St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-02-27
ANINsuLT TO FARMERs

! that the members of the Farmers alliance
are a set of numskulls who have no conf
dence in their own judgment. but who per
nit Mr.. IGNATIUs DoNNELLT to lead
them around BIZ the nose Discussing the
platform of principles adopted by the ALI
ance at its recent session. the Pioneer Press
Of yesterday says:
We hardly think the resolutions intr oduced
and pushed through by Mr.. DoSNELLY fairly
represent the spirit and purposes of the con-
vention. AS body they are not disposed 10
insist on violent remedies or Incorporate
measures. They want such legislation as
will adequately protect them from unjust ex-
actions by railroad corporations or elevator
companies; but they are not disposed 20 yield
to the demands Of the more radical extrem-
lists, or 70 Join SIR. DoNNELLY in stigmatizing
! as plunderers and thieves all who are charged
with the management Of the railroads Of the
state.
The above-quOted paragraph is not only
an injustice to Mr.. DoNNELLY, but it is a
downright insult 10 the intelligent body of
Minnesota farmers who constitute the alli-
ance. That the resolutions were written
by Mr.. DoNNELLY goes without saying,
for there is no other writer in the stale who
could use such terse and vigorous language
in the enunciation of the principles of the
organization in whose behalf he was speak
! ing. And it is also true that the resolu-
tons expressed the opinions of the alliance
for when the report was submitted each
resolution received hearty round of APP
plause. SO far from the resolutions being
forced through under gag. as the Pioneer
Press would lead the public 10 believe was
the case. they were submitted and read in
open convention with the privilege to each
and every member to offer any amend
ment that might be desirable. AS
matter of fact several amend
ments were made by the alliance
to the report of the committee before il
was adopted. AS an instance. the report
as it came from the committee declared in
favor Of the election of the railroad COM
misslOners by the people instead of appoint
ment by the governor. A member moved
an amendment, which was adopted, includ-
ing the dairy commissioner. And in like
manner other amendments were suggested
and adopted.
1t is pretty well understood that the
Third street journal has no special affection
for Mr.. DoNNELLY, but it is difficult TO see
why its personal hostility to the sage of
Nininger should cause IL to seek
to stigmatize the farmers of the
state as set of nincomDoops
utterly without intelligence and independ-
ence. And yet that is just what they would
be if they permitted Mr.. DoNNELLY, or
anybody else. ito introduce and push
a.
spirit and purposes" of the alliance. The
truth is the alliance adopted the resolutions
with its ears and eyes wide open. and with
a full understanding of the meaning of the
report of the committee. The farmers said
just what they meant. and they meant just
what they said, as the corporation bosses
and their organs will find out little later
on.
The Pioneer Press says that the resolu-
tions Stigmatize as plunderers and thieves
all who are charged with the management
OF the railroads of the state. Do they?
Well. let us look at the resolutions ado pied
by the farmers and see what they say. Here
is the resolution:
he solved, That we amsnd such a reduc-
ton in the rates Of transportation OF freight
ana passengers on the railroads OF this state
as viii leave the companies after paying tn cir
legitimate expenses just aud reasonable in
tcrast on the money invested in the actual
construction of the roai, but not one dollar
of the 'stealage'' on watered stock
viii any railroad company which does
not carry watered stock find a charge of
thieving implied in that resolution? Or
viii the Pioneer Press say that railway
company which does water its stock ought
to assess tax on the shippers i'm the shape
Of freight rates in order to pay dividends on
its watered stock. Here is the whole con-
troversy between the farmers and the rail-
roads boiled down to a single prcpo-
sitiOn. The farmers say that the rail-
roads are entitled To fix rates high
enough TO pay all legitimate expenses
and Just and reasonable interest on all the
money invested in the actual construction
of the roads. Here is a proposition which
is the very essence of fairness, and it must
commend Itself to every honest mind. But
because the farmers denOmnate the levying
OF rate assessments TO pay dividends on
watered stock as ''cOagulated stealage''
they are denounced by the Pioneer Press as
extremists. There is no wonder that a sus-
picion has crept into the public mind that
there is an Intimate nervous connection be-
tween the Pioneer Press and tine corpora
tions. Whenever monopoly is hit the
Pioneer Press yells.