Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-05-07

unlawful usurpations of monopolies,
which threaten them with serfdom and
slavery. With the producers of our
country thoroughly banded together
standing shoulder to shoulder in their de-
mand for equitable laws and their faith
tul execution, the result must be grand
victory over tyranny and wrong. The
principles which underlie the platform
adopted by this convention. are the prin-
ciples which commend themselves to an
honest public. They are principles Of
equity and rig ht for the government of
all industries in their several relations
No man should receive the support or
vote OF any person engaged in agriculture
the trades or commerce, who will not first
pledge his unqualified support and adhcr-
ance to the principles of our platform
Neither should any person receive the
support of these industries, for any Office,
who is not thoroughly and unqualifiedly
identified with our interests. Any per
son who accepts and travels on the free
pass of any railroad or transportation
position, places himself under obligations
to such corporations in such manner as to
render independent action for the public
good impossible, and should not be trust
ed as our representatives.
Farmers, we call upon you to organize,
attend your party caucuses, send true
men to your county and state conven-
tons who will see to it that true men, I'M
corrupted and incorruptible, are nomin-
ated, and then see to it that they are
elected The producers of this country
: comprise 70 per cent. of the voters of the
country, and if they do not elect proper
men to office, the fault rests with them
You should associate yourselves with
agricultural associations, not alone for
present needs, but for the future eleva-
ii IN and prosperity Of your industries.
'"The Grange or Patrons Of Husband
ry," ''The Farmers Alliance" and s'The
| North western Agricultural and CONNER
cial Association are organizations now
IN existence throughout Minnesota and
Dakota, and they are commended as
worthy of your support.
In conclusion we call you attention to
| the fact that you have rights and privi-
leges as we'll as responsibilities, demand
and secure them, using the ballot box as
the responsible, propelling and control
ling power of American citizenship.
/ w. T. COLLINS,
| A. NJ. BURDICK,
j. J. FURLoNG,
| Committee on Address.
! Resolutions of the Farmers Convention
of Minnesota and Dakota, held at St..
Paul, Mimi, March Is, 19 and 30, 1884.
| FARMERS PLATFORM
| Whereas, great burdens have been imposed
upon the several industries of agriculture,
commerce and manufacturing by usurped
powers of monopolies, and the said abuses
having assumed proportions which threaten
the the future prosperity of our new Northwest;
Resolved, First-That thorough organization
| of the farmers, trades and commercial indus
tries of the new Northwest is necessary for
| the protection of the industries of the many
as against usurped privileges of the few, ana
to that end immediate systematic organiza-
ton.
Second-That the usurped control and reg
ulation OF minimum capacity OF elevators by
railroad corporations is destructive of indie
and such usurped control should be abolished
by the enactment OF stringent laws.
l. Th!rdIThat by reason OF gross irregulari-
now in practice throughout the Northwest, it
is hereby demanded Of the legislatures of
Minnesota and Dakota that comprehensive
|
of grading and weighing grail, and to that
end law similar to that OF the State of ILL
nois, governing warehouses, elevators and
railroads is hereby commended to the said
Fourth-That upon unrestricted through
transportation OF wheat to eastern markets
rests St. the possibility OF open, Independent
ture prosperity OF agricultural and CONNER
clal Industries of our country demands OF
railroad Interpretations liberal concessions tc
Fifth-That existing tariff rates now i'm.
posed by railroad corporations througho vi
tine
ests of said railroad corporations being iden
tlcal with that of the citizens of the country
traversed by said roads, it is demanded thai
liberal reduction be made in the tariff rates
OF said roads, without further or unreasona
BILE delay.
sixth-That the several industries of agri
culture and commerce demands the enact
ment of law by the national congress gov
erning and regulating Interstate commerce
, the same to be put in operation without I'M
Seventh-That the system of granting ant
accepting free passes by and of railroad ant
) other transportation companies being moth
ing more or less than extensive systematic
bribery, in the interest of monopoly as agains
public duty and policy, the same should b.
abolished by state and national legislation.
Eighth-That the adulteration of food, med
icines and butter, in form of manufactured
oleomargerine and similar brands, is injuri
GUS to health and destructive Of legitimate
industries. and should be prohibited by law
Ninth-That we deem the improvement O.
the Minnesota river to and through Big Stone
lake, Lake Traverse and the Red river: by
lance to the people of Minnesota and Dakota
as it will open up free water route for thei
products and commodities, and we ask ou1
representatives in congress to work and ust
their utmost exertions to secure necessary
appropriations for the extension of said navi
; cation.
| Mot; IN l,o
ton the letting out of convict and prison
labor to contractors is antagonistic, unwise
and unjust to the rights of mechanics ant
artisans, and should be abolished by the state
Eleventh-That this convention recognizes
the several agricultural and commercial as
sociations existing throughout the North
west, as important factors in securing relief
from existing burdeDsOme abuses, and it is
, hereby urgently recommended that the sale
several associations cooperate in securing a:
their representatives in and for all municipal
county, state and national gOvernme nts, the
election Of men who shall be pledged to tideli
ty and the enactment of equal and just laws
for the several industries of our government
and that such men shall be selected by reason
of their known interrupted and incorrupti
bic character; And the following:
Whereas, The present system of national
taxation by the operation of protective tariff
bears heavily and unjustly upon the farming
and laboring classes of the northwest by en-
prices for their goods, thus transferring the
wealth of the West into the pockets Of the
Eastern monopolies, thus unjustly taxing the
people of the West. And whereas, the pre-
sent tariff exceeds the legitimate expenses OF
the government, accommodating hundreds of
millions of dollars in the treasury to be stolen
by scheming rings of politicians, therefore,
Resolved, That we insist on our representa-
tives in congress using their influence anc
vote to lower the present existing tariff as
low as possible for the support of the govern
ment.
Resolved, That it is the sense of this con
vention that the next legislature OF the State
of Minnesota should enter upon a thorough
OF corporate taxation, and especially OF al
railroad properties, including railroad lands
whether they are bearing a just and equitable
amount OF the burden of taxation.
Resolved, That it is high time in this coun-
try that we revive the Sterling principle of
our forefathers, What the office shall seek
the man rather than the man the Office"