The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-02-23
HARMONY AGAIN REIGNS IN THE
PEOPLES PARTY OF MINNESOTA.

Everybody Pleased-The Convention
CalIed-The People Must Now De-
eide the Party's Future Policy.
During the past week Populist circles
in Minnesota We're stirred to their ut
most depths; and many an anxious
heart awaited with much interest the
outcome Of the proceedings of the State
Central Committee of Minnesota as on
its own action depended whether the
Peoples party would be split in two or
harmoniZed. And as we of the rank and
file, l think l express the feelings of
every true and loyal Populist not only
in Minnesota, but in the whole country,
when | say my heartfelt thanks are ex-
tended to every member Of the State
Central Committee for the wise, pa
triotic, and concilatory course pursued,
and the action taken in calling the con
ventiOn at time when it will be pos
sible for the farmers to attend
The eyes of the nation were turned on
Minnesota during the past week, and the
ator Butler, the national committee
chairman, Senator Dubois, and General
Weaver were present and represented
the fusion element, while Col. J. H.
Ferris, of Illinois, chairman of the Ma
tional Reform Press Association, was
present as a representative of the Ma
tional Organization Committee in the
interests Of peace and harmony
A conference was held between Sen
ator Butler and Col. Ferris, and a great
deal of the misunderstanding between
the policy of their respective commit
tees was cleared away; and it was made
possible to agree upon policy that will
be satisfactory to all. We, as one who
has been severe in our criticism of NJ
ator Butler, for his apparent attitude;
wish now to do him the justice Of saying
that we have been very much pleased
with the manner in which he acquitted
himself before the conference of the
auxiliary committee, which invited him
to come before them and consult as to
the best ways and means of healing the
breach in the party. 1t is to the credit
of Senator Butler that he said he would
warning factions of the party; and he
said, further, That he would and did
volunteer to go before the state central
committee and plead with them to meet
ho1f
say. said Mr.. Butler, ''if they are deter
mined to call late convention. in Sep
TENDER and you insist on an early con-
vention then some date between these
extremes, about June ought to be salts
factory.
This date was satisfactory to our COM
mittee and Mr.. Butler left accompanied
by Hon. l.. G. Long and Eric Olson to
wait upon the State Central Committee,
to make their plea for harmony, but 1t
was unnecessary as the committee had
already unanimously decided to issue
the call for a Peoples party state con-
vention to take place about the middle
Of June.
We can all afford to forgive each
other now for the harsh things that have
been said on both Sides now that the
fate Of the Peoples party is consigned
to the people. But we cannot refrain
from expressing the belief that the &C
ton taken by the Nashville conference,
last summer in providing an auxiliary
national committee to act in case the
or refused to call a convention of the
the Peoples party was wise. The full
strength of those two opposing factions
was in evidence at the meeting held last
week. and because of determined front
of what was known as the mid-road ele-
ment, who were on hand in large forces
from the country districts, it showed
but one inevitable result, and, this re-
suit was that in case a convention
should be called by the regular state
central committee a convention would
be called by the auxiliary COM
mittee and thus launch trouble ahead for
the party in Minnesota. But, to the
credit OF all, wise councils prevailed and
the people must now decide the question
| for themselves
The Peoples party of Minnesota is In
| good shape today-better than it has
| ever been before. Now let us all turn in