The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-10-14
FARMERS ALLIANCE.
Meeting OF the National Rody at Chi

Meeting OF the National nOdy at Chi
cage.
The second annual meeting OF the National
Farmers Alliance was held in Hershey Hall,
Chicago on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct.
and 6. Delegates were present from Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan, Iowa. Minnesota, Kansas,
Nebraska, Wisconsin and New York.
The Secretary reported that the alliance was
in favorable condition. There were nearly
1000 subordinate alliances in existence with
membership of 24,50O. The alliances were dis
tributed AZ follows: Nebraska, 291; Kansas,
245; Iowa. $50: New York, so; Wisconsin,, 81;
Michigan 10; Missouri, 80; Indiana, 10; Illi-
nols. 40; Minnesota, so.
The presiding officer, w. j. Fowler, made
brief speech, in the course of which he stated
that the alliance had so extended its field of
usefulness and its capacity for work that it
could take hold of questions which a year ago
1t was unable to grapple with. The alliance
would now be able to go for some of the patent
monopolies, such az the barbed-wire swindle, in
instance. There was money enough to carry
the barbed-wire cases up TO the higher courts,
end thus much material aid could be given to
the farmer.
Mr.. Mulhollaad reported that the prospects
of the alllancs IN Kansas were fourishing.
that State differed good deal from that
in most or the others. State Alliance
had been formed at Des Moines, and the only
objection raised to coming into the National
Alliance was the life-membership rule. He
thought that the voting should rest with the
active members, and that men should not be
allowed in on the strength Of their money.
Mr.. Anderson said that Wisconsin had not had
a farmer representative in Congress during
the twenty years he had been a resident of the
State. He thought the farmers should unite to
support the alliance. The Wisconsin State
Alliance was we'll officered and was doing well.
Mr.. Wood of Iihneis, reported very oncour-
aging feeling throughout his State, and firm
determination on the part of farmers to join in
the movement. III the two great political
parties continued to neglect the interests of the
producers, the latter would swing loose and
vote independently. They would go into their
own political conventions and vote for their
own men, and, il they could not carry their
point, they would support independent
men. The farmers of Illinois had voted long
enough against their own interests, and had
been led like lambs to the slaughter every time
the ballot box was passed around. The ALI
ance was not designed to form new party, but
to encourage independence among the members
OF the existing parties.
sir. Norton, Of Wisconsin, said that as long
az the farmers were content to be led by the
ears hy the leaders Of the two old parties 1t
suited the managers well enough. When the
formers were satisfied there was no hope from
either side they would come out and act for
themselves.
Mr.. Wood of Illinois, said it was q mistake
to think that nothing could be got from exist
ing political organizations. The trouble was
that farmers stuck too close to their fields and
barns, and allowed the moss-back politicians to
run the caucuses and conventions. He did not
think it necessary TO form a new party for ex-
penence had taught them that they could Sc
cure their ends and yet remain in the existing
parties. The farmers formed 80 per cent of
the voting population of the country, and, by
influencing nominations, could compel the leg
isatiou they wanted
Mr.. Williams said the farmers could not con-
troll nominations. The politicians put mp the
conventions and freely distributed drinks.
lunches, and money If necessary. The COM
bined influence OF the whisky and railroad in
terests was brought to bear, and the farmers
got left.
Mr.. Root, of Nebraska, said the great trouble
in Nebraska was with the "machine," which
had run the State until the meanest men in it
got all the Offices. He proposed that men,
bers Of tho alliance should nominate their own
mon, and II Republicans or Democrats choose
TO vote for them, so much the better. In Ne
braska the farmers sought to get equal taxa
ton, and that monopolics should treat all men
up men at their pleasure. Railroads should
not be allowed to freeze out men by system
OF rebates-anothor name for robbery. Ne
braska farmers wanted no legislation 10 protect
the interests of the producer, and only asked
such legislation as would prevent other men
from stealing.
The committee on changes in the constitution
presented report recommending several mi
nor changes in the document The only i'm.
portant changes suggested was one aboishing
the lifc-membership clause, which was adopt
ed. IL was decided that q national lecturer
should be added to the list of officers OF the al
lance. An amendment to the effect that each
State having an alliance should be entitled to
two delegates and TO one extra dele
gate for every 900 individual members of the
alliance was adopted A proposition to admit
representatives OF all farmers societies to the
deliberations of the alliance was debated al
extrtm length, the chief question raised be-
Ing whether or no the Grange representatives
should be allowed to vote. The rule on this
subject was allowed to stand rs before, so that
the outsiders can both talk and vote.
The Committee on Resolutions then reported
the following, which were unanimously adopted,
WHEREAS, Farmers and others are oppressed
by unequal taxation, by subsidies to monopo
lies, by selfish and dishonest officials by rail
road extortion and unjust Determinations aud
by other privileged classes and.