Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-05-28
W SDAY.> MAY %, 1902.
the VIEWS OF A PoPULlsT.

The editor OF the TRIBUNE received
letter the other day from we'll
known populist who stood high in the
late Lind administration, in fact who
contributed greatly to the efficiency of
that administration. In that letter he
outlined his views of the political sit
uation. His logical and keen insight
in public affairs has long made him
an authority on political affairs in
the state. In the first part of his let
ter he makes this assertion:
sit seems to me that partisan VIC
tory over the republican party at this
time would be about the worst thing
that could happen-not only to US as
a party but to this whole country"
Then after expressing his fears that
the corporation element is again Sc
curing control of the democratic par
ty and that financial and Industrial
crisis cannot long be held back, he
explains his strange statement in his
own inimitable style. He says:
1.-The republican party, through it's
blind obedience to corporation COM
mands, has become their particular
pet. TO save it from humiliation is
their plain duty-to themselves and
their own future 1t cannot be saved
if continued in power until the inevita-
bic re ,ults of it revolutionary policies
begin to make their appearance. The
time is ripe or nearly SO for the scape-
goat to be selected and consecrated.
The democratic party-thanks to it's
C4evelahds, it's Hills and it's Germans
is the star performer in that role.
AS chestnut-rake it has no COMPETE
tor. The stage is ready, the chief &C.
tor is receiving the finishing touches
and the corporation scene-shifters are
prepared to ring up the curtain when
the OppOrtune moment arrives. The
play will have to 60 on without any
assistance from me. | decline to as
sumo any part Of the blame that must
fall on whoever steps into official po-
sition. l say, let those who are re-
sponslble for the conditions as they
are enjoy their triumph for the brief
period before them and let them should
er every grain of blame that will be
heaped upon otticialdom when the
crash comes. If we can keep the re-
publican party in power another four
years we will be through with it for
good. Let us have the patience, the
fOrtltude and the sense to bide our
time and choose our opportunity
After reviewing the industrial situa-
tion and emphasizing the point that
the powers in control have the power
to hasten the crisis if it should be to
their advantage to do so, the writer
concludes that,
SIX We must keep up our organ
iZatiOn and nomiu ate our own ticket
not with the view to winning this year,
nor next campaign, but in order to be
in position to take advantage of the
opportunity which sooner or later
must come, and which l believe to be
the last to rescue our country from
one of the worst tyrannies that ever
cursed any land.
''As to state politics, you know as
we'll as | do that the uproar in the re-
publican ranks is al sham, except,
SO far as it is a question whether the
Great Northern or the Canadian Pa
citic shall be it's dictator. But shams
are what the people want, and whoev-
err wins the victory, it will be a corpo-
ration victory and NOTHING else.'