The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-02-09
FARMERS ALLIANCE.
Annual Meeting Of tho Minnesota
=

4OS0S0 y 0vvU0U0 SAuU49UC0s
Tho annual meeting OF the Alliance was
held ct the capitol building. st. Paul, Presi.
don't Barrett in the chair. Measrs 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 law to re-
strict the tariffs III the railroads Of the
state. thestate bar ridiculed the idea Of traf.
fic being controlled by the legislature but the
law controlling the railr Dads. which was
affirmed by the supreme court. II the pres
ent law is declared unconstitutional the
commissioners hands are tied. But pre-.
dict that II such a condition Of affairs
should come to pass, the people would
elect Il le lislature that would fix the rates
themselves. 1pledge you to use my in.
fiuence Tor your interest wherever can.
shall act upon my convictions OF what !
believe to be right. and stand by them. l
want you to understand that / 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 oil
the benefits OF an education at the univer-
sity. and the necessity of a system Of pre-
raratory schools leading up to q course in
that institution. Hon. Icnatius Donnelly
also delivered short address. Different
points OF interest to the alliance
on resolution was appointed as follows:
Messrs: Canning. Hixon. Schram. Parker
and Kimmel. A committee OF thirteen ON
constitution and bylaws was also APP
pointed, consisting OF Messrs. Furlong,
Dickerman. Bernard. Diamond, Carson
Olson, Richmond, Boon. Machbar, Shields,
Powell and Hunt.
Mr.. Donnelly then spoke at considera.
bic length, in tavor OF q close union OF
farmers.
Attorney General Clapp delivered q
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.
A committee was appointed to invite
the railroad commissioners to hear an ad.
dress by President Barrett, which was &c.
cepted. 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 il that Minnesota. being q wheat
growing state, has very seriously felt he
fall in the price of her great staple. The
people OF Minnesota are paying interest
on $1OO,OOO,OOO OF fictitious railroad
capital. A complaint to this effect has
been made. but tho 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 extorton and bring them before the
commission 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. E..
Boon, Otter Tail county. Vice presidents
from the congressional districts rs follows:
First, j. J. Furlong. Mower county; Sec
J: Farley. Scott; Fourth, J. B. TAFT.
Washington Fifth, T. II. Toombs,
Grant. Res olutions were adopted
endorsing the action OF the last sta+e ALI.
ance at it's October meeting. declaring that
the right to build fiat warehouses and load
grain from sidctracks 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 q reduction OF the tariff.