The representative., 1900-05-03
ADMINISTRATION LACKEYS
Hennepin County and I'm Minne-
OOta.
(From the Minneapolis Tribune.)

(From the Minneapolis Tribune.)
1t was not many years ago when the an
nouncennent that Populist state convention
was to occur in this city would have been
read with q great deal of interest by the
general public.
But that time has passed. The old, ag-
gressive Granger party has changed from
an active organization Of tillers Of the soil
intent upon securing reduced railroad freight
rates and government ownership Of public
utilities until today it is merely side show
of the Democratic party, bound to do the
bidding of its conQuerer and its bosses, and
having no principles, SO far as the public
can see, which are not taken care of by the
stronger organization. Today the Populist
party has dwindled down to a remnant of
the old guard who dislike quitting sinking
ship, and few score of fusion ofice holders,
who are doing what they can to steer the
political craft so that it will carry as much
freight as possible into the fusion port,
where the Democratic harbormaster is su-
preme.
Thus, today at Labor Temple the OBJ
server will be able to gaze upon a few men
who are present to carry out the orders of
their superiors. namely, send as many dele
gates as possible to Sioux Falls to vote for
Bryan and complete fusion with the Bryan
party. Indications are that the attendance
will be very small, indeed, and those who
are there will go through the necessary
forms with perfuntory correctness, but
there will be little if any enthusiasm, and
1t will take no practiced eye to discern
that the men who once made the party pow
erful are no longer In the saddle or in
sympathy with the organization.
The convention will me ct at Labor Temple
at II o'clock this forenoon, and one reason
w hn of vxy}vI hn hrHt vryt1I h4
the fact that no arrangements were made
with the railroads for reduced rates. An
other reason, Of course, will be the general
feeling that the party stands for nothing
which cannot be obtained through the me-
dium of the Democratic organization. Many
of the old familiar faces will be missing.
There will be no Ignatius Donnelly to create
an uproar, and there will be no repetition
OF the scenes OF two years ago when Don
nelly and Owen crossed swords SO dramati-
cally. The eloQuence of T. J. Cation will
not be heard again in a Populist gathering,
Fay must now be met with in other political
afflliations. There will be no Chairman
Westphal to dispute the right of chairman
ship with 8. NJ. Fairchild. The latter is now
mid-roader and Westphal is Democrat
Stacy and Cation, with q number of others.
are also Democrats, and while q number
have developed mid-road tendencies there
are still others who are saying little, intend
ing for the future to afhliate with the Re-
publican party.
Today's convention will have little to do
beyond electing 46 delegates to the Sioux
Falls convention. These 46 mev will be
selected under the direct supervision Of the
state Democratic managers and not one
will go upon the delegation unless he can
be trusted to vote for Bryan and do what
he can to continue fusion as 1t is now man
aged 1t Is not likely that any attempt
m "a -
principles inasmuch as that would be a
needless waste Of energy. Administration
eubordinates will be in control, and moth
ing will be done which can possibly Of
fend.
At the meeting Of the Populist state CEN
trail committee at the Hotel Nicollet yes
terday afternoon q resolution was adopted
indorsing the action Of the state chairman
In his course regarding the substitution of
new committees in st. Louis and Hennepin
counties, and another resolution was passed
declaring that the present committee in
St. Louis county is the only recognized
Populist authority there. The resignation
OF F. N. Stacy. c. M. Ferro and John Burns
as members of the state committee. and the
appointments Of Messrs. Fontaine, Paul and
Owen to fill the vacancies thus created.
were approved. The meeting of the COM
mittee was perfectly peaceful. save for a
few pleasantries offered by Committeeman
Paradis, the only Mid-roader left within the
organization. Those present were: Chair
man Francis H. Clark, Secretary z. H. Aus
tin, ex-senator H. C. Nelson, Chief Grain
Inspector Reishus, Charles Leytze, Duluth ;
F. r. Hodges, Sleepy Eye; R. Calvin, War
ren: F. P. Olney, Appleton; A. H. Hen
erickson, Sauk Center; A. Parads, Frank
Haskins. st. Paul; Paul Fontaine, Minne-
apolis; H. P. Bjorge, Fergus Falls.
The committe adjourned subject to the
call OF the chairman. 1t was decided best
not to call the regular state convention until
after the national convention was out of
the way and that duty will probably be
performed at the next meeting of the COM
mittee.