The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-04-13
TRIM OUR SAILS FOR STORMS.

TRIM OUR SAILS FOR STORMS.
Among all the letters that come to
situation none comes nearer reaching
responsive sentiment with us than the
following from one Of the most inf1uen-
tial Populists of our state and one who is
doing his full share for our cause. Not
withstanding his statement that it is
not for publication we believe our read
ers entitled to the fullest information at
hand, the public should be shown these
charming vistas across the field OF flu
sion and as far as possible should be
shown the seductive interior Of the spid-
er's parlor and given glimpses out into
the great beyond. All this is wildly
shown in the letter which reads as fol-
lows:
I. Donnelly,
st. Paul, Mimi.
| My dear Sir-Please pardon the trespass
| upon your time. while l say that the action
| Of the Democratic state central committee
| in calling their convention on the same day
| the POpuliStS called theirs, points unerr1ngly
to the well defined purpose Of the fusOnsts
in the Populst, Democrat and Silver Repub-
lican parties. 1t seems that the sentiment
| expressed in the January meeting. the un-
mistakable temper of the committee and
others who attended the committee meeting,
that named June 18th for the state cOnven-
ton, have no terrors for them, but they
move right along, planning for fusion, with
out fear of the anti-fusionist forces, intend
ing to force it down their threats, feeling no
doubt that they will accept 1t without a
murmur. bolt protest Is there no way
by which their scheme can be checkmated?
| The fusionists will be there in force and
will, taking the three parties together. vast
ly outnumber those opposed to fusion. 1t
seems to me that If we want to utterly wipe
out the reform movement on national lines.
in Minnesota. the easiest safest and most
expeditions way is to accept fusion with the
| Democrat party this fall. l am certain
that if the Populists Of Minnesota haven't
enough sand in their gizzards to withstand
fusion when every man can see that it
means death to the Populist party. then 1
say Popusm is dead A host Of the very
best blood and force In this state and many
other states are only waiting to join social
| Democracy or the social labor party, simply
because they love the Populist party and
the principles it represents but let fusion be
| consummated and there will not be left In
this state enough Of brain and Drawn to re-
habilitate the corpse after this election. The
| idea OF making this campaign on state is
sues. when congressman are to be elected is
| u my IlllnU, RIDICULOUS. l think l fOreSee
| fight at the state convention with lots Of
bad blood generated that bodies only evil 10
the cause we in part represent. Il fusion
can be made to win in Minnesota it will be-
come the adopted policy Of the leaders and
all the bcters of the old Democratic rarty
Will return and make 1t impossible to bring
about any reform through that organization.
l am opposed to fusion or cooperation for in
either case the Populists will soon sleep
| with the old greenbackers
in r6nr
| guard will rally to your support This Is
not for publication, but would like TO herr
| from you. Yours sincerely
June 18th will, as here predicted su.s-
ly bring parrot and owl time. What
ever the results the principles of men
will be made to stand out If they have
any principles.
sisted that they believed in no amalga-
nation, in no giving up OF principles
BUT ONLY IN SUCH CO-OPERA-
TON AS SHOULD RESULT IN A
TRIUMPH OF POPULIsT PRIN-
CIPLES.
This was also the contention of
Chairman Butler when here The fusion
reform forces of Oregon so contended and
made good their contention by their plat
form utterances. The united forces of
Oregon have agreed upon plan of hon
orable cooperation, and it is the only
plan that can be honorable
They have united upon direct legis-
lation plank framed by the Populists that
subordinates completely all parties to
principles
When Democrats are willing that Pop
ulist propositions be submitted to d.
rect and popular vote of the masses, they
are then honorable, they are then fair,
they are then entitled to Populist CO.
operation. But when Democrats and fu-
sion Populists ask us to cooperate to
elect Democratic law makers who may
or may not give us free silver or any
other reform and ask us to put our faith
in the naked and irresponsible promises
CT their politicians, it is anything but
honorable, such proposition is viii
famous, it is disastrous and every true
Populist will fight 1t to the end. In
this Issue read our front page articles on
direct legislation and from the wise
words Of American patriots take your
pointers as to the duty of both con-
ventions Of June 18TH Populists stand
ready to trust the masses, they distrust
the politicians Of all parties alike
We care not what party enacts re-
forms If the Democrats want tn hor-
row our votes with which to obtain the
offices, let them put up as collateral
direct legislation bond. If we loan the
votes let us dictate the wording of that
bond to the end that we may have salts
factory assurance that the reforms prom
ised shall be realized. We ask this, we
demand this, we will fight for this and
with this, and this only, will we be salts
| fed. E.. A. T.