Omaha daily bee., 1889-01-11
A CONVENTION OF FARMERS.
Annual Meeting of the National Alli-
ance at Des Moines.
PRESIDENT BURROWS ADDRESS
Reports From the Various states
Show No Cessation of the Relent-
less War on Monopoiies Of
Every Description.
The National Alliance.

DEs MONIES, Ia, jan. l0.-[S Special Tele-
gram to THE BEE. The National Farmers
alliance began its annual convention here to.
day, with representatives from the states of
Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota Ne.
braska, Kansas and Dakota aud Washington
territories. A committee on credentials
consisting of Nlessrs. Allen Root, Nebraska
A. Wardell, Dakota; A. l.. Stunt, Iowa,
was appointed Reports were received from
the different states Mr.. N. b. Ashby report
ing for Iowa that there were S65 alliances in
the state, with eighteen county organizations.
He stated that the organization of farmers
had had a great influence in matters of legis.
lation in this state, and would continue to
force matters of interest to them upon the
attention of the legislature
The president of the national alliance, Mr.
j. Burrows, of Nebraska, reported for that
state that tho alliance had formerly been
unsuccessful in several ventures and after
wards getting down pretty low was begin
ming to pick up again.
He had been u delegate from Benton
county to the first anti-monopoy convention
in Iowa He gave something of the course
of procedure in Nebraska, showing how in
that state the farmers in their early days of
organization had fallen into the hands of one
who was utterly unworthy. This was
Church Howe, who has been member of the
bribed his way into the present Nebraska
legislature; who bribes his way into churches.
He is a vice president of a railroad company
He went into county and made proposed
railway survey, intimating that he was going
to be president of the senate, with all that
that meant He was railroad man from
the ground up, and he didn't believe In the
honor of man or woman, but went on the
principle that everybody has his price. This
man had been president OF the grange and
that had been misfortune which could not
be soon forgotten. They had also en-
tered INTO manufactures which did not
work. There were no people, he
asserted mo regrOund down under the heel of
monopoly than those of Nebraska are to-day,
The farmers alliances had at ono time been
very successful There had been 600 of them,
with membership of 5000, add it was rec
ognzed that they had the balance of power
But they had held fatal meeting at Hast
ings in which the alliances wero resolved
into political party, which proved their de-
struction They went down, and down, and
down. Two years ago there were about six
of the faithful Some who were anxious that
the movement should not go down, drew
their checks and put the alliance on its feet.
The idea had to be overcome that If they
joined the alliance they had to leave their
own party. They had made their
organization q secret one, which had been
greatly to their advantage. 1t is now
free from debt. Though not political, their
aims are largely political bnt not through
any distinctive political party He believed
the time was coming when the best of all
parties would unite on these great popular
questions.
Minnesota reported sixty alliances in that
state. ice
The following committees were an
kesoutions-Iowa, N. q. Ashley; Dakota
j. w. Hardin; Minnesota. August Post;
Kansas, j. M. Robbins; Nebraska, Allen
Root; Wisconsin, G. M. Butts.
A ,ll
Iowa, Frank Faltonson; Nebraska, Allen
Root; Wisconsin, C.. M. Butts; Dakota, j.
w. Goodrich, jamestown.
Constitution and By-Laws-Iowa, Al
M. Butts; Nebraska, Allen Root, Minnesota,
AL Stuntz; Dakota George b. Dyer.
Business observation-disclosures, j. b. Vol.
gemath; Iowa, Frank Ish; Nebraska Allen
Root; Dakota, w. d. Chase; Kansas j. M.
Robbins.
Legislation-Dakota, H. w. Smith, Wis
consin, G. M. Butts; Nebraska, Allen Root;
Iowa, James Goodwin; Minnesota, Walter
Muir.
In the afternoon session President Bur
rows delivered the annual address and the
reports of other executive officers
were received. Much time was spent in dis.
cussing whether the alliance should turn it
self into secret organization for carrying
out its work. The prevailing sentiment was
in favor of the idea, and some plan to that
effect will probably be adopted before the
convention adiourns. The discussion brought
out some facts from the Dakota delegates as
to the work of the alliance In that territory.
1t was stated that the alliance had an insur-
ance company of its own, including over
10000 policy holders; that it bought agricul-
tural implements directly from manufactur-
ers cheaper than they could be bought by
dealers themselves, and that the work of the
organization was all secret, even to its bust
ness methods. In consequence, it was de-
clared that the alliance absolutely controls
majority of the members of each branch of
the Dakota legislature. This report made
quite an impression upon the convention, and
received very general approval. This even
ing public mass meeting is being held under
the auspices of the alliance, addressed by
President Chamberlain of the state agrcul-
tural college, and others.