The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-12-20
FARMERS AND LABORERS.
Proceedings Of the Farmers and La
borers' Convention in st. Louis.
An Amalgamation of the Various Interests
Under the Name of the National
Farmers' Alliance and In
dustrial Union.
First Day.


ST. LOUIS, Dec. 4.-Entertainment Hall OF
the Exposition building resounded yester-
day with the stentoran voices of l5O dele
gates who compose the National Farmers
and Laborers' Union convention, and who
represent about 100000 horny-handed sons
of toll west of the Alleghenies. The meeting
was called to order by the National presi-
dent. IVAN Jones' of Texas. Mr.. Gardner, of
Tenaesses, occupied the secrctary's desk.
Chaplain s. ID. Satterwhite offered prayer,
calling ft { blessings on any good work that
might be accomplished.
Mayor Noonan was introduced and made a
speech of hearty welcome, extending the
freedom of the city to all the delegates and
members of the convention; in fact, guaran-
teed that they could go anywhere to see the
sights of this great city, from the pauper's
grave to the beautiful art gallery. He con-
cluded by saying that he had made arrange
ments for them to see worldly affairs, and he
would step aside and allow Governor Fran
els to arrange for them to visit the churches.
Mr.. J. III. Mcdowell, of Tennessee, vice.
president 81 the Farmers and Laborers'
Union, responded in a short speech.
Major J. A. Anthony introduced Governor
David U. Francis, who made an address that.
from its first word, caught the Endorsement
and enthusiasm of the farmers, if frequent
and loud applause was an index TO the senti-
ments of the body. The Governor used his
emoothest style in dealing out at some length
sentiments against monopoly. trusts, COM
bines and other organizations that are sup
posed to clutch the Threats of the farmers.
Mr.. A. j. Streator, Of Illinois, was the next
candidate for applause by well-deliyered
and timely speech.
BY this time the noon hour had arrived,
and the delegates dispersed to satisfy the
inneT man.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The afternoon session began at 100, and
.t,o nt,a h,t
delegates and members of the order who
knew the password were allowed to enter the
hall.
President Jones delivered his message, in
the course of which he said that the Farmers
and Labors Union was destined to embrace
the entire agricultural element and laborers
of the world, and would fight the encroach-
ment of rings, trusts and soulless combina-
tions, that are absorbing all the profits of
labor, and thereby paralyzing the industries
of the country. he recommended consolida-
ton of the Farmers and Labors' Union with
the National Farmers Alliance and the
Farmers Mutual BENEFIT Association of the
Northwestern States, which organizations
had representatives in the city. He recon-
mended also the appointment of supreme
judiciary to hear and try all members who
had committed offenses. He advised them to
cultivate the principles of cooperation. On
the subject of finance the president spoke as
follows:
"It is impossible to have an equitable ad
justment of capital and labor SO long as
money is contracted below that which is
adequate to the demands of commerce;
hence il we would correct the abuses and
powers that are now prostratng our indus
tries, we must have a circulating medium in
sufficient volume to admit of transactng our
business on a cash basis. recommend that
You demand from the lawmakers that the
coinage of silver be as free as gold, and that
gold and silver be supplemented with treas
TRY otes Ga full legal tender) in sufficient
amo-snt to furnish circulating meurnn
commensurate to the business necessities of
the people"
The president condemned the monopoliza-
ton of lands by railroad corporations, do
mestic and foreign syndicates, and recon-
mended that the body favor law prohibit
ing the alien ownership of lands in America
He also averred that the railroads had OPP
pressed the people by unjust manipulations
of transportation, and recommended that
such legislation be demanded as shall regu-
late and control rates and classifcations of
freights.
The president then deplored the "now al
most universal depression that pervades the
laboring classes of the country and attri-
buted the cause to the corrupting influence of
combines and corporations over our polite
al leaders. While the Farmers and Labor
ers' Union was strictly non-partisan, yet it
The afternoon was taken up in appointing
committees and settling the affairs of dele
gates credentials. Missouri, Kentucky,
Tennessee and Mississippi had each sent two
sets of delegates-one from the Wheel and
one from the Alliance. As one delegate was
not allowed to represent over 10000 men,
bers, and as the above organizations are now
consolidated with the Farmers and Labor
ers' Union the matter was settled by throw
ing out portions of the delegations until
they were reduced TO the proper representa-
ton.
The following committee was appointed to
confer with a committee of the National Al
lance of the Northwestern States in regard
to consolidation: ii. W. Hickman, of Mis-
souri,; j. W. Mitchell, of South Carolina;
Page, of Virginia; Cover, of Kansas; Ly-
brand, of Arkansas: r. c. Patty, of Missssip-
pi; R. w. Tucker, of Tennessee; 7. j. Andcr-
son, of Texas; and Myers, of Louisiana.
This committee met the following Alliance
committee at the Planters House last night:
/. NJ. Morris, Kansas; AlonZo Wardell, South
Dakota; George W. Sprague, Minnesota: A.
j. Streator, Illinois; John H. Powers, Ne
braska; Walter Muir, North Dakota; y. Ii.
Ashby, Iowa; VIM. Ulrich, Wisconsin; I. Y.
Williams, Washington.
The Union held night session but beyond
appointing a committee on constitution and
bylaws nothing of Importance was done.
Second Day.
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 5.-The Farmers and La
bores' Union of America met yesterday morn
ing for the second days session of their Ma
tonal convention, President Evan Jones in
the chair. Besides several committees being
appointed the day was one of short speeches.
Each member had certain views as to the
details of organization, etc, which he aired.
The first thing decided upon was to allow
all the delegates from the Farmers Mutual
Benefit Association to take seats in the con-
vention. These delegates were principally
from Illinois and Indiana. The National Al
lance, in body, was received also.
c. W. Macune, past president of the South
ern Alliance, which is now merged into the
Farmers and Laborers' Union, made a
speech as retiring from that position. He
went into the details of the history of
the Alliance, and referred to the strength
that can be obtained by cooperation.
He thought il not advisable to es-
tablish a National exchange, but to con-
fine the business efforts to State organiza-
ton. He offered pertinent suggestions in
the matter of obtaining more accurate re-
ports as to the strength, financial condition,
etc, of the order, and also as to the crops. A
National lecturer was recommended. He
believed that all the evils which afilict agri-
culture to day arise either directly or in
directly from unjust regulations or privileges
enjoyed by other classes under our financial
system, or our system of laws in regard to
transportation corporations, or our land sys-
TEN. He stated that the Farmers and La
borers' Union is composed of fifty per cent of
the strength of each of the political parties
Each of the parties had failed to right the
wrongs imposed on the farmers, and the
farmers must now unite on some one needed
reform and force it through legislation, no
matter what party furnished the servants
for the Offices.
After Mr. Macune had closed his address
Mrs. Anna Sneed Cairns appeared in the hall