The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-03-28

State Of Minnesota is hereby requested
to pass a railroad warehouse law SINH
lar TO the ones now in force in the
States of Massachusetts, or Illinois.
Resolved, That the members OF this
convention go home to their respective
districts and use all the influences in
their power to elect members of the
next legislature who will pledge them
selves to the support OF such legisia-
ton; and
WHEREAS, The members of the State
Senate of Minnesota were chosen for
four years, and those constituted the
last State Senate will form the next; be
it
Resolved, That the members of this
convention, before the meeting of the
next Senate, shall use their best efforts
with the present Senators of their in
terest and cooperation in this matter,
and that by petitions and resolutions
from their respective towns and coun-
ties, they instruct the members of the
present. Senate to work for the passage
of such all act.
Resolred, That il is the desire of this
convention that Congress pass the
necessary laws regulating Interstate
commerce.
Dakota was represented by DR.. Col
Inns, of Grand Forks, who worked earn
estly for the objects in view. He was
not at all sparing in his denunciations
of the mill and elevator companies.
J. +. Diamond, ii. c. Howard, w. g..
Haigh, Eli Warner and J. Gilmore
were in attendance from Blue Earth
county and took active parts. Mr..
Diamond took occasion to assure the
convention that Southern Minnesota
would be ready TO lend support to any
thing it did that is right.
w. G. Haigh was called upon for the
report of the State University on the
analysis of wheat, of different grades
rendered two years ago, and which was
reported in our columns ut that time.
The matter of deserving the old par
ties was considerably discussed all
through the convention, and Mr.. How
ard, of Hcnnepin county, remarked that
if the old parties would espouse the
farmers cause, and recognize their
rights, he was satisfied, but in his own
opinion he believed that President
Arthur did not know whether a
hog WAS vegetable or mineral pro-
duct.
Prof. {. l.. Whitney, of Michigan, was
called to the floor and spoke briefly,
but pointedly. He began by saying:
The farmers needed thorough and
systematic organization. The farming
classes bear a relation to almost every
other class, each of which has duty
to perform, and there is mutual de-
pendence upon each other. Even in
the days of the pilgrim fathers the
farming element first cleared the coun-
try and began the progress which has
since widened 80 wonderfully. Then
commerce and manufacturing followed.
So each class had it's relation to the
other. This talk of Sending some
body" to look after the. interests of the
farmers will not do; if the farmers want
their rights respected they must per,
sonally look after those matters which
directly affect them. SiXty-tive PEI
cent. of the voters are farmers, and yet
they don't exercise their authority in
political matters.
The Prof. urged the farmers toattend
the primaries and use their power in
getting the men they want to represent
them in the legislature.
The railroad pass, plug hat" lawyer
pine land ring, and all such, received
emphatic attention, and we may ex.
pect u great deal of stress to be laid up.
on these points in the next campaign
The farmers have real grievances, and
cause enough for decided action ON
their part; although many of the excen-
trio ones exaggerate these and some,
times may throw blame and censurc
where it is not deserved.
Some of the papers in reporting theil
proceedings remark, rather good ma
turedly, of the great lack of parliament
tary practice in their proceedings, but
the farmers work in a free, determined
manner, regardless of all the niceties OF
parliamentary practice. They are
Thoroughly aroused and can now be said
to be properly organized, and will no
doubt make an effort to WELD all pos
sible influence in making up our next
legislature. There are a great many
able and educated men engaged in
farming, who are capable of Investigate
ing broad questions, and can make
themselves felt in the campaign next
fall, if they make an effort.