Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-03-05
FARMERS ALLAN nee. .

at the State University in Fifth Annual
Session. ID. &a.<
r sive Series Of Resolutions. - s
The Minnesota Farmers Alliance held o
session OF three days at the State Univer-
sity, Minneapolis. President George w.
Sprs.gue OF Fillmore county called the meet
ing to or,ler, and the venerable secretary,
George W. Haigh Ct Mankato, sat beside
him. President Northrop gave a brief adj
dress OF greeting:
The following were named az a commit
tee on credentials, one for each congress
sional district: Thomas Bursell, Fillmore
county; J. L. Diamond, Blue Earth; Mil
ton Cutler, Mcleod; Hugh Campbell,
Washington; T. c. Hodgeson, Grant coun-
ty. Mr.. Myers was admitted without the
Formally OF credentials.
Hon. Daniel Buck OF Mankato, delivered
all address, occupying about an hour and
extended to him. He believed that one OF
the greatest mistakes that this govern
ment ever madewa when it commenced to
grant millions Of acres Of the public do
main to great corporations. It was sewing
theseeds ofcorruption that haveripenedu n-
til there stands a dark spot in the nations
history. If there is a curse resting upon
| this part OF the country that is unbeara-
BILE, it is the fact that millions OF railroad
lands remain untaxed, the owners bearing
| none OF the burdens OF government. The
while the railroad land adjoining escapes.
And this is the boosted land OF equality.
There are nearly a quarter OF a million
more tenants in the United States
than in Great Britain and Ireland.
The curse and danger OF this country lies
in the immense farms, accumulated wealth
and rich corporate monopo,ies. Then there
is the matter Of unjust Determinations in
railroad matters. You want the whipping
post or a steam spanker or striped jacket
for men who do this. The rebate system
remedies for this state OF things, and hint
ed that the alliance might have
to make nominations OF it's own.
The committee on credentials submitted
a report showing a very large number Of
accredited delegates.
A committee on resolutions was appoint
cd as follows:
First Distriet-William Sprague, John
Bursell.
HeCCnd--~a. ~. w llilalnS, Wlliltilu Wei>U.
Third-I. Donnely, j. S. Shields.
FOURTH. +. Taft. NJ B. Cochran.
Fiith-Gen. T. B. Barrett, Charles Can
ming.
At Larce-D. Cleveland, stearns county;
| r. H. Hinton, Rock county; J. c. Epler.
| Otter Tail county.
On the second day. it WAS suggested that
the railroad and warehouse commission
ers and chief Inspector, who were present
be invited to make statements of the work.
ings of the law. Gen. Baker, Commission
er Murdoch ard the inspector accordingly
| took the platform. Gen. Baker and Mr.
workings OF the roilroad law, and respond
ed to various interogations
| At the opening of the afternoon session
Ignatius Donnelly. cha rlnan, announces
that the committee on resolutions was read
to report. In submitting the very volumi
nous report, Mr.. Donnelly SAID the onl
| apology he had to offer for the length Of tn
resolutions was the number Of the wrong
that were suffered. He considered thu
voluminousness the best possible commen
| tarY on the necessity for radical reforms
During the reading Mr.. Donnelly was re
peatedly interrupted by applause
Resolved, That it is with pride we call the at
that the only remedial legisla ion which the PEG
! pie have obtained during the past twenty years
however defective il may vet be- is due to tn
| existence and labors of the Farmers ailianc
and the public opinion which it has helped t
create.
Resolved, That this alliance. while not par
tisan association, Is political in the sense that
seeks to correct the evils of misgovernmen
! through the ballot box: that lis existence ha
been rendered necessary by the failure ct bot
! of the great political parties of our state t
| malnt ain the rights OF the people against cor
| pOratc ODD, SsSion.
Resolved, That the Republican party, ha vim
| had complete control OF the state government
| through all the wears during which the evils q
| which we complain have arisen, must be bel
responsible for it's failure to abate or abolish
them, except when forced to do SO in part las
| winter upon our demand; While on the Othe
hand many of the so-called leaders Of the Demo
| cratic party have been among the most servil
| and supple tools OF the railroads and rings
While recognizing, therefore. the honesty of tn
rank ana Tile OF botn parties, declare inten
| ton TO give our surfaces. without regard to pas
! party affiliations, only to those who have prove
by their past acts their fidelity to our interests
| Resolved, That there really but two partie
! in this state to-day-rhe people and thei
| plunderers. The only Issue is: Shall the peop]
keep the fruits Of their own industry, or sha]
| the thieves carry them away?
! Resolved, That we call upon all producers an
| all persons interested in the prosperity of til
producers OF this state in town and country
| upon all merchants, laboring rneu mechanic
| and professional men to unite with us at tn
ballot box next November to secure a legisla
ture that will work in the interests Of the man
| aSal Isl TIE cXaCLlGnS or the lew.
Resolved, That until all the grievances of thu
people are redressed we demand annual session
! OF the state Legislature. The term OF sixty day
! in two years is TOO short a space for the neces
sary legislation OF a great and rapidly growin.
community. 1t is Saving at the spicke
! and wasting at the bung" It is a shame
full thing that free people should SO tie thei
eminent in It's highest prerogatlve, the maxim:
of our laws. for more than sixtv-days in tv
years, no matter what may be their grievances
unless an official of their own election permit
them to assemble in extra session.
ltesolyes, That all attempts to belitule FREE
institutions by first corruptug aud then ridicuL
ing our legislators, and thereupon abolishins
the sessions of our legislature. are parts OF
general movement in this country inauguraret
by those who live upon the people, and wh'
would be glad TO reduce US to the Russian sys
| tenn. where no legislature ever ASSEMBLIES.
Whereas, The farmers OF Minnesota do not a.
class make one per cent per annum on tn
value OF their lands and plant after deductin
sation for their own time and labor: and where's
they produce the greater part OF the rea
wealth OF the state and bear the major portion
OF the burdens Of the government: therefore,
Resolved. That we demand that the legis
lature shall exercise the powers which tn
supreme court Of the United States has time an,
again affirmed 1t possessed of, to reeulat
fretghts and charges upon the railroads Of th
State, so as to give those who have settled II
this region OF country u fair chance for an hon
| est living.
| in a severe climate for q bare subsistence. W
are opposed to railroad corporations drawin
from them by excessive charges vast sums O
money, wherewith: First, to pay princey sala
r1es to officials, salaries nearly as high as tina
! OF the president Of the United States; second
/ to corrupt our legislatures so as to DENY u
! remedial legislation; third, to buy up news
papers, to befog and mislead the public; third
| to pay Interest on vast quantities of bonds snt
! watered stocks, which do not represent one dol
lar Of actual capital paid In, but are simply CO
| agulated stealage
| Resolved. That we demand such reduction II
the rates OF transportation Of freight and passen
gers on the railroads Of this state, as viii leay
the companies, after paying their legitimate ex
! penses. just and reasonable interest on tn
! money invested in the actual construction O
the roads, but not one dollar on the "stealage
| or watered stock -
! Resolved, That while preserving our presen