The Progress. [volume] (White Earth, Minn.) 1886-1889, 1886-03-25
FIFTH DISTRICT FARMERS.

FIFTH DISTRICT FARMERS.
Three Dsys' Delegate Oonvention at
Moorhead.
A three days. delegate eonven ton Of
the farmers of the Fifth Congressional
district was held at Moorhead, March
8, and 5, being called by the Clay
County Farmers Alliance, for the pur-
pose of discussing railroad and ware
house laws, the agricultural college and
the tariff: The first days proceed
ings were preliminary to the work of
the convention, with M. S. Converse of
Becker county in the chair, and Lyman
Loring of Clay county secretary. The
following committee on resolutions was
appointed: --.....
Charles Canning, Norman; e., G..
Stordock, Wilkin; p S. Olson, Nor
man; A. M. Burdick, Clay; E. Nj.
Jelem, Becker; T. n. Barnett, Grant,
and f. N. Bradish, Polk.
SECOND DAY.
The second day opened with large
attendance and was devoted to discuss
ing freights and grades, the proceed
ings being animated and Interesting
throughout. Messrs. Baker, Murdoch
and Becker of the State railroad COM
mission were present.
Mr.. Loring stated that the principal
grievance of the farmer was the high
freight rate charges by the railroads to
transport the great staple product of
that region of country to the markets
at Duluth and Minneapolis. The farm
ers were not disposed to regard the
railroads as their enemies, but rather,
as their partners, and the complaint
was that the railroads got too large a
share of the profits. The people had
the right, under the decisions of the
Supreme court and rules of the rail-
road commissioners to make laws to
regulate freight charges.
Gen. Baker, speaking for the State
railroad commissioners, said they
were in full harmony with the produc-
ing classes, and while doing justice to
all, should give the most liberal inter-
probation to laws favoring their interest.
The operation of the railroad law was
even better than had been anticipated
and it was believed to be the best rail-
road law possessed by any state, and
great point had been gained
and free shipment. All the roads had
complied with section Is (requiring
r. RS. to allow warehouses built) ex-
cept the Milwaukee and they must do
so or suit would follow. Section 16,
requiring.roads to furnish cars. all faith
fully complied with. Under section
20, on the Manitoba road, the Com
missioner has found number of dis
ordinations, from half cent to two
cents against towns on that line. Mr..
Hill had promised that all such dis
examinations should be swept away,
and he was now East comforting
with the directors on that mat
ter. The Manitoba is not only
paying all fixed operating expenses,
but also 6 or per cent on bonds
and 6 or Z per cent. on stock; it made
in 1884 surplus of $4,000 and in
1885 surplus of $1,050,000. The
Commissioners deem the rates of this
road unreasonable and think they have
the power to say so. The, Commits
sioners believed the time had come
when passenger rates should be re-
duced to three cents mile. The
same as in Illinois, Iowa ana
Wisconsin, and Minnesota has more
miles of road than Wisconsin.
Messrs. Loring, Torgerson, Mattson,
Canning and Donaldson were appointed
committee to submit questions to the
Commissioners to be answered in writ
ing.
THIRD DAY.
The morning session was devoted to
the consideration and discussion of the
series of resolutions, which after the
debate were adopted as follows:
Resolved, That the farmers of the
Fifth congressional district, after due
deliberation and investigation, find that
the railroad rates are unjust, excessive and
extortionate; that oil our petitions for
relief have been met with fair promises,
only to be broken, as experience proves;
per cent. and if not granted in thirty
days we demand our honorable board Of
railroad and warehouse commissioners to
fix rates.
Resolved, That we recommend the
farmers of the Northwest to build fat
warehouses, and ship their wheat only to
those houses that comply with the
warehouse laws at terminal points
Resolved, That we instruct our represen-
tatives in congress and senators to support
q bill reported by the senate committee on
interstate commerce for the regulation and
control of railroads by the federal govern
ment.
Resolved, That we recognize in the Farm
ers' Alliance of Minnesota an active, ener-
getic and powerful organization for the
overthrow of monopoly, and we thank them
for the full, clear and fearless declaration
Of principles adopted at the annual conven-
ton, and we hereby recommend the alli-
ance to the farmers of the state for their
earnest financial and personal support.
The concluding session of the con-
vention in the afternoon was occupied
with addresses by o. c. Gregg of
Lyons county upon Institute Work, c..
L. Smith of Hennepin county upon
Better Farming, and by Mr.. Hodges
the state lecturer of the Farmers
Alliance. .-.-..%
Storm Scared Miners.