The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1919-11-13

North Dakota in the case of the Town
ley League, Minnesota was the first
state selected fol-, invasion by the Pop
ulists. The state convention was held
in st. Paul and the attendance and
enthusiasm displayed were unprec-
edented. Donnelly was acclaimed
king and his international standard
raised. Both Republican and Demo-
cratic state leaders were dismayed. 1t
looked like the end When Donnelly
rose to accept the nomination there
was a shower of money on the stage,
as much at $1,000 historians say. The
word Bolshevike had not been coined
then, but it fitted in every way.
Unlike today, the Peoples Party Of
the Eighties did not enjoy the beaut-
les of primary law. There was no
sneaking in under the other fellows
standard as is now the vogue, and
which is regarded as decided Town
ley advantage. Even with this advan-
tage, however, there is not little
similarity in the findings of the voters
of 1892 when Donnelly headed the
Peoples Party of that period and when
Lindberg represented the Nonpartisan
League forces in 1913 and under Re
publican label at that. Both were sent
to the discard, Donnelly sailing under
the colors of his party to O. K. the
count at the hands of Knute R. Nelson
his republican opponent. Out Of near
ly 241, 1000 votes cast he was able to
muster but 58,513 votes. Dan Lawler,
the Democratic candidate picked up
better than $4,000 votes cast. While
the Peoples Party tested out it's
strength at the general election IN
1882 the primary was the road via
which the Nonpartison League travel
ed year ago and yet, despite the adj
vantage of false colors, the answer
was about the same. 15O,626 for
199, 1926 for Burnquist. Taking adj
vantage of another latter day bit OF
legislative generosity Townley enter
ed the lists second time through the
medium of the petition and again his
man was distanced. Farmer-Labor
was the brand and all it brought the
League candidate, David HI. Evans was
Ill 900 votes to 10000 votes for Gov.
Burnquist. In both the 1882 and 1913
campaigns the issues were pretty
much the same. 1t was discomfort on
one side and good government on the
other and though discomfort gave
every evidence ofgetting the mastery,
good government prevailed. What
The outcome year hence will be is be-
You'd the average mortal. Hardening
again back to the Eighties there is
much on which to base hope. The
Peoples Party did not end with the de-
feat of Donnelly. It came to bat again
in 1894 with Sidney N. Owen as its
standard bearer, but he Jared little
better than the "Sage." By that time
its ranks had become pretty well pur-
ged of radicals and when it again
came forward in 1896 for endorsement
it was as tail to the Democratic
kite. Under the brand, Democratic
Peoples party, John Lind wrested the
state from Republican control. Gov.
Lind once more essayed the same
route, but failed and Populism was
listed among the departed. Shortly
after the launching of the Nonpart-
isan League and the partial capture OF
North Dakota by the Townley forces
Alec Mckenzie, the well known Rep
ublican boss was asked how long the
Townley crowd would last. ooh,
about 6 years." was the answer. That
was some four years ago. The active
life of the Peoples Party was about
six years. 1t never captured the gov
ernorship, but it was power in the
legislature. History has habit of
repeating itself and the Peoples party
and Townleyism is no exception to the
rule.
Showing the similarity between the
Peoples Party which fiourished in the
Eighties and the Nonpartisan League
Of this day and date and its reception
by the thinking classes the newspaper
files of the earlier period offer much
in the way of interest. The word pic
lures Of the picnics and gatherings
which were a feature Of "Pop" pro-
paganda word read like League do
ings of today. Commenting upon
some of the "Pop" nominations for
office Joseph "A. Wheelock of revered
newspaper memory delivered himself
Of the following;
1The Peoples Party is only an eddy
in the political tide upon whose sur
face float and gather all the bits of
sticks and straw, an driftwood, all
the refuse that the floods have gather
ed and rejected. It appeals to no
sentiment ncbler than envy, to no