The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-09
FARM ANp GRANGE
The Autobiography State Convention, held
at Owatonna, July 29th, 1879.
THE CONVENTION.

THE CONVENTION.
This was mass convention; all VINO
endorse the principles being invited.
There were about fifty present. AT IL
O'Clock the meeting was called TO order
nv O. II. Page, who read the call. Hon.
4. Ayres was elected chairman, and up
on taking his position, he spoke as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen of the Independent State Com
raittee
| thank you for the honor conferred
npon me. Permit me to congratulate
YOU for your enterprise, your devotion to
principle, your manly independence,
your patriotism, your sacrifice OF time at
this busy season in attending this work
ingmen's convention.
know from whence you come by the
hardened hands and sun-browned vlsag-
es that mark you rs husbandmen and
tsi)ers in the sun scorched fields OF Min
nesota. also recognize your co-opera-
tive brothers of the busy workshop who
have left the workbench and the anvil
10 attend. as free Americans should, to
the political affairs Of our State and ma
ton. l realize the emergency must De
eat that calls you forth; but lmperlled
interests and an Imperfect country
nrompt to action and make the path OF
duty plain. Let your further acts. broth
er toilers, show our opponents that we
know our rights, and knowing, dare
maintain them.
I,etus show the world that we recog-
nize the principle that men, not money
still rule America Let US, tur
theruorc, show to old party leaders that
we owe them no further allegiance, but
have shaken off the shackles of party
and have arisen to the high dignity o
independent voters. Our brothers II
distant California and other states ART
reaching out their hands to grasp ours
in fraternal recognition; and let us an
swer them that Minnesota's hardy toll
iLp sons are with them, in all that tend
to emancipate labor from the thraldon
of capital, and to reform ana purify TIL
noble government, handed down TO
by our fathers.
III. Ii. Young moved the appointment
OF the committee on resolutions, ou
withdrew for the election OF secretary
MIR. Page. of Olmsted county, havin
been elected secretary. Mr.. Young n
uewed his motion for the appointment
a committee OF five on resolutions. whic
was adopted, and the chair appointed /
II. Young, of Olmsted. chairman; ID.
b Mollson, OF Mower; }. j. Hibbart
OF, st. Louis; Joseph Goar, of Rice, an
T. p. James, Of Washington. Nj
Young thereupon invited the committe
to retire to the hotel room where Il
consultation OF the morning had bee
held. During the absence OF the con
mittee the convention took an informs
recess.
The platform was read by II.
Young, chairman.
The platform rs finally adopted was
follows:
PLATFORM.
WHxRKAs. Our fathers established I,
government and enjoined it upon their su
cessors TO preserve 1t for posierity; ana,
WHEREAS, Through official corruption =
special legislation it has been pervertso =
is now made instrumental in aggrandinng
rich and expressing the poor; and,
WHEREAS, Both the republican and dem
cratic parties include monopolists in In
membership and are controlled by them, =
il is not, therefore, supposable that need
reforms can b. effected through their asen'
and
WHxRKAs, 1t Is our solemn conviction y
If ths government is continued to be admi
ist.rad Is it hrs been the time is not far q
tant when the overthrow Of our free iusti,
tions win lie complete; be ii, therefore,
Resolrsd, That we, the people OF MINES,
in convention assembled pledge ourselves
Anti Monopoly party. with view to separ
INDEPENDENT political action, and that We
clars the following to be the principles
procure the adoption of which. as the pol
upon which our governmental aiaan shall
conducted, we viii use all honorable asaila
means on all proper occasions
Ers,- That as labor produces the wealtl
tha nation. the prime object Of governm
should he 10 secure the freedom, prorpea
and happiness Of its laboring people; and