The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-11-02

few weeks thereafter he stood up. a.
chairman Of the Peoples party state
convention, in Minneapolis, for which
position we had supported him, and,
without justification or proyocation,
went out of his way in his acceptance
speech to insult and abuse us.
We thought the gratitude that begot
tears ought, at least, to have insured
us decent treatment. But he is a tool
OF 5. M. Owen, and not our kind of a
man, and he insulted us to crafty that
mlscreant. But, nevertheless, we would
not do injustice even to the
devii, come hot out OF hell.
ana therefore We print his
letter as requested by him; it would hurt
him to withhold it and may elect him
to give it. Id
Editor Representatives. your issue of
the 18th inst. find under the caption 1.-The
Glover Hoof." the following from the Min
neapOls Journal:
Senator Ringdal evidently doesn't care
much about the support of the old-time
Populists of his district. During the course
Oh an address at Alexandria he was at some
pains to explain that he did not believe in
the government ownership of railroads and
telegraph lines. He didn't believe in paper
money, nor in many other pet theories Of
the Populists"
above quotation. 1t is made out of the
whole CLOTH Any one of the three or four
hundred people who were present at the
meeting will testify to the fact that 1 dis
tlnctly declared that I believed in the gov
eminent ownership of railroads. / have
made that declaration N everv sneacb tbat
have made in this campaign So far as
the telegraph Is concerned it is a uues-
ton that have not discussed separately be-
cause 1t Is based upon exactly the same
principles as the railroad question: and my
position is exactly the same on that as
IL Is on the railroad question
On the question of money I have taken
the position that 1t is the quantity of money
mat regulates its value and not the ma
ter1al that carries the money stamp If
this is declaration against greenbacks then
confess that the language means some
thing entirely different from what I sup
posed it did.
In your editorial comment you say that
made speech in the state convention of
June 10 against using the referendum in
future nominations Of the party. You
mistaken
During the confusion incident to
election of committeeman from the -5.f-
Gus districts and while the conventio ..,x
divided into seven different knots att e.s..a
each to Its own local affairs, Mr. wi
TOOK the platform and read a pape
porting TO be new rules and regulate
the government of Peoples Party prin4r
and conventions. On account of the
and confusion prevailing it was impvss..,-a
for anyone to get clear idea from said
reading what the rules were that Mr., Swain
proposed to commit us to. SO summartlys Il
objected to the adoption of any rule to
hlnd the future conduct of the party under
such conditions. It was like going out on
the crowded streets blindfoded. Had Mr.
Swain moved the appointment of COM
mttee to examine his rules should gladly
nave seconded the motion. But he moved
to adopt them without reference and 1 OBJ
jected to that method of procedure It
was very dangerous thing to do. L was
afraid that they would create trouble for
the party if they were adopted without
proper considerations and on the same page
of the same issue Of your paper in which
You attack me I find full justification for
my fears. 1t Is contained in communica-
ton from E. j. White, Morrstown Mimi.
in which he informs us that Mr.. Swain got
chance to try his theory in Rice county.
But the theory didn't work as well in prac-
tice as it promised on paper. Mr.. White in
forms us that there is trouble in Rice
county as a result of this referendum pri-
mary. l have criticism to offer upon Mr.
SWANS actions. believe he is honest and
sincere. but let him make his theory a
success in his own county first. Then we
will consider 1t in other parts of the state
Now, MIR. Editor. if you intend to be fair
with me you will publish this letter in
your next ISSUE publica ton after election
would not do me justice. 1t would simply
be locking the door after the horse had
been stolen"
Yours truly.
p NJ. RINGDAL