The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-05-11
SHELL OR HANG.
To the Representative:

~ tlS CSSlltdtlNC.
l make no pretenslons to being gram
| do claim to be (to myself, OF course),
a pent up volcano in the cause of liberty.
Although the hot lava within may be
articles as appeared in the Representative
OF March IS, entitled fish or cut bait"
it is then it seethes and foams, its
placidity is broken, and must have vent
The writer seems to think he is the
umpire to whom the Cincinnati conven-
ton must give an account for it's foolish
ness" His main charge against the Gin
cinnati convention is, that it foolishly
made the initiative and referendum the
basis of party work, without an organiza-
ton to work it.
His position reminds me of the man
that was too lazy to provide for his family
So much SO, that his neighbors deter
mined to hang him.
Everything being made ready. and be-
ing too lazy to walk, he was put aboard
cart. On the road to the gallows his
neighbors relenting of their purpose told
him they would not hang him now, and
besides letting him go they would give
him a sack of corn. Upon which the
freed man looked up quizzicaly and
asked, 'is the corn shelled?' Upon be-
ing told it was not he bade them drive
on the cart Now this writer. not deny
ing but the corn, Gnitiative and refer
endum). is O. K, but because it is not
shelled (organzed), demanding an effort
on his part to take hold and help. in
effect says to plutocracy, Il had rather
hang than help organize, so drive on the
cart How the writer OF the article
referred to can sit down upon conven-
ton as squarely as he does, and at the
same time applaud its leading spirits, Mr..
Barker and Mr.. Donnelly is beyond my
ability to comprehend He seems to think
those gentlemen will cut and run to save
their bacon upon the first appearance of
danger. Have no fears. those men are
made of sterner stuff and will stand to
the rack, fodder or no fodder.
Neither will they say to plutocracy.
drive on the cart" for the reason that
the corn is not shelled, for Mr.. Barker
has made haste to add his part OF the
sheling and in Philadelphia has organ
lied precinct club, OF which he is the
president.
This writer charges the present de-
moralized condition of the Peoples Party
largely to the incapacity and cowardice
Of the Nashville committee when in
fact, it is due to the charge, made by the
money power, upon the ST. Louis con
vention in 1896. Now as this writer has
such bitter complaints to make about the
Nashville committees laziness, l would
ask him what he would have them do?
AS there is but one thing to do now and
that is to organize clubs; would he have
them canvass the Union by voting pre-
cincts and organize precinct clubs, SO that
the corn being shelled by other hands
than his own, he can jump down from the
cart and save hanging? He seems to
stand in great fear of the Butterflies. |
would remind him that the Cincinnati
convention very wisely decreed that clubs,
not committee, should be trumps, in the
future work of the Peoples Party. If he
would render those committees he SO
much despises and breads powerless, let
him 60 to work and spend his wind in
organizing clubs so as to be ready to
trump the tricks Of this all powerful
Butler committee.
Again in the Representative OF March
22, the same writer declares that the Gin
cinnati convention has proved "fizzle. !"