The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-03-04


committee on credentials was appoint
ed and reported and the following
committee on resolutions was selected:
First District-william Sprague, John
Bursoll.
Hecond-A. A. williams. william Webb
Third-I Donnelly, j. =. Shields.
FOURTH. b. Taft, N. b. Cochran.
.Nfth-0en. 7. B. Barrett, Charles Can
ming.
2. b. Hinton. Rock county; ]. g. Epier,
Otter Tail county.
No other business was transacted the
first day.
Second Day.
At the opening Of the session the fol-
lowing resolution was adopted:
Whereas, In consequence Of the compe-
tition Of British India, Egypt and other
countries II supplying wheat to England
and other European countries which for
merry rot their supply from the American
market. and whereas, in consequence OF
said competition the price Of grain has been
Therefore, 30 il resolved, That 1t is an i'm
psrative duty Of our legislature TO enact
such laws . will reduce the cost Of selling
and moving the grain to tho very lowest
cost, and for that purpose we are In favor
Of law which will enable the farmers to
ship grain In bags at carload rates.
Gen. James III. Baker Of the State
Board Of Railroad Commissioners ad-
dressed tho Alliance at length. He said
some Of the railroads were not making
money and others were making too
much and their profits ought to
be divided with the farmers who
raise the wheat on their lines.
The grain law has been in vogue
but q short time-since the first of last
September. virtually since the 18th of
that month. Caution should be used
In proceeding to amend it. The rail-
road commissioners are the servants of
the farmers, and trust to their wisdom
and inspiration for guidance. The
commissioner are going from station
to station throughout the state, meet
ing in person the people interested,
and they hope by next September or
October to b able to give an opinion.
But the grain law, however defective,
should not be abrogatcd. 1t may be
brought to perfection after awhile.
The farmers should not relax the grip
which they have gotten upon the
grain trade of the state.
In answer. Gen. Baker said that only
one road-the Miiwaukee-has Oppos-
ed the law with regard to placing flat
warehouses along its line. We have
told them now. for the last time, that
unless they. within reasonable time,
acccde to the requirements of the law,
We will bring suit against them. The
last conference was only yesterday,
and we told the representatives Of tho
road that the discussion was now at an
end.
1t has been charged. said a member
Of the Alliance. '.that the elevators of
Minneapolis have remained unliccns-
ed, not because of defect in the law.
but because the commissioners haYc
not enforced the law. How is it. Mr..
Commissioner?
Commissioner Murdock arose to
answer the inquiry. There was an
element in the situation at Minneapolis,
hc said. which we did not appreciate
last winter. Even MIR. Pillsbury. who
was in the legislature, did not ap-
preciate it. The elevator men at
ed to take our licenses. In talking it
over it came out that the wheat is put
in the bins for the mills regardless of
grade. One half the grain that comes
here goes direct to the mills. As we
have constructed the law, If the wheat
Of the different owners is kept separate
the warehouses need not become pub
lie warehouses. The warehouses here
..chose the lesser evil' and now keep
the grain of different owners separate.
But all but small fraction of the grain
received in Minneapolis has been in
spected and weighed by the state. This
situation calls for an amendment to the
law permitting the mil!ers to rent bins
in public houses and mix the grades.
for the purposes Of manufacturing.
The following committee on the
agricultural farm and experimental
station was announced by the chair:
G. L. Smith, A. A. Williams. D. z.
Myers, H. A. Swaine. w. Muzzy.
THE PLATFORM ADOPTED.
At the afternoon session Hon. lgna-
thus Donnelly from tho committee on
resolutions submitted = very volumi.
nous report as follows:
q Resolved, That It Is with pride 10 call
the attention Of the farmers OF this state to
tho fact that the only remedial legislation
which the people have obtained during the
may yet be. Is due to the existence and
labors Of the Farmers alliance and the
public opinion which it has helped to Gre.
ate.
Resolved, That tho alliance, while not :
partisan association, ID political In the
misg0vernment through tho ballot-box
that it, existenoe mas been rendered neces-
sary BY the failure of both OF the great po
litical parties Of our state TO maintain the
right: Of the people against corporate az
Resolved, That the Republican party
government through al the years during
which the evils OF which we complain hays
arisen. must justly be held responsible fol
its failure 70 abate or abolish them; while
on the other hand, many Of tho sO-called
leaders OF the Democratic party have been
among the most servile tools OF the rail
fore, the honesty Of the rank and Ale 81
both parties, We declare our intention to
support no man for office simply because
he Is Democrat or Republican. or is the
nominee OF any ring g-packed caucus or CON
ven,ion, bu' 81 give our sutsrages withoutre
gard TO party affiliations only TO those who
have proved by their past acts their fidelity
to our interests.
Resolved, That there arc really but two
parties In this state to-day-the people and
their plunderers. The only issue Is, shall
the people keep the fruits Of their own
Industry or shall the thieves carry them
away. The clamor OF tho contendina
political parties are too often like the
bands and banners OF . circus procession
which absorb the attention OF the populace
aud draw them to the windows. while the
thieves. who accompany the show, are
rcbbing tho houses from the rear,
Resolved, That the interests OF all
producers are identical, the millions who
work on the farm tlnd their chief market
and natural allies among the millions who
toll in shop and factory. The degradation
and impoVerishment of either class h q
direct blow at the pr, sperity OF the other.
The natural enemies ot both are the men
who faston themselves upon the producers
to get something for nothing, and who,
not satisfied, like the horse leech TO quietly
suck . modest living, demand the lions
share and tear and insult while they prey.
Resolved, That the sympathiss OF the