The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-04-20

tighten his burdens or better his condi-
lions, as long as we do not offer those
inducements we may preach reform un-
til dOomsday, and advance no farther
touch mans pocket and you will
touch his heart" never counted for more
than at present.
Realizing those facts at our Populist
county convention in August, 1896, we
adopted the following in our resolutions,
"Third-In view of the fact that the
price OF labor and the products OF labor
have been reduced fully one-half. and
taxes raised in the face Of contracting
currency, we demand the material re-
auction OF all fees and salaries of public
officials, state and county, commensurate
with the labor performed and the re-
duced earnings Of producers. This is in
conformity with resolutions adopted by
national convention at st. Louis, viz
All public salaries should be made to
correspond to the prices Of labor and its
products
"Fourth-We are opposed to the long
continuance of persons holding the same
public office as leading to the formation
OF corrupt political ring combinations
and in office-holding aristocracy.
We believe that no public officer
should be retained longer than two
terms. nor longer than four years con-
tinuously In the same Office, as is now
established by law In several states: and
we request our state senator and rep
resentatives to the legislature to work
for such law
"Fffth-We favor the cooperation OF
all free silver reform forces in LIE Su-
eur county, on an equitable basis for re-
form and economy, and in the interest
OF the taxpayers. in the coming election,
and with that end In view favor the con-
vening Of conference committee at an
early date to make arrangements and
temrs for such union"
Those resolutions were favored by all
Intelligent voters, but were seriously OBJ
jected to by the political combination"
Mr. F. G. Gibbs. our chairman, was re-
peatedly requested to insist on a con-
ference meeting, but being promoted to
state chairman had no time to attend to
home affairs, nor did he delegate them
to others, and no conference was held.
In October our friends (?) held their
convention In the court house, q regu-
lar old fashioned Democratic scramble
for office, presided over by banker-law-
yer, as detestable and virulent a copper
head as ever disgraced American civili-
zation, with able assistants to keep the
common herd" from kicking over the
traces.
The Pops held forth In hall CHAIR
man Gibbs being conveniently absenU
and were informed that they might
name one candidate for representative to
the legislature, but must be acceptable
to our Democratic friends. and were gen.
erously permitted to extend to Mr.. Gibbs
the empty honor as candidate for Judge
Of probate, with the alternatives: "Taks
that or nothing" OF course we had to
drop out cranky notions for reform,
and whooped er up for Bryan and Free
Silver to continue our new friends (O
in their comfortable positions at the pie
counter on a reform ticket, WITH RE-
FORM OUT.
Yes! we fused with our new found
'free silver friends" who only few
months before denounced us as free
silver lunatics." but, when the smoke
Of battle cleared away and the votes
1t had been necessary Ito get there ELI"
our free silver friends had In turn fused
with the much abused gold bug Repub-
licans, and vice versa The states for
next fall have all been made and spolls
divided. but the Pops will not be traded
as assistant Democrats again.
There is nothing but wormwood and
gall in the heart Of Democratic leaders
toward Populists.
If we can be worked for our votes they
like us. If not, we are despised because
Of the uncertainty Of electing county
ticket when we stand alone.
Mr.. Gibbs has generously recommend
ed the Arena and New Truse. Why not
include "The American" Of Philadelphia,
edited by Wharton Barker, the noblest
Roman Of them all, who was a union
soldier at the age OF II.
LIE Sueur Center, MINI.
PETER SHIPPNfAN