The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-07
PEOPLES PARTY LEADER PLEDG.
ES HIS SUPPORT TO. RoSING
AND THE TICKET
INVOLVES NO SURRENDER
OF HIS PARTY PRINCIPLES
Cause of the Whole People Best Served
by Support of the Democratic Nom
inees in the Campaign This Fall
Reasons Set Forth in Letter to
Party Associate. =. =. .. 80.

Sidney M. Owen, for years the rec
ognized leader of the Peoples party
and who as it's candidate for governor
in 1894 polled vote of over $4,000, Will
this year vote for Leonard A. ROSing
and advises believers in the policies
for which the Peoples party stands to
cast their votes for the Democratic
ticket. In common with thousands OF
thoughtful men who have voted the
Peoples party ticket for the sake of
principles they believe in Mr.. Owen
recognizes that the only hope of secur-
ing the realization of those principles
lies in the election of a Democratic
governor and Democratic legislature.
In letter to ]. H. Paul, Minneapolis,
Mr.. Owen reaffirmss the report that he
is supporting the Democratic ticket
and comprehensively and logically ex-
plains why it is the duty of all Peoples
party men to do the same. His letter
in full follows:
Mr.. Ovens Letter.
Mr. ]. H. Paul, Minneapolis, MINI
My Dear Sir: You ask me what ticket I
am going to vote this fall, Democratic or
Populist? While we have an elaborate
electoral system, designed, among other
things, to exempt voters from answering
such a question, still hope that I have
enough of the courage of conviction to de-
ter me from taking refuge behind the
privilege OF secrecy IN tnlS matter guar
anteed me by law.
never cast a vote in my life without
feeling able to give a good reason for 1t,
and cannot believe that / ever Will In
deciding which of the two tickets named
I will vote, 1 need not consider the plat
forms of the parties presenting the tickets,
since they are practically identical regard
ing the vital issues of the time. And it
is an even thing regarding the personnel
of the two tickets, since 1 must vote
against old party associates and warm
personal friends whichever ticket l vote.
Hence | must loo kelsewhere for reasons
to give for voting as propose to this fall
and l will give them as briefly as may
What / will term, in the interest of
brevity, Bryan Democracy, is SO far, at
least as present issues are concerned. es-
sentially Populism, which by the way, is
an infinitely less odious term than in the
recent past. If there had been Bryan
no PEOPLES party; A gigantic effort is
now being made by that element of the
Democratic party that ruled it prior to
1896 to make it again as like the Repub-
lican party. as it was before, and in sew
eral states it has been in while or in part
successful. In such states 1 hope to see
the Democratic vote very small.
Several Democratic state conventions
have stood true to Bryan Democracy, and
in those states / hope to see large Demo-
cratic gains. And as the Minnesota
Democratic convention was clear, emphat-
ic and unambiguous in its adhesion to
Populistic Democracy, I am particularly
DESTROYS to see the Democrats make large
gains in this state and will naturally do
what can to realize the desire by voting
their ticket. But I would not do so if
by that act l had to prove false to prin-
ciples. that I have believed in and sacri-
feed for for many. years. But in voting
as T propose to believe that I am doing
my best to increase the number Of ad-
herents to and supporters, of thosesprinci-
pies. For Lam sa tisfied that5if the states
the position they did in Minnesota
show Democratic gains. and the
states where Democrats refused to take
that position show Democratic losses. then
in 1904 the Democratic party of the Union
will be- standing for the principles that
the Democrats of this and many other
states are standing for now. And in such
a situation I see a hope that direct legis-
lation, public ownership of public utili-
ties, self government equality of taxa
ton, monetary system that denies spe-
cial privileges, and other. reforms, that
believe are essential to the pefpetuity of
the republic and the best estate of the
mass of its people, will become operative
in our government while | live, a con-
summation that I must devoutly wish
Trusting that L have made the reason
for my proposed political action clear to
you, and that you will give me credit for
sincerity of purpose and honesty of con-
viction. whatever other view you may take
of it, 1 remain with great respect, yours
truly,
Minneapolis, Mimi, Oct A, 1902.
s. M Owen