New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-03-03
FARMERS ALLIANCE.
The Minnesota Farmers, A1ianoa nre.4.
at the State University In Fifth Annual
u Session.
Adoption of \ Very Long and Comprehen.
sive Series of Resolutions.


sity, Minneapolis. President George w.
Sprague OF Fillmore county called the meet
ing to Or.ier, and the venerable secretary.
George w. Haigh Of NIankato, sat beside
him. President Northrop gave a brief adj
dress Of greeting:
The following were named as 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; Z. c. Hodgeson, Grant coun-
ty. Mr.. Myers was admitted without the
formality OF credentials
Hon. Daniel Buck OF Mankato, delivered
an address, occupying about an hour and
a half, for which q vote OF thanks was
extended to him. He believed that one OF
the greatest mistakes that this govern
ment ever made was when it commenced to
grant millions OF acres of the public do
mainto great corporations. 1t was sewing
the seeds ofcorruption that haveripened un-
TIL there stands a dark spot in thenation's
history. II thereis a curse resting upon
this part OF the.country that is unbeara-
bic. it is the fact that millions of railroad
lands remain untaXed, the owners bearing
none Of the burdens Of government. The
farmer is taxed for his eighty-acre tract,
while the railroad land adjoining escapes
And this is the boosted land OF equality
There are nearly a quarter Of million
more tenants III the United States
than in Great Britain and Ireland.
The curse and danger OF this country lies
in the immense farms, accumulated wealth
and contemporaries onopo les 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 o@this.e: The rebate system
is another curse. He touched upon various
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
report showing q very large number of
accredited delegates.
A committee on resolutions was appoint
ed as follows:
First District-William Sprague, John
Bursell.
second-A A. Williams, William Webb.
Third. Donnelly, j. S. Shields.
FOURTH. B. TAFT M. B. Cochran.
Fifth-Gen. T. B. Barrett, Charles Can
ming.
At Large-D. Cleveland, stearns county;
b. II. 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.
Murdoch spoke at some length on the
workings OF the roiroad law, and respond
ed to various interogations.
At the opening OF the afternoon session
lgnatius Donnelly. chairman announced
that the committee on resolutions was ready
to report. In submitting the very volumi-
nous report, Mr.. Donnelly said the only
apology he had to offer for the length OF the
resolutions was the number of the wrongs
that were suffered. He considered this
volumin BUSINESS the best possible commen-
tarY on the necessity for radical reforms.
During the reading MI Donnelly was re-
peaJedly interrupted by applause.
Resolved, That it is with pride call the at
tentlon OF the farmers of the state to the fact
that the only remedial legislation which the peo-
pie have obtained during the past twenty years,
however defective it may yet be, is due to the
existence and labors of the Farmers alliance
and the public opinion which it has helped to
create.
Resolved, That this alliance, while not par
tisan association, is political in the sense that it
seeks to correct the evils of disagreement
through the ballot box; that it's existence has
been rendered necessary by the failure of both
ot the great political parties OF our state to
maintain the rights Of the people against COR
porate oppression.
Resolved, That the Republican party, having
had complete control of the state government
through all the years during which the evils of
which we complain have arisen, must be held
responsible for its failure to abate or abolish
them, except when forced to do so in part last
winter upon our demand; while on the other
hand many of the so-called leaders of the Demo-
cratic party have been among the most servile
and supple tools OF the railroads and rings.
While recognizing. therefore. the honesty of the
rank and file OF both parties, we declare our inten-
tlon 10 give our suffrages, without regard to past
party affiliations, only to those who have proved
by their past acts their fidelity to our interests
Resolved, That there are really but two parties
IN ms 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?
Resolved, That we call upon all producers and
all persons interested in the prosperity of the
producers of this state in town and country.
upon all merchants, laboring men, mechanics
and professional men to unite with us at the
pallot box n: next November to secure legisla
ture that will work in the interests of the many
aga1 nst the exactions OF the few.
Resolved, That until all the grievances of the
people are redressed we demand annual sessions
OF the state legislature The term OF sixty DAYS
In two years is TOO short space for the neces-
sary legislation OF great and rapidly growing
community It is saving at the spicket
full thing that free people should so tie their
own hands that they cannot exercise self-goy-
eminent in it's highest prerogative, the making
OF our laws, Tor more than siXty-days in two
years, no matter what may be their grievances.
unless an official of their own election nermits
them to assemble in extra session,
Resolved. That all attempts to belittle free
institutions by first corrupting and then ridicul-
Ing our legislators, and thereupon abolishnq
the sessions OF our legislature, are parts of q
general movement in this country inaugurated
by those who live upon the people, and who
would be glad to reduce us to the Russian sys-
tenn, where no legislature ever assemblies.
whereas. The farmers OF Minnesota do not as
class make one per cent per annum on the
value OF their lands and plant after deducting
all taxes and expenses, and reasonable compen-
sat1on for their own time and labor; and whereas
they produce the greater part OF the real
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 the
supreme court OF the United States has time and
again affirmed it possessed of, to regulate
fre1ghts and charges upon the railroads OF the
state, so as to give those who have settled in
this region of country 4 fair chance for an hon
est living.
Resolved, That while our farmers are TOLL np
IN severe climate for q bare subsistence. we
are opposed to railroad corporations drawing
from them by excessive charges vast sums Of
money, wherewith: First, to pay princely sala-
Ties to officials salaries nearly as high as that
Of the president Of the United States; second,
to corrupt our legislatures so as to deny us
remedial legislation; third, to buy up news
papers, to befog and mislead the public; third.
to pay interest on vast quantities of bonds and
watered stocks, which do not represent one dol
lar OF actual capital paid in, but are simply CO.