The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-06-29
RESOLUTIONS.

4
Whereas, We have seen with sorrow
and indignation the late Peoples Party
convention turned over soul and body to
the Democratic party Of this state, by
the most disreputable, high-handed and
outrageous proceedings that ever dis
graeed l. any political convention in the
Whereas, The following are a few of
the footprints of the bloody trail Of
shame and debaachehry which ma marked s
movements preceding it;
First-Neglect or refusal to properly
call our primaries in many counties Of
the state, or calling them at such an
hour as to prevent Populists from at
tending;
Second-The packing Of caucuses in
the most scandalous manner, the lead
many counties being displaced and over
ridden by men who were never known
to vote the Peoples Party ticket;
Third-We point to the unprecedented
action of the chairman of the state
central committee in using every device
in his power to suhserve his Democratic
bosses, in calling the convention at the
place he did and under circumstances
calculated to suppress a free expression
of sentiment on the part Of true dele
gates and in combining and conspiring
to have our deliberations flooded by
masses of Democrats and Free Silver
Republicans, who held their conven-
tions at the same time;
Fourth-When the convention assem-
bled at Normanna hall and it be-
came. evident that in spite Of all
their tactics the true Populists were in
majority, then Chairman Gibbs arbi-
trarily admitted contested delegations
to vote to capture the convention, while
excluding those who contested their
tary law which holds that both should
J be excluded or both seated until the
question at issue between them could be
determined by the convention, on a re-
port Of the committee on credentials;
Fifth-When it was distinctly shown
In our convention that Mr.. Dob
mee Waa opposns In his paper eVm our
candidate for congress IN the Fifth con-
gressional district, Prof. Cation, and
was supporting the Republican candi-
tion refused to remove him, although it
had full authority to do SO.
Sixth-During the proceedings of the
tary rules was observed, but the chair
man arbitrarily declared motions lost
that were carried by large majority.
were clearly in order, and to cap the
climax denied an appeal to the house
from from his rulings; and when delegates in
sisted upon their right to be heard, as
men and Populists. resorted to his hire
ling sergeant -at-arms, and the police Of
J the city, to overawe the convention
ed; seventhIThat when all these tactics
into the bowels of Democracy one S. NJ
owen was brought upon the. stage. to
raise a preconcerted personal row. to
and divert the attention of the delegates
from principles, to factional strife.
Eighth-By these means the conven-
Of its candidates. Hon. William Mitchell,
} OF Winona, member Of the supreme
court, well known to be one of the lead
} ing single gold standard advocates Of
the state, and who voted against US at
the last election
Ninth-We were also forced to NOM
Canty and Buck, who. as members Of
the supreme court, united with three
Republican members of the court, to de-
clare unconstitutional the act of the
state elevator at Duluth, with the
money obtained from the farmers for
Inspecting their wheat BY, this act
these men killed a measure that would
have been worth millions Of dollars to
the grain growers Of this state, and they
did this on specious and ridiculous pre-
lenses so as to permit the elevator ring
to continue to plunder the people, as
they have done to this hour;
Now, therefore, IN view Of the above
} acter, contrary not simply ITO order,
} decency and common sense, but consti-
tutiEg an outrage on humanity,
foul blot and disgrace to Populism, we
deIare that we repudiate the whole pro-
ceedings of that conventions; and declare
to the state and nation that the result
Of the Peoples Party convention yester-
day does not express the sentiments Of
the Populists of Minnesota and we
pledge ourselves, by our sacred honor
as men and Popuists, to redeem our
party from the control Of the Demo-
cratic schemers and politicians.
We put forth, therefore, the following
declaration of principles, end to its sup
port we invite every honest man in the
state
First-The Peoples Party was born to
live; and with the help Of God 1t snail
not die.
Second-We regard the shortening of
the distance between the voters and the
legislators, by means o. the initiative
and referendum, as the great issue Of
the age, and the only thing that will
save this republic from sinking into a
universal sea Of corruption. which cor
pOrations and combines have inflicted
upon our legislatures and congress.
Resolved, That this convention in
dorseS the referendum plan as a subsu-
tute for old party conventions and in
structs our state central committee to
arrange the details for the future NOM
ination of candidates end making Of
platforms Of our Peoples Party, accord
Ing to this method.
Resolved, That we believe that the
adoption Of the initiative and referen-
dunn will furnish a means whereby all
the great moral, social and economic
questions of the age, such as temper
ance, female suffrage, single tax, gov
ernrnent ownership, etc, can be placed
before the people and settled by popular
vote.