Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-09-15

On the 9TH instant the farmers ALI
ance of Wisconsin met in convention
at Portage, and adopted resolutions of
which the following is n copy.
This convention representing the va
rious industrial and shipping interests
OF the state of Wisconsin affirm as in
conference.-the facts that the railway
SYSTEM of the country has become n
virtual monopoly, corrupting our poll
tics, hindrance to free and IMPARTIAL
| legislation and menace to the safety
OF our republican institutions, ofttim es
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 become so arrogant that they re-
fuse to listen to arguments and en-
treaties, believing their interests above
and paramount to the interests of the
people. In view of these c...ts, and
believing their interests Identical with
ours and in accordance with the de-
clsions OF the supreme court of the
United States, affirming the right of
the people to regulate the charges
upon railroads, this convention re-
solves:
First. That we demand a system of
management which will compel them
to do the duties they owe to the public
faithfully at rates reasonable, fixed
uniform and equal, without extortion,
without wanton charges, and without
discrimination.
Second. We demand of congress as n
remedy that it shall place the railroads
OF the country under government con
troll, enacting laws that will certainly
protect the producer from the terrible
extortlon under which he has so long
suffered, and that We hold our repre-
sentatlves in the national legislature to
strict accountability for their action
III the premises, pledging ourselves and
our constituency to exert ourselves to
the utmost to defeat the reelection of
any man to the legislature or to exec
utive office who does not entirely favor
in his official capacity the subjugation
OF railroad corporations to the Will of
the people.
Third. We demand of our repre-
sentative political parties that they
shah hereafter nominate for congress
and the state legislature only such men
as are in sympathy with industrial and
commercial interests and who if elect
ed will work and vote to place the pro.
ducer upon an equal footing with mo-
nopolists of every character, and to
this end oppose all class legislation
and II our respective parties neglect to
do this, we pledge ourselves to use
every honorable means to defeat the
candidates whom they present for our
suffrages.
Fourth. Equal taxation salaries com
mensurate with services performed
and an economical administration,
both state and national.
Fifth. We believe the practice of
issuing free passes by railroads to be
detrimental to the interests of impartial
legislation.
Sixth. We pledge our support to
those journals which support us and
urge upon farmers producers and con-
,sumers, the recognition of this princi-
pie.
The following officers were elected
for the ensuing year:
Presidont-A. A. Arnold, of Gales
vile.
Vice presidential. j. Emerton, of Fl.
Winnebago.
Secretary-T. II. Earle, of White
hall
Treasurer r. d. Frost, of Madison.