The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1890-03-13
FARMERS ALLIANCE
Nearly Five Hundred Dele
gates of the State Alliance
Gather in st. Paul.
The Alliance Makes a Clean
Sweep and Starts Out With
a New Set of Officers.

of the main themes of conversation before
the convention on the second day, and
there is no doubt that the governors views
pleased almost every delegate and made
him many friends. The first order of busi-
ness yesterday was the report OF the Gre
dentials committee. When that had been
received, the president announced that the
introduction of resolutions was in order,
and after some discussion it was decided
that they should be referred to commit
tee without reading. Among the resolu-
tions introduced were the following
To raise the standard of the State Agricultural
society
Favoring the general adoption OF the Austria
liam system of voting.
To regulate the tolls exacted at grist mills and
elevators, so that farmers might have the Deneht
OF at least half their crops.
TO modify and govern the rate OF interest ana
to secure more stringent uSury laws.
FavOring legislation to secure cheaper fuel Tor
farmers resident in Northern Minnesota.
Fayorng law to prevent railroad companies
from watering their stock.
Condemning mOnOpOlies and systems OF exac-
tion bearing hard upon farmers
IndOrsing the & reat West as the alliance organ
A law to provide for the election OF United
States senator's by the people.
A law providing for the national government
owning and operating all railroads
The passage of law providing for absolute
prohibition of Intoxicating iquorfor both states
and nation.
4 law to provide for annual sessions of the
legislature
The repeal of the present tariff laws.
The regulation OF railroad freight rates so
that the cOmpany'S earnings should not exceed
five per cent interest over the actual expenses
under economical management.
A law regulating taxation and mortgages.
A law for the protection OF forests, and with
this end in view the abolition OF the two percent
duty on lumber.
Legislation providing that i'll townships two
thirds vote of freeholders only be requisite before
bonded indebtedness can be incurred.
The location OF elevators at all stations; the
fixing of the rates for cleaning and elevatlng
fixed at One-half cent the receipt for grain to be
made commercial paper bearing interest at not
more than per cent
That in the coming election of a president of
the alliance an actual practical farmer should
be chosen.
ment by the governor, of the railroad commits
sion and grain inspectors.
That l. DCnnelly be continued as state lect-
urer and other officers be continued, IN case GER
tain explanations are made.
That freight rates be reduced One-half.
The repeal of the state grain inspection laws
and creation OF an open market.
That railroad companies shall be compelled to
receive wheat at it's actual weight and reception
the same. and that the same number OF pounds
shall be shipped to the conS1gnee as recelpted IOr
the cOnsignor.
Fixing the legal rate of interest at 8 per cent.
The committee on insurance reported
through Mr.. J. J. Furlong, who reviewed
the work done in insuring crops against
hail. the average cost per acre for this IN
surance to be Is cents. He recommended
the township mutual scheme for fire insur-
ance as being the most feasible. The work
in general was considered, and the speaker
/ saw Only the most encouraging futture
| ahead. The question of cooperative stores
! and other cooperative institutions was con-
4 sidered somewhat at length, and number
! of speeches made arguing various merits
and dement's of the general scheme of CO.
operation, after which the convention ad'
journed for dinner.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The Farmers alliance made pretty clean
sweep of its old officers An al
most entirely new executive board was
elected, Ignatius Donnelly being the only
member of the old board who was again
chosen. When the delegates assembled fol
the morning session 1t was evident that
the opposition to Mr.. Donnelly had crystal
ized Caucusing had been going on al
night with view of uniting the anti-Don.
nelly men on some candidate. Mr.. Can,
ming was quickly induced to give way and
transfer his strength to r. J. Hall of Stearn:
county, but the friends of G. w. Sprague o.
Prosper, who has held the position of pres
ident for the past six years. claimed thai
his services should be rewarded by re-elec
ton. They made stubborn fight with the
hope of securing sufficient strength tt
elect him, but when they found tha
he would cut but a sorry figure
when the balIoting began, and that HI
would only detract from Halls strength
with the chance that Donnelly would bC
Il 4l,1,x 70, H.,
county man. From that time Mr.. Hail.
election was assured. Mr.. Donnelly wa
averse to his name being presented. Hi
only desire was to secure q change of Off
GERS. He had declared repeatedly that h
did not desire any office, but his enthusias
tic friends were determined to elect him i
possible.
After the revised constitution had beer
considered and adopted, the order of tn,
day was taken up. This was the election
ofotficers. John Diamond, w. J. Bodkil
and Henry Fry were appointed to act a
tellers. George w. Sprague was nominated
for president but declined on the grount
that he had held the Office for six years AM
that was long enough, He was accorded
three cheers and vote of thanks for hi
past services.
The chairman ordered an informal ballo
with the following result:
Whole number votes cast 20!
-sss s.sss. .ssss..
X. D.
1gnatius Donnely
scattering
As soon as the result of the informal bal
lot was announced, Mr.. Donnelly arose ant
stated that he was not and had not been
candidate for any office. and no one Coult
say that he had solicited his vote for presi
dent. On the contrary he did not desir
his friends to present his name
bat they declared they would no
alloy him to withdraw. He, therefore, hat
great pleasure in moving that the secretar.
be instructed TO cast the ballot of the ALI
ance for Mr.. Hail. whom he eulogized a
| some length. This motion was receives
with loud cheering, and then three heart,
cheers were given for Mr.. Donneily am
thsee for Mr.. Hall, while the secretary cas-
the ballot as directed. The newly eleetet
president briefly returned thanks for hi
election, and the convention adjourned 70
dinner. :
When the alliance reassembled at 2:30 2
m the following vice presidents were an
nounced by the delegations from the con
gressional districts: First district, J, ]. Fur
Lac qui Parle; Third district, H. V. Poore
Renville; Fourth district, Andrew Rich
mond, Washington; Fifth district. j. 3
Hompe, Otter Tail.
Dr. Fish, on behalf of those who sup
ported Mr.. Donnelly and those who op
/ DOSGu nlIl lOE pISSl0Glltf UICSGIAbetL Ills HdIl
as state lecturer for the ensuing year. Th
nomination was received with shout, AM
on motion of ex-Lieut. Gov. Gibbs it wa
made unanimous by rising vote. Thre
cheers were then given for Mr.. Donnelly
and there were calls for speech.
Mr.. Donnelly thanked the alliance for th
honor conferred upon him, and promise,
to work so that a year hence there woul
be 1000 subordinate alliances. Recently
member OF the alliance told him that h
was approached by politician who said
$50 you are now working in the allianc
and want to go to the legislature" TIL
farmer was modest and said mo, that h
would not go TO the legislature himsel
This is game that il being played to
large extent. Ifthere are several strong 81
/ lance men in a county the politician vii
approach each in this way and beat ther
off the track. and then get there himsel
Now this should not be permitted. The al
lance is going TO take possession of the leg
islature, but II cannot do it with hal