New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-02-08
FARMERS ALLIANCE.
Annual Meeting OF the Minnesota

State Farmers Alliance.
The annual meeting OF the Alliance was
held at the capitol build ing,St. Paul, Presi-
dent Barrett in the chair. Messrs. Fur
long, Diamond and Tombs were appointed
a committee to wait upon Gov. McGin and
invite him to address the meeting. He APP
peared promptly and said, among other
things.
When Gov. Austin proposed.a law to re-
strict the tariffs OF the railroads OF the
state, the state bar ridiculed the idea OF traf-
fic being controlled by the legislature butthe
governor persisted, and the outcome was
law controlling the railI roads, which was
affirmed by the supreme court. II the pres
ent law is declared unconstitutional the
commissioners hands are tied. But pre-
diet that if such 81 condition Of affairs
should come to pass, the people would
elect a legislature thatwould fix the rates
themselves. pledge you to use my in
huence for your interest wherever can. I
shall act upon my convictions of what I
believe to be right. and stand by them I
want you to understand that I sympath-
ize with the wants of the farmers, and
shall stand by the farmers.
President Barrett delivered his annual
address, and President Northrop, OF the
state university, spoke to the farmers OF
the benefits OF an education at the univer.
slty, and the necessity OF a system OF pre-
paratory schools leading up to course in
that institution. Hon. Ignatius Donnely
also delivered short address. Different
points OF interest to the alliance
were discussed. and finally a committee
on resolution was appointed as follows:
Messrs. Canning, Hixon, Schram, Parker
and Kimmel. A committee OF thirteen on
constitution and bylaws was also ap-
pointed, consisting OF Messrs. Furlong,
Dickerman, Bernard, Diamond, Carson,
Olson, Richmond, Boon, Machbar, Shields,
Powell and Hunt. :s~-,-
Mr.. Donnelly then spoke at considera-
bic length, in favor Of a close union OF
farmers. -- ..
| Attorney General Clapp delivered a
short address, setting forth the dangers
| from the conflict in this country between
| two forces, capital and labor, which ought
to act in harmony, and urging the mem
| bers to stand by those who had been
| faithful to them in the last legislature. A
discussion arose on the regulation OF rail-
| road tariff, during which the attorney gen.
eral explained the railroad law and suits
| now pending.
committee was appointed to invite
the railroad commissioners to hear an adj
| dress by President Barrett, which was &C.
copied. In his address Mr.. Barrett says:
| The agricultural interests OF the state
| are under a cloud. Whatever progress
may have been made during the last few
years by other interests, it is universally
admitted that the farming interest in the
state has not fourished. One reason for
| this is that Minnesota, being a wheat
growing state, has very seriously felt the
fall in the price of her great staple. The
people OF Minnesota are paying interest
| on $500, 100000 OF fictitious railroad
capital. complaint to this effect has
been made. but the railroad and ware
h ouse commissioners have made no reply.
| At the conclusion. OF the address Gen.
Becker responded by explaining the posi-
! ton OF the commission and was followed
by commissioner Gibbs, who explained the
| Importance OF the cases now in the supreme
court and suggested that committee
| from the alliance selected to look up cases
OF extortion and bring them before the
| com mission after adopting numerous reso-
| lutions, the following officers were elected:
President, E. H. Atwood, ST.. Cloud; vice
president at large Charles Canning, Nor
man county; recording secretary, Erick
olson; corresponding secretary, H. ~ -
Boen Otter:Tail county. Vice presidents
| from the congressional districts as follows:
First. j. J. Furlong, Mower county; Sec
| ond, w. D. Armstrong Waseca; Third, r.
]. Farley, Scott; Fourth, !. B. TAFT,
Washington; Fifth, T. H. Toombs
Grant. Resolutions were adopted
endorsing the action OF the last state ALI.
| ance at it's October meeting, declaring that
the right to build fiat warehouses and load
grain from sidetracks must not be sur
rendered; condemning the practice OF the
railroads OF refusing shippers cars; asking
for the complete separation OF the agricul-
tural college from the state university; and
tor a reduction OF the tariff.