St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-30
The Farmers Alliance Nom
ination for Governor Goes
to Albert Scheffer.
Hard-Headed Husbandmen An
Easy Mark for the Re-
publican Banker.
He Swallows Their Free
Trade Platform Without
a Grimace.
What the AnOinted Would Do
We're He in McGilPS
GOlOSheS.

After a session of three days the ex-
ecutive committee of the Farmers alli-
ance of Minnesota concluded their labOrs
yesterday afternoon by an Endorsement
of Hon. Albert Scheffer for the guberna
torial nomination, and thus may be said
to have fired the first gun of the pend
ing campaign.
When President Atwood called the
committee together yesterday morning,
the first business considered was re-
port from sub cOmmitte, 10 whom had
been entrusted the task of preparing a
platform of principles. Their recon-
mendations, which were unanimously
agreed to by the executive committee,
read as follows:
THE PLA TFORM.
We submit for your careful consider
alton the declaration of rights adopted
Feb. %, 1886, at Minneapolis, the adj
dress and resolutions adopted by the
Farmers alliance Feb. 2, 1888, at st.
Paul, and the address of the n ational
alliance to the American people, adopted
at Minneapolis Oct. 3, 1888. You will
observe among the many propositions
embraced in these documents are the
following:
First-The smallest village must have
the use of the railway tracks on the
same terms as the largest city, the hum
blest individual the same rights as the
millionaire; there must be no diScrimi-
nation against persons or places. Rates
on railroads should be so adjusted as to
provide for operating and maintaining
expenses, and in addition thereto rea-
sonable rate of interest on the actual
cost of the roads and equipment not to
exceed in the state at large an average
of $4,000 per mile for single track rail
roads. Duluth, st. Paul, Minneapolis
and all other points in the state must be
reached at the same rates per ton per
mile as Chicago is reached per ton per
mile, with reasonable terminal and
transfer charges in addition to the mile
age charges.
The constitution of this state should
be so amended that railway property
should be taxed as other property is
taxed. The shipper must have the
right to choose his market, and the route
to reach that market.
We denOunce the present mode of
paying gross sum into the state treas
ury as sinequitable and unfair to the
people of the sections through which
the roads extend, and we demand that
laws be enacted requiring railroad prop
erty to pay its just proportion of state,
county, town and school district taxes.
Free passeN and free mileage should
be prohibited.
We demand the separation of the Ag-
ricultural college from the State univer-
sity.
We demand a radical reduction of the
tariff.
Country elevators must not be bonded.
Cars must be furnished to shippers on
demand.
All appointments must be made for
fitness and not to pay political debts.
THEY ARE SCHEFFER'S SENTIMENTS, TOO
Following closely upon the adopt
of the platform was an invitation to
Hon. Albert Scheffer to appear before
the committee and and answer query
which it was decided to ask each candi-
date before he could receive the support
of the alliance. This question was as
follows:
''Are these your principles referring
to the platfOrm), and will you, ii elected
governor of this state use the eXecu-
tive powers to enforce them?"
w
Mr.. Scheffer, he, after reading the plat
form very carefully, returned an affirma-
tive reply, and left the committee to its
deliberations. While the committee on
platform had been engaged III its work
another subcommittee was preparing
an address to the people OF Minnesota,
and this, like the platform, was unani-
mOuSly cOncurred in.
SOMETHING FOR THE DEAR PEOPLE.
The text of the address is as follows
From the executive committee OF the
State Farmers alliance to the people of
Minnesota:
For years past we have come up to the
capitol with our grievances, asking our
state authorities and state conventions
for relief. We have invariably received
fair promises, and experience proves
that these were only made to be broken
mere stepping stones to places of trust
and honor. For righteous acts we got
sympathetic words. Officials, instead of
enforcing the law, have become hungry
politicians, office-seekers, jObbers, who
would barter their birthright for a
"mess of pottage."
The people of this state are subjects
of a crnei, relentless system of robbery
that forces them to pay exorbitant prices
for all they buy, and deprives them of a
free market for what they sell. Unjust
discrimination against persons and
places is practiced with impunity. Laws
enacted to relieve the people are dead
letter, or perverted and made of no eff
feet. Laws are framed and forged in
favor of the mOnOpOlists. Corruption
country there are hirelings at work to
70 fhio rOyUQr GINNING HnauQc
talking party prejudices to hide their
own sins, and lead off the people to the
pools like sheep to the slaughter. The
needs of the hour are sterling manhood
independent, intelligent, vigorous ac-
tion. The oath of Office is the highest
pledge, and should be held sacred. Pre-
JUDGED recreants should be branded
with everlasting shame, and relegated
to the place provided for them, the
penitentiary.
In addition to the foregoing facts we
call your attention to the following
facts: The Minneapolis & Pacific has
recently issued "a 1927, 900 income certifi-
Gates that represent fictitious capital
and the new road between Hinkley and
Superior has issued S8,000,000 bonds
guaranteed by the Manitoba road and
offered to the stockholders at rs cents
on the 81.
THE COMMITTEE SWALLOWS SCHEFFER.
Then came the battle of the day over
a proposition looking to an Endorsement
of candidate for governor. Matters
were precipitated by the reading of the
following:
While we do not assume to dictate to
the members of the alliance of the state
at large, and have no authority to place
in nomination candidates for any Office
under the rules of our organization, we
nevertheless recommend that the men,
bers of the alliance, farmers and labor
s,,o xrrho tho OF nc thQlr