River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-09-15
Farmers Alliance.

The farmers alliance of Wisconsin
met in state convention at Portage on
the 9TH inst, and the following resolu-
tions were adopted;
This convention representing the various indus
trial and shipping interests of the state of Wis
consin affirm as incontrovertible facts that the
railway system of the country has become a vir-
tual monopoly, corrupting our politics, hindrance
to free and impartial legislation and a menace to
the safety of our republican institutions, ofttimes
debating nominations elections and legislation in
the transaction of their business, basing their
charges not upon cost and risk of service, but
upon what the traffic will bear.
That these and other corporations have be-
come so arrogant that they refuse to listen to
arguments and entreaties, believing their interests
above and paramount to the interests of the peo-
pie. In view of these facts, and believing their
true interests identical with ours and in accord
anee with the decisions of the supreme court OF
the United States, affirming the right of the peo-
pie to regulate the charges upon railroads, this
convention resolves:
First. That we demand a system OF manage
ment which will compel them to do the duties
they owe to the public faithfully at rates reason
able fixed, uniform and equal without extortion.
without wanton charges, and without discrimina-
ton.
Second. We demand of congress remedy
that it shall place the railroads of tho country
under government control enacting laws that
will certainly protect the producer from the terri
Bile extorton under which he has 50 long suffered,
and that we hold our representatives in the ma
tional legislature to strict accountability for
their action in the premises pledging ourselves
and constituency to exert ourselves to the
utmost to defeat the reelection of any man TO
the legislature or the executive office who does
not entirely favor in his official capacity the sub
ugation of railroad corporations to the will the
people.
Third. We demand of our representative polti-
cal parties that they shall hereafter nominate for
congress and the state legislature only such men
as are in sympathy with industrial and CONNER
cal interests and who if elected will work and
vote TO place the producer upon an equal footing
with monopohsts of every character, and to this
end oppose all class legislation; and if our re-
spective parties neglect to do this we pledge our
selves to use every honorable means to defeat
the candidates whom they present for our suf-
frages
Fourth Equal taxation, salaries commensurate
with services performed and an economical ad-
ministratiOn, both state and national.
Fifth. We believe the practice of Issuing free
passes by railroads to be detrimental to the inter-
ests Of impartial legislation.
Sixth. We pledge our support to those 'ur-
mails which support us and urge upon farmers
producers and consumers the recognition Of this
principle.
The following state officers were
chosen:
President-A. A. Arnold, OF Galesyile.
Vice president A. J. Emerson, Of Fit. Winnie
bago.
Secretary-T RI. Earle, of Whitehall
Treasurer. D. Frost of Madison.