The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-05-11


Suppose we elected John Lind governor
and he was surrounded by a Republican
cabinet and Legislature. What could he
do?"
This is your very timely and pertinent
question in last Representative. Your
answer, HE could only appoint those to
office the Republican senate would con-
firm is of course the only reply that
can be given to the question. Every ra-
tional and thinking man ought to see
this and does and must see it.
thank you for raising this pertinent
question at this opportune time. 1t is
the gist of the whole fusion program.
We all concede that if harmonious CO.
operation of Democrats, silver Republi-
cans and Populists could be possible
there is a bare possibility Of electing
John Lind governor. John Lind is Re
hind him back into the old party A
large number of his old political asso-
ciates stand, no doubt, yet ready to vote
for him as they did two years ago. This
no one denies.
Now then let us suppose we turn in
and elect Lind this fall. 10000 Republi-
cans, we will say, vote for him. These
Lind Republicans, of course. vote only
Tor John Lind on our tickets, and vote
for the rest Of the Republican ticket
state, county and congressional. How
would we then stand? John Lind
elected and all the rest defeated.
Now then, honor bright, where would
the great house-c1eaning come in our
tusionists are shouting about? John
Lind is an able man and an honest man
no doubt, but is he superhuman? What
great reform could he inaugurate with
out legislature behind him? Mckinley
is good man, an able man and more
than once in the past voted in favor OF
silver and other popular measures, and
yet Is he not bound hand and foot by
his surroundings to do many things
really against his own candid convic-
tions? Would not Lind be in the same
Boat exactly? Yes, and more even, and
for this reason:
John Lind has upheld and supported
the Republican party and it's policy in
this state up to 1896. And even in the
4ast campaign he represented himself as
a free-silver Republican, and does SC
yet for all l know. Now did all the
abuses in the affairs of this state osig-
mate since D. M. Clough became gov
ernor? Are they not of long standing
from way back? And has not John Line
himself defended the present Identical
state policy on the stump, campaign in
and campaign out in the past? And has
he not accepted honor and emolument
for years and years from the Republican
party in this state?
Now then, l ask In all fairness and
Candor, and without any intention tt
reflect on John Lind as an honest and
able man, is he the man to reform the
abuses in this state that he in the past
has upheld and defended? Is 1t not
downright political folly to boost him fol
governor by the reform forces, so-called
II l am wrong in my views will some
kind Lind boomer please enlighter
NE.
No, brethren, il we cannot get a man
elected governor to clean out the abuses
who has never had his finger in the
dirt, who has never been connected with
those abuses in any way, except as 9
staunch opponent to them, then we hat
better let the job entirely alone. If the
Peoples Party has not within it ma
terial for filling all important elective
Offices then the party should disban6
forthwith as the only honorable course
to pursue.
But the common people are now or
to this political trickery involved in
"fusion." have talked and corresponded
with hundreds of leading Populists in
this state. Men who are or have beer
the backbone of the party in the state
and with very few exceptions they are
sternly opposed to fusion" They know
and understand that there is sometime