St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-19
fixing of weights on packed and barreled

the appointment of committees on pro
gramme of proceedings, on resolutions, ant
on elevators, etc.
THE COMMITTEES.
After some discussion it was agreed tina
| the convention should take recess, during
which the Minnesota delegates should cleo
three members of the committee of resolu
tons for each congressional district. 1t was
also agreed that DR.. Collins should serve OF
that committee for Dakota, and that Joel B
Foster should serve for Wisconsin. Afte
the recess the committee was reported as fol
| lows:
Dakota-Dr. W. T. Collins.
| Wisconsin-Hon. Joel B. Foster.
First District-John Frank, of Mower, J. B
Bevord, of Mower, and Henry Tunnel, of Free
| born.
| Second District-H C. Howard, of Blue Earth,
Charles c. Bryant, of Brown, and A. A. William
son, of Faribault.
Third District. Benjamin, of McLeon, g
Tanner, of Goodhue, and S. P. Brown, of Nc
| Leod.
Fourth District-T T. Smith, of Dakota, W. s
Cowan, of Hennepin, and A. P. Miller, OF
Wright.
Fifth District-H. Stevenson, of Polk; j. B
Homp, of Otter Tail, and John Maginnis, OF
Stevens.
Pending the appointment of committee
on programme by the chairman Mr.. BurdicB
stated that Prof. G. L. Whitney,of Michigan,
prominent organizer of farmers associa-
tons and a good speaker upon the topics tc
be discussed here, was present in the city,
and he hoped he would be invited to address
the convention tomorrow and afterwards
again if it could be arranged. During his
remarks, Mr. Burdick asserted that he was
told yesterday by a railroad president that
the stealing of wheat along his line ofroad ex-
ceeded all the road received for transporta-
ton of the product.
A committee on programme was then
appointed as follows: E. Mattson of Wilkin,
H E. Boer of Otter Tail, J. J. Furlong of
Mower, J. A. Bull of Hennepin and A. A.
Williams of Faribault.
DISCUSSION.
Pending the question of appoin ting a
committee of ten on railroads anG transporta-
ton, Mr.. Brown of Mcleod, protested against
suggestion of sending the committee to
confer with the railway managers and said
the farmers had had enough of that and ii
was time now for farmers to act, and if con-
ferences with railroads were necessary leave
it to the railroads to come to the farmers,
instead of they going to the railroads. The
remark was greeted with applause.
Mr. Mattson, of Wilkin, argued that the
railroads are vast owners of property-lands
as well as railroad property-and if the farm
ers do not meet them now they must at least
be prepared to meet them in the legislature.
Mr. McEwen, of Big Stone, was favorable
to properly presenting the grievances of the
farming community to the railroad men, if
thought expedient.
Mr. Cowan, of Hennepin, said he consid-
cred himself a fair talker, but he never met
a railroad man who couldn't out talk him.
He favored the appointment of a committee
to collect the facts and lay them before the
people of the state, and he favored carrying
the questions between the farmers and the
railroads vigorously into the election of the
Legislature.
Mr. Mattson spoke of the need of bet
ter information about the details of railway
management and operation.
Mr. Sprague of Fillmore, speaking of the
fund of reliable information at command of
the convention, without calling upon railroad
men, remarked that the convention was not
met to break down these great corporations
but to demand justice and concoct means for
enforcing their demands
the committee, spoke of reports he had re-
ceived from the state railway commissions of
twenty-five states, which he hoped would be
read here or considered by the committee, SO
that if they had an enemy to hit they might
learn where to strike-whether a square
blow between the eyes or somewhere else
where it WON'T hurt much.
Mr.. Palmer, of Marshall, said no man
should be on this committee who rides on a
pass over any railway.
MORE COMMITTEES.
Another recess was then had for selection,
of committee of ten on railroads and trans
portation, and also a committee of three on
grading and elevators, after which the COM
mittees were reported as follows:
On Railroads and nsportation-First dis
trict, John Frank of Mower and I. P. Sprague of
Fillmore. Second district, L.. Aldrieh of Murray
and Charles c. Brandt of Brown.
Third district, M. R. Parks, OF EcLeod and T. T.
Smith of Dakota; Fourth district, E. j. Wood
ward, of Hennepin A C. Kimball, of Anoka, and
N. nSmall, of Anoka; Fifth district, Mr.. Bur-
dick, of Clay, and D. C. Smith, of Stearns; Da-
kota territory, F. L. Dana.
On grades and elevators-First district j. F.
Furlong and J.. Brevold, of Mower, and Henry
Tunnel of Freedom; Second district, Daniel
Murphy, of Waseca, John P. Schonbeck, of Mic
ollet, and G. W. Haigh, of Blue Earth,
Third district G. W. Day, of Mcleod, K. N.
Guiteau, of Dakota and Frank Merler Of Carver
county. Fourth district, W. S. Choman, of
Hennepin, and A. P. Miller, of Wright. Fifth
district, H. G.. Palmer, j. M. Harms and II. G.
Stordock.
TAXATION, ETC.
Mr.. Converse spoke of the evils of uneven
taxation, -instancing as unjust the taxation
of mortgaged property and proposed the ap-
pointment of committee on taxation. Mr.
Guiteau, Mr.. Chowan, Mr.. Burdick and
others spoke to the question.
The latter in his remarks stated that the
terms of the call were that the convention
was to consider the grievances of farmers
with view to concerted action in the next
political campaign. 1t was organization was
wanted, as he vehemently urged and the two
days the convention Is yet to sit, he said,
should be used for that purpose.
Another delegate agreeing that taxation
was unequal and oppressive, thought there
would be less trouble in securing proper leg
islation on that subject than on the main
questions they had met to consider.
A Mower county delegate and Mr.. Harris,
of Stevens county, spoke of the great import
ance of organization, the latter dwelling
especially on the difficulties of bringing the
farmers to act together, because of their diff
ferences in interests, language and educa-
ton.
Mr.. Harrington, of Wabashaw, speaking of
taxation, remarked upon the action of the
state board of equalization in raising coun-
try valuations of stock, ETC., and rarely rails
ing the assessment on capital invested in
mercantile business, etc.
Mr.. Baker, of Ramsey, thought the conven-
ton might sow too much seed, more than it
could cultivate, in planning out its bust
ness. Hewould have the convention aided by
the railroad commissioner, study
out what legislation is needed
and then plan how to select and elect the