The Mankato free press., 1900-02-16
ONE is ENOUGH.

menting upon the position of the Free
Press for one state convention, gives
these reasons why the state committee
will call two conventions:
That tits considered advisable to have the
national platform to guide the deliberations of
| the state convention.
That two conventions will stir up much more
political interest and party enthusiasm than
one.
That with one convention in March and
another in June the political pot will boil
merrily.
| choice of delegates to the national convention
with purely state politics
The reasons for two state conventions
as outlined by the profoundly sagacious
political writer of the Journal are no
doubt entirely satisfactory to ''T. M.
H." but he will kindly excuse us if our
obtuseness fails to grasp the force of
his logic.
The national Republican platform
will not need to have the "endorse-
ment" of our state convention to make
it ''stick." 1t goes without saying
that the means and measures set forth
by the national party through its chosen
representatives is the platform for all
the states, and mere re-affirmation by
state convention neither adds to nor
takes from the parent document. What
the Republicans of this state want to
do is to proclaim emphatically upon
questions affecting the states interests.
The endorsement of the national plat.
form is taken as a matter of course, and
therefore the state convention need not
be delayed for the mere purpose of
having ''the national platform to guide
it's deliberations"
The Journal thinks that two conven-
tions will ''stir up much more political
interest and enthusiasm than one."
Possible, but not probable. The zen.
thusiasm" racket is liable to be worked
overtime this year and tire out before
the end of the season. One convention
will please the people most.
Then the Journal rises. higher in its
demand Tor two conventions and pro-
claims with sweeping GESTURE that
with one convention in March and
another in June the political pot will
boil merrily." This very proclamation
is the strongest point the Journal T.
M. K. could have made against his own
position. The people don't want the
political pot to boil merrily" all sum
mer and fall, They have got some
thing else to do this year besides at
tending conventions and wasting time
unnecessarily in building fires to keep
the ''pot billing merrily."
Finally our Journal friend says that
there is no necessity for mixing the
choice of delegates to the national con-
vention with purely state politics. /"
And yet for purely state politics" he
would have us withhold the session of
the state convention until the national
platform is adopted for our guidance,
We may be pardoned for suggesting
that the Journal man seems to be con-
fused, or else the ecompositor'' has
mixed him, for his first reason for two
conventions, and his last one don't
seem to harmonic one with the other.
Perhaps this is T. M. KS manner of
arguing why the Democratic donkey
should have two tails.
The Free Press frankly admits that
the edict has gone forth for two con-
ventions, but despite this fact it hesi-
tates not in the least to file its protest
and for the following reasons:
First. That the wishes of the people
to be relieved of five months of political
interference with business should be
respected.
Second. That there can be no valid
objection advanced for holding the
state convention for the nomination of
purely state officers and the convention
for selection of delegates to the national
convention at one and the same time.
Third. That to hold four or five con-
ventions within six months, as now
seems probable will be the case, is an
unnecessary tax upon the people of the
country, and they will be justified in