The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1924-07-17

the long lire. When they discovered
a person who was not wearing badge,
one was pinned on him. II he remon-
strated or objected he was bounced on
half dozen badges or more were faste-
ened on his garments and he was forced
into the line Of march.
All the candidates were cheered i'm
partially, unanimously and vociferous-
" as they were drawn through crowd
ed streets. College songs and college
yells occasionally broke forth along
the line dmpr0mpfu slogans were
lists"
A dozen, or more old Confederate
veterans. had punched themselves to-
them. which was quite frequently.
high and clear above the din sounded
their wild, shrill piercing rebel yell"
s he ye that a had Desn so fd G{
carnage. Drummer Hoffman and Fifer
Nagle always responded by playing
Dixie" as it can only be played by fife
| and drum, and the marchers roared ap-
prevail in the blood stirring words of
| the song. Then the musicians would
quick shift to the Star Spangled Ban
| chorus than the old Eek Rebs." Every
part of the city was visited except the
insane asylum, and if the crowd had
called there it probably would be there
I
gazaboos that ever turned themselves
loose in celebration.
If any one slept in Fergus Falls that
| night they must have slept in the GEM
/ etery, for pandemOnium resigned SUI
preme in every other part of town un-
til the participators exhausted by their
own exuberance relapsed into quiet
ude.
Very crude and undignifed would
| such performance appear in these
| days of mushy politics and mushy
| politicians, but have always believed
| the affair was denominated by the
Populists, formed a foundation of
| unanimity, an enthusiasm and an ag-
Republican party to victory against
stupendous odds in the campaigns of
1892 and 1895. two of the most remark
| able congressional campaigns ever car
| ried on in the United States.
The partisianism Of those days has
been much criticized by modern polit-
ical purifiers, but when partisanism
by and party
lation the soul was eliminated out of
politics and along with the soul went
sentiment and principle. Individual
ers now do not ask, (which party and
all the people" but. (which party and
me and mine financially?" No wonder
political enthusiasm is a thing of the
past. Men won't enthuse over jock
eying.
Haldor E. Boon of Otter Tail coun-
ty, the sitting member, was re-nomin-
| ated by the Peoples party and the
contest was on.
The Democrats held their convention
after both the other parties had held
theirs. They also met in Fergus. A
strong element in the Democratic party
| favored fusion with the Populists and
| the Endorsement of the Populist candi-
date for Congress. Mr. Boen's friends
We're early on the ground to urge his
Endorsement.
M. Stanton, a brilliant young lawyer
from Argyle, lat present district court
The fusionists thought they put one
Mr.. Stanton chairman of the conven-
| ton thus taking him off the floor of the
| convention. Then one of their members
made motion to indorse the Populist
| oned on resourcefulness of Mr.. Stanton.
Calling trusted lieutenant to the chair
| he took the floor and in brilliant, i'm
FASHIONED speech opposed the fusion
listic pogram, moved as an amendment
| to the fusion motion that as a Demo-
tcratic convention it proceed to nomi-
candidate and placed DR.. J: H. Nc
Lean, a well and favorably known
| physician, in nomination. Under the
tspell Of Stanton's eloquence the amend
/
DR.. Mclean was made the nominee.
An Irish orator once declared: "You
| cannot tell what would have happen
le5 if something had transpired that
never occurred" But Il always have
believed that Stanton's fiery eloqu ance
| ir that Democratic convention prevent
ed fusion and saved me from defeat
IN the election that followed.
The campaign Of 1894, at least as
| far as the Seventh district was con-
ce'ned. was carried on by residents of
the district. The entire contributed
! ca mpaign fund amounted to s135. a
Dcmo o ratio lawyer, Nat Campbell IF
| Crookston, handed me a ten dollar bill,
| and on returning from speaking trip
through Marshall and Kittson count IS,
beth intensely h. stile politically. I ar
rived in Crookston one Sunday after
noon, tired, elsheartened and fist
broke. When had paid the li7eryman
who die We into town 1 hal ID rents
| left. I was seriously thinking of quit
There I found a letter from c. A.
| Pillsbury, whom I had never met be-
| fore or afterward. 1t contained a
check for $125 and stated: II am con-
tributing $125 to the campaign fund
| of each congressional district in the
state, and / hand you a check for that
| amount. Frankly speaking, I do not
but I do admire the great fight you
are putting up, against stupendous
| odds. Keep up the battle. 1t is bet
tier to be defeated in righteous
cause. than it is to win in UNFOLDING
error"
I recall that letter and check with
more pleasure than any other Incl
dent that occurred during my entire
political career.
hn MI r.