The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-21
UNITED FARMERS.
Convention at San Jose 10 Organize a State
Alliance.


representing thirteen counties, met at 10 80
o'clock to-day for the purpose of organizing
a State alliance of the Farmers Alliance
and Industrial Union.
Colonel j. S. Barbee of Santa Barbara,
National State Organizer, called the conven-
ton to order and appointed tie following
temporary officers: President. NJ. Cannon
of Ventura County; Vice-President. S. K.
Schilling of Santa Barbara; Secretary, j. NJ.
Sharp OF Ventura; Chaplain, j. NJ. Moore OF
Tulare; Door-keeper, II. \. Rhyme Of San
Luis Obispo; Assistant Door-keeper, j. b.
Rigdon OF San Luis ObispO. The following
also appointed: j. \. Wright. +. NJ. Sem
tory, John S. Dore. John Roth, 4. p. Cook
and E. c. Fuller.
AN OPEN SESSION.
DR.. Wiley, with credentials from the
Pacific Coast Laborers' Union, No. l,
was on hand seeking admittance, but
was doomed to disappoin. and obliged
to cool his ardor in the ante-roOm.
However, he industriously circulated the
remarkable open letter recently published
by the LabOrers' Union, buttnn-holing and
buzzing every delegate unfortunate enough
to fall into his clutches.
After the transaction of the preliminary
work the convention adjourned to meet at
o'clock in the afternoon.
The Committee on Constitution and By
laws not having completed its labors it was
decided to hold an open session pending the
report.
This was Willey's opportunity and he
eagerly availed himself thereof. Hastily
scrb5hng note he strutted up to
the President and presented the same. 1t
was subsequently aScertained that he
claimed, as it was an open meeting, the
privilege of assuring the alliance of the
hearty cooperation of the Pacific Coast
Inhn mi n a han n m
wait-a lull in the speaking came, and the
President announced the contents of the
note and asked the pleasure of the meeting.
Before any one could reply Wiley was on
his feet addressing the meeting He began
by assuring the meeting that the Pacific
Coast LaboTers' Union, No. l, was an or
ganizaiion founded upon American prin-
ciples. 1t did not believe in or advocate
strikes or b0ycOtts. but considered that the
only weapon worthy the hand OF an Amer
lean was the ballot. The unions earnestly
hoped thar the alliance would endeayor to
arrange so that in future the Pacific Coast
Laborers' Union, No. l, could participate in
their deliberations and cooperate with
them. In standardization of his statement
relative 10 the character OF the union he de-
sired permission to read the preamble of the
same. Before reply could be made he
slipped copy out of his pocket and began
reading:
We who form this organization OF working
people, realize that for US there is but one ques
tion of real Importance, namely, that everyone
should have opportunity 10 acquire and en-
JOY tile comforts and necessarles Of life. Until
tDat Is settled as 1t ought 10 be, we viii not allow
ourselves 10 quarrel with each other over ques-
lions of race and creed. The problem we wish
10 solve, is willy those who produce the food, go
hungry; why those who make The clothes are
ragged, why those who build palaces live In dirty
tenementS, and why those who do the work Of
the civilized world live often in misery We
find that each year not only our own conditions
-arkp and xUnr huf h.. anna
Is true Of all other branches OF honorable toll;
the workers sink into poverty While the Idlers
pile up millions. But the WORKERS OF the world
far out number the oilers. and have
the power If they can be taught 10 use Ii to save
themselves from this coming slavery. In order
TO DO this there is but one thing reQuired-that
we intellgently use the irresistible power of the
American frecmen's ballot. The American citi-
zen, Ill his own right, IS greater sovereign than
the pIoudest monarch under The sun. The power
OF combined wealth is but as the dust beneath
the feet OF the American citizen when he chooses
to assert bis prerogaIiye. To the end that the
best results be obtained for all IL Is necessary:
First-That We b. united. hold together aud take
as our motto and live up 10 Its highest meaning,
Zone for all and all for one" In order 20 do
this, 10 organize ourselves and lend a helping
hand 10 all OIher branches OF honorable toll, TO
secure, ma nialn and defend our rights and to
prepare for the inevitable crisis wherein these
Issues shall be hnaly deter mined, we do organ
lie the Pacific Coast Lab0ters' Union, No. l.
Wiley then hastily read Article XIII,
Section 1, of the constitution.
The intelligent use Of the ballot being the only
practical means Of attaining ends, men,
Der OF the union shall become a member of or
take part with any political party unless The
union BY two-thirds vote so sanction or decide.
The reading Of these extracts having
failed to elicit the applause he expected,
Wiley became Disconnected, losing the
thread of his discourse, and after-a few
efforts he subsidized.
The reading OF humorous poem entitled
"The Hayseeds in His HAIR" however, re-
stored the tone of the meeting. j. w.
Hines of San Jose then giving powerful
address and brilliant closing prophetic ex-
hortation the open session closed.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Committee on Constitution and By
laws reported this afternoon. and at the
time of adjournment the convention was
considering it seriatim. The convention
meets again tomorrow morning at $50
o'clock.
The delegates were given a grand banquet
at ST. James Hotel tonight by the ladies of
the Santa Clara County Alliance.