The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-01-19


to me of late wherein / am charged with
various heinous political crimes in the
past, the main one Of which is that
was some kind of fusionists In the
early part of the campaign of 1896.
Now, Mr.. Editor this charge is true.
Prior to the Peoples party national con-
vention 1 was an earnest advocate in
favor Of some kind of honorable CO.
operation between the Populists and
Democrats. But as I got into the real
inwardness of the proceedings of that
convention and as l got the report from
one Of the national delegates from this
state, man of unquestioned veracity, of
the dark and devilish plot to disgrace
and side-track Mr.. Donnelly, and as
further got the evidence of my own
senses at the conference at Minneapolis
August 4, 1896, that the union of re-
form forces, sO-called, of this state,
meant simply an ignominious surrender
of the very fundamental principles for
which the Peoples party stood, and the
utter destruction of the party, then
was no longer a fusionist of any kind
At the request of T. J. Meighen, Esq,
I came to Minneapolis Aug. 4, 1896, TO
attend the conference between the allied
forces to agree on program of CO.
operation for the state campaign
soon satisfied myself beyond question
no cd
can faction was at the bottom of the
whole fusion idea CT this state. That
faction had failed to prevent the re-
nomination of Clough. It's next move
was then to have the opposition forces
brought in line for a Republican for the
gubernatorial nomination. 1t picked out
John Lind as the available man. Now,
l don't mean to say that John Lind was
a party to this scheme. But John Lind
had been brought forward so immedi-
ately that he could not withdraw, even
II he desired to, without laying himself
liable to the reproach of cowardice or
something worse. The campaign of 1896
so far as state issues were concerned,
was really fight between the two Re
publican factions. There never was
any possibility of electing anything Of
the fusion ticket below the governor
1t is true that the rank and file of the
Peoples party and Democratic party did
not know that, but the intelligent lead
ers of both parties knew 1t. And they
also knew that the only possible result
SO far as state matters were concerned
would be the turning out Of the Clough
gang Of Republicans, and the going in
of the Washburn gang Of republicans
For there was the solid republican SEN
ate holding over, making it impossible
for John Lind, should he be elected to
appoint any important officer of the
state without it's approval, and John
Lind, as governor. if he wanted to make
any change at all, would have been
obliged to select such as the senate
would accept.
Now the above matters were facts
then, and have been corroborated since,
so that none now pretend to deny them.
Now where did the great reform princi-
pies of the Peoples Party come in in
this deal? If Dobbyn, Day ct al, i'd ON.
&. will just stop long enough to explain
to the PCpulists of the state how John
Lind's election in 1896 could have re-
formed ANY ONE SINGLE STATE IN
STITUTION, then they can start to
abuse me again all they please 1 claim
to be an admirer and sincere friend of
John Lind. And it grieved me exceed
ingly to see his genius and popularity
used, as | believe, by this gang of flu
sion schemers for ignoble ends, and to
the ultimate ruin Of Mr.. Lnd's politi-
cal future. Had Mr. Lind been elected
in 1896 he and the parties that elected
him would have had all the RESPONSE
bility Of the affairs of state, in the pub
lie eye, and yet neither he, nor they
would have been able to operate one
single state department. Responsibility
without power. Mr.. Lind would have
been general in chief, with every in
feriOr in command his mortal political
enemy and traitor to him and his DO
litical friends. Could any sincere friend
Of John Lind wish him to be placed
in such a situation? Could any sin
cere Populist wish his party to be made
responsible for the affairs of state.
without the power to reform or even
control affairs Of state? Answer this
you political wiseacres, and fusion re-
form shouters, and show the people
that you have a little mother-wit. if
you have no decency about you!
Now l do not blame the democrats
for entering into this ASSISTANT RE-
PUBLICAN scheme; they had acted as
assistant republicans in 1894 and were
well trained in. Their party was split
in twain between gold-bugs and silver
men, and their future prospects in this
state was mil" Nor do 1 blame the
free-silver republicans. They were not
a party, nor anything in particular ex-
cept half dozen big ONES" The
Peoples Party was the only party to the
fusion deal who had anything to loose
and who staked everything. and who
were, in any event, certain to loose