The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-20
ERWIN IN THE EIGHTH,
He and Mr.. Kelly Entertain an Au-
dience at NefIer's Hail.

dience at Wefler's Hall.
'Will v all be wild US when the fight do
begin?
"All be wild us when put Bill Erwin in ?"
Thus F. Kelly, poetaster and minstrel. Mr.
Kelly sang the lines, and some others, at
the close of the Erwin meeting at Weiler's
hall in the Eighth ward last night.
Mr. Kelly is a joyous soul, and he breaks
out in song whenever there is anything 60
ing On in the ward. 1t doesn't make much
difference to Mr.. Kelly whether its a wake
or wedding, christening or a political
meeting. He is always ready with a song,
and last night he announced that he had
written campaign song for the occasion.
He requested those present to tell him at
the end Of each line if they were with him.
they were with Mr.. Kelly to man.
They were not all Eighth ward men, but
that made difference.
The ostensible occasion Of the meeting was
for the formation of another Democratic
club for the Eighth ward, and the discus
sion of questions political. The principal
feature Of the meeting was a speech by Mr.
Erwin.
The Tall Man arrived late. The short
man wasn't with him, but Mr.. Bell was
Mr.. Scannell had arrived earlier, and was
there when Mr. Healey chairman of the
order and introduced Luke McKernan, who
would obiige, pending the arrival Of the
lion.
Mr.. McKernan was followed by J. H. Far
rell, who pointed to the hopelessness of unity
so long as the newspapers would not be
fair. He particularly honored The G b e
in this connection, but did not get the at
tention he might have but for the untmely
arrival of Mr.. Erwin, who was greeted vo-
ciferously.
In the course Of his remarks Mr. Erwin
paraphrased the saying of an eminent Amer
lean on the question of his personal poll
tics. Said he
Am 1 a Democrat? the question has been
asked. l am. l was a Democrat when I
led the Alliance in this state in 1880 and piled
up protest Of $4,000 votes against Republic
can misrule I was Democrat in Iowa when
opposed the people who would dictate to
their fellows what they might eat and drink
l was a Democrat when l went to Plttsburg
and announced that it would be Justice to
shoot down the Pinkertons wherever they
across the dark river and shoot them down as
they writhed in torment on the bosom of
the Prince of He'll"
He was, In fact, emphatic in declaring
his Democracy. He was particularly dis
gusted with boilers; if there was one thing
that disguised him more than a boter. it
controlled the city for fifteen years.
AS for his position on the Chicago plat
form. he wanted it made clear:
Why, said he. the Chicago platform
because it was the money of tradition, and
had been demonetized by deed Of darkness.
| am for silver because it is the coin of la
bor." "
He amplified this statement and made it
very clear that he was for silver for many
reasons. 1t behooved him, or some one else.
to stand for the rights of the people for
the pulpit had struck its colors for bread
and butter and the bar was no longer indie
pendent. No longer was 1t the practice of
law. but the stuf1ing Of the jury box, that
made or unmade the lawyer. He told sew
eral stories of how he had been approached
by jury fixers and altogether he made an
entertaining. vigorous talk, for which he
was rewarded with three cheers when he
| left the platform
Then resolution indorsing the Bell COM
mittee passed, and Mr. Bell announced
| the date of his convention.
! The Eighth Ward Democratic club was
formed by the election of J. ]. Healey as
| president and Joseph Dolan secretary