ago. Withing the
last few weeks Mr.. Lind has repeated
his refusal of two years ago to answer
party questions. He has also within
the past few weeks repeated that his
"cOnvictiOns on public questions may be
fully seen by any one interested in read
ing HIS RECORD AS A REPUBLICAN
CONGRESSMAN" That further than
that he had no questions or answers to
make touching party interests. John
Lind is too honest or too intelligent to
do as some other fusionists are now do
ing. They pretend to have advanced"
and for the sake of bidding for our votes
''to have become converted to some of
our IDEAS" JOHN LIND SAYS, 1
STAND NOW WHERE l DID WHEN
IN CONGRESS. WILL NOT SAY
THAT 1 BELIEVE IN ANY OF YOUR
CARDINAL TENETS OF POPUL.ISM."
What do these facts indicate? Stare
hard at them, and it becomes plain to
see that John Lind would like the honor
Of being governor. While by silence
he retains his fusion friends, he would
avoid their nomination this year, which
party on account Of the war, would be
far more sure defeat than he suffered
last campaign. But with the help of
the war John Lind ALSO FORESEES
THAT BY LETTING CLOUGH RUN
THIS YEAR FOR GOVERNOR HE
HIMSELF CAN BE CLOUGH'S RE-
PUBLICAN SUCCESSOR ON THE RE-
PUBLICAN TICKET IN 1900. Since
John Lind is honest his refusal to an
swer questions regarding party belief
and policy can be explained only on the
hypothesis Of this ulterior object.
Therefore, let Populists henceforth,
like sensible men who are true to their
party, attend to their own business and
manage their own campaign with their
own generals. Those men in particu-
lar who falsely, maliciously and without
particle Of proof call us Republican
aids should not further debate the pro-
prlety of placing Republican like
Lind, at the head of their ticket. F'u-
sion on some minor Office might be
overlooked, BUT FOR GOVERNOR,
NEVER. 1T WOULD RIGHTLY BE
CONSIDERED A DISTINCT FUSION
VICTORY. 1t is most absurd for a
genuine Populist to think of FORCING
the nomination of Mr.. Lind, a Republi-
can, under these circumstances. Lind,
if elected, would continue to act as
Republican. Lind will not say he wants
our nomination, or is of us. They tell
us he received 1900 Swedish Republi-
can votes in 1896, and will get them
again in 1898, and that will elect him.
Suppose it does. Those 1900 Swedish
votes will not support the rest of the
ticket, and Mr.. Lind would find him
self without an attorney general, judges
or legislature to assist him. What could
he do? If he will not avow himself a
Populist before election, will he after
wards? And how much will it help the
Peoples Party to elect Republican,
who is only temporarily disgruntled
with his party POLICY? What u
splendid position it will leave us in to
place man in the high Office of gov
ernor, who turns his back on us, and is
ashamed to say he belongs to us?
What will the fusionists find to rejoice
over in the Exposition Hall secured by
Gibbs? They will find themselves to
have nominated for governor a Repub-
lican, with defeat staring them in the
face. The empty hall will re-echo the
word traitor! traitor!" to such whose
consciences are not entirely deaf So
far as they are concerned they will have
done what they could towards finally
strangling what life fusion has yet left
the Peoples Party. They are so
greedy for Offices they can't see it, but
at the best the only thing they can ac-
complish is to elect a Republican gov
ernor.
But they will find more They will
find there are men who know fusion
means DEATH, and knowing it will
have Stunned it. These men will not
submit. These men will not be laughed
out Of their high purpose of preserving
the identity of the Peoples Party as
separate party, that shall now hold the
balance of power and win il 1900, by
being called "bolters," and Mark Han
mas hirelings." BY the decision of su-
preme courts and results in such states
as Indiana and Illinois, and others yet
to be heard from, we know that the real
boilers, the real deserters. the men ito
be spotted for life" are the fusion spies
preaching a policy that will submerge
us in the Democratic party.
MIR. SWAIN AND THE REFEREN-
DUN.
If we are to have reform the power
must be taken from the men who man
ipulate the conventions and represent
ative government restored to the people.