The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-03-28
FARMERS IN CONVENTION AT ST.
PAUL,

among the ieadlng agricultur1sts VI the
State, that this convention was called
for March IS, 10 and 20, and the differ
ent counties were invited to participate,
but about twenty counties, only, re-
sponded by sending delegates, besides
representatives from Dakota, Wiscon-
sin and Michigan. There were q great
many in attendance besides the dele
gates, who were invited to take part in
the proceedings.
Any reader of newspapers is familiar
with the different topics which are
brought into discussion at such times.
At St"Paul, the grading of wheat, the
Minneapolis miller's association, cor
porate taxation, transportation, rail
road passes and other topics were
handled earnestly, but the one which
was agitated most vigorously was the
matter of forming a legislature next
fall, which will be friendly to the farm
ers and attempt to have their grievanc-
es properly adjusted. A great many
were in favor of forming a new party
for the purpose of electing a farmers
legislature. This, however, was dis
couraged by those of better judgement,
and the scheme was finally abandoned,
and other ways devised, for securing
farmers legislature. 1t was finally de-
cided to appoint committee to consist
of five members from each Congress
sional district which is expected to make
efforts to disseminate the sentiment of
the convention throughout the State.
The members appointed from the Sec
ond district are: j. A. baltimore, Fari-
bault county; Daniel Murphy, Waseca
county; l.. Aldrich, hurry county; ii.
{. Howard, Blue Earth county, and
Chas. +. Brnt, Brown county.
The custom mills of the State were
considered, and action taken in the
way of resolution, which We give:
Rfsoirei, That il liz the request of this
convention that the next Legislature
pass law compelling all millers or mill
operatives, carrying on Il gristing or ex-
change business, tn do said gristing or
exchange at the rate of one-tifth toll,
namely: Thirty-five pounds straight
flour, eight pounds bran, five pounds
| shorts. This is for No. l wheat, and all
lower grades i'll proportion.
Some farmers were of the opinion
that great deal of extortion is prac-
ticed by many of the custom mills in
taking tolls. They went down for the
Office seekers by resolution also. 1t
seemed to be the sentiment of the con-
vention that no Office seeker should he
recognized and they expressed this in
the following resolution:
Reeolued, That it is high time in this
country that we revive the sterling
principles of our forefathers, THAT the
Office shall seek the man, rather than
the man the office"
A committee on resolutions was APP
pointed, with II. G. Howard, chairman,
which reported the resolutions here
annexed, and on motion of Mr.. Matson
of Wilkin county, the report was adopt
ed:
WHEREAS, Great burdens have been
| imposed upon several industries of
agriculture, commerce and manufacture
ing by ,tsurped powers of monopOlies
and the said abuses have assumed pro-
portions which threaten the prosperity
of our new Northwest; therefore be it
Res0i,rd, First-That thorough Organi-
ZatiOn of the farmers, trade and COM
mercial industries of the new North
west is necessary for the protection of
the industries of the many as against
usurped privileges offered and to that
end immediate and systematic Organi-
zation is urgently recommended by this
convention.
Second-That the usurped control
and regulation of minimum capacity of
elevators by railroad corporations is
destructive of independent competition
/ in the purchase of grain and such
usurped control should be abolished by
the enactment of stringent laws.
Third-!That by reason of gross irreg-
lflarities in the grading and weighing
of wheat now in practice throughout the
Northwest, il is hereby demanded of
the legislature of Minnesota and Dakota
that comprehensive practical laws be
enacted for the government of grading
and weighing of grain, and TO that end
law similar 10 that in the State Of
Illinois, governing warehouses, .eleva-
tors and railroads is hereby commend
ed to the said legislatures.
Fourth-That upon unrestricted
through transportation OF wheat to east
ern markets rests the possibility ofOpen,
independent competition in the grain
market, and the future prosperity of
agricultural and commercial industries
| r. a,,s Il off, oilr0o1 anr-
poratiOns liberal concessions to that
end.
Fifth-That existing tariff rates now
imposed by railroad corporations
throughout the new Northwest are
exhorbitant, oppressive and unrcason-
able, and by reason of the interests of
said railroad corporations being identi-
cal with that of the citizens of the coun-
try traversed by said roads, it is de-
| manded that liberal reduction be made
| in the tariff rates of said roads, without
| further or unreasonable delay.
Sixth-That the several industries of
agriculture and commerce demands the
enactment of a law by the National
Congress governing and regulating i'll
| ter-state commerce, the same to be put
In operation without unreasonable de-
lay.
Seventh-That the system of granting
and accepting free passes by and of
railroad and other transportation COM
panies being nothing more nor less
than extensive systematic bribery, in
the interest ofmOnOpoly as against pub
lie duty and policy, the same should be
abolished by State and National legis-
latiOn.
Eighth-That the adultcration of
food medicines and butter, in form of
manufactured Oleomargerine and SINH
lar brands, is destructive of health and
injurious to legitimate industries, and
should be prohibited by law.
Ninth-That we deem the improve
ment of the Minnesota river to and
| through Big Stone Lake, Lake Traverse
| to be of vast importance to the peo-
pie of Minnesota and Dakota, as it will
open up free water route for their
products and commodities, and we ask
our representatives in Congress to work
and use the utmost exertiOn to secure
necessary appropriation for the extern
sion of said navigation. o.
Tenth-That in the opinion of this
convention of the letting out of convict
and prison labor is antagonistic, unwise
and unjust to the rights of mechanics
and artisans, and should be abolished
by the State.
Eleventh-That this convention rec
ognizes the several agricultural and
commercial associations existing
throughout the Northwest as important
factors in securing relief from existing
burdensome abuses, and it is hereby
urgently recommended that the said
several associations cooperate in Sc
curing as their representatives in and
for all municipal, county, State and Ma
tional governments the election of men
who shall be pledged to fidelity and