Morris tribune., 1888-03-28
Alliance Resolutions,

At q meeting Of the Stevens County
Alliance, held at the court house on
the Goth inst, committee consisting
Of Milo Camp, John Sanders and X.
J. Hall was appointed to draft resolu-
tions that would reflect the sentiment
of the Alliance. The undersigned
found it impossible to meet with the
balance Of the committee at the time
agreed upon, but would submit the
following preamble and resolutions,
and requests that Town Alliances
discuss the questions therein men-
toned:
WHEREAS, Wniie we feel that the
tariff question AMI tie prohibition
question are important anu deserve
the ca-eiul study and Thought "i the
people, the great Legislative question
that looms up above all Others Is the
transportation question. The rail-
roads of Minnesota have annually
taken millions of dollars from the
people to pay interest on watered stock
These companies pay no heed /" the
wants or wishes Of their patrons, the
producers, but have been governed
chiefly by their own selfish greed and
rapscity. The rights and interests Of
individuals and communities have
been ignored and disregarded. The
producers are fast being driven to a
condition but little better than that
of tenants, with cold-blooded indlf-
ference as tran scendent as 1t is unreas-
enable and malignant. Upon every
bushel of wheat that is sold, and NJ.
on every pound Of groceries or dry
goods that is brought, the people
contribute to pay interest on this
watered stock. This has continued
until the farm mortgages in this state
amount!to $l75, 900, the interest
on which ut pr cent. is $l4, 900, 600;
add to this the personal Indebtedness
of the farmers, secured by chattel
mortgage drawing 10 per cent. and
compounded every three months, and
we see that railroad plundcrers, money
loaners and usurers are eating up the
substance of the people at fearful
rate;
Resolved. "That these exaotlons
constitute huge mortgage on the
people of this state-n0t on their
lands alone, bat upon their lives and
the labor and lives of their children,
and which, like the exactions OF the
Irish landlord, will increase in the
industry and economy OF the people,
so that the people cannot work so
hard or live SO poor that their eKtoF-
TONERS will not follow them down in
to the depths of their poverty" The
foot-pad who compels his victim to
throw up his ha:ids and submit to be
plundersd is hunted down, while the
millionaire whose demands
compel whole people to pay tribute,
has the protection accorded All honest
man. We submit that it is not equal
justice to keep the Younger brothers
in prison and allow the men who
plumber the people to go free.
Resolved, Tnat the farmers of
Stevens county have Il deep interest
in all questions pertaining to freight
and railroad transportation, and that
we demand the enactment of laws |
that will make it a crime for railroad
to ''pool and to plumber"
Resolved, That we demand the
repeal of The infamous, unequal and
unconstitutional tax law, allowing |
railroads to pay a per cent. on their |
gross earnings. and that railroad
shall he assessed aud pay |
taxes like other property.
Resolved That we demand u law |
that shall compel holders and owners
of mortgages to pay taxes OH the
same in the countries where they are
recorded, and that the amount so as
sessed shall be deducted from the
property.
Respectfully submitted.
r, J. HALL.