St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-10-07
He Thinks the Man Should Be
Crowned and the Dol
lar Dethroned.
The People Should Run the
Railroads. According to
His Belief.
The Democratic Party Better
Than the Republican,
He Declares.

s. M. Owen, the Alliance candidate
for governor, delivered an effective adj
dress from his standpoint last night, on
Argyle street. near the Northern Pa
cific shops. The hall, though small
one. was well filled. He began in a
mild and logical manner, and soon
drifted into discussion of the condi-
tiOns of capital and labor, and particu-
larly that of the farmer. He discussed
the conditions of the times which al
lowed the accumulation of individual
and corporate wealth. and named list
of persons and corporations that control
millions of money.
He read letter that had been handed
him yesterday by a delegation of rail-
road employees, who had waited upon
him. He commented upon the letter,
and said he did not know what action
would be taken on his answer-the re-
suit did not concern him.
He then spoke of the railroads, and
characterized their officers as
Receiving Princely Salaries
of 10000 or $4,000. and using their
offices to chloroform the public while
they rob the people. They. have no
thought of the working people.
They reduce the wages of the
poor men to keep down the ex-
penses but keep up their own
salaries. The railroads should be taken
charge of by the people," was an eX-
preston that ELECTED applause. He
alleged that the roads offer as defense
only the inquiry whether the people
want 10 annihllate them. He disclaimed
any such intention and said: They
have no greater admirer than l am. I
don't want to deprive them of any
justly acquired money, but they should
not take dollar in an unjust way. 1
protest against their acting the part of
a plutocrat, to pile up from one to
is only enough wealth in this
country to give each man a thousand
dollars, and when one man acquires a
million dollars, it means that 100 men
are left with nothing, and when one
man acquires hundred million dollars,
it means that 10000 men are left penni-
less. Railroads threaten that il they
can't have their way they will make
the people suffer. eve want what is
right" He spoke about money being
enthroned, and said 1t was time to en-
throne man in place OF the dollar. He
referred to the condition of the farmer,
and said that legislation cannot add a
cent to his wealth, but legisla-
ton can decrease the cost of
his living. Every man should work to
that end of securing legislation to re-
duce the cost of living. 1t was right
that railroads should contribute their
toward tightening the burdens of the
people. mo man or corporation" has
a right to
500 per Cent Profit.
That is the answer l made to the adj
dress of the railroad employees. l don't
know how that answer will affect my
vote.
"That class of people-the farmer
upon which all other classes rest must
be protected or the entire nation will go
into decay, and that soon. Haul down
the flag of the Union and hoist that of
the plutocrat; it is to be one or the
other. 1t wilicome to that. Capitalize
ton is leadidg to that, and will end in
slavery worse than African slavery be-
cause it will be the slavery of the An
glo-American. The moment YOU allow
those forces to dictate how you shall
vote, so far you submit to a crusade
that subjects you to plutocracy. We have
reached that period in history when the
dollar votes and controls affairs. The
new party, or our new movement, came
none too soon to fight the fight and en-
throne man in place of the dollar, and
place in power party to work in the
interests of right, SO that capital shall
take its place as the peoples servant.
and not the peoples master 1t is hard
to tear ourselves away from party in
order to save the body polite. | know
how it is myself. and have been a par
tiSan. l thought Democrat was
dishonest. | have gotten over that.
| now think that Republican is obet-
ter than Democrat. The other parties
ask us to go to them and teach them to
be good. We say come TO US, we are
good. The innocence of infancy is ours.
1t may be we will get as bad as they are
when we grow old. If we do, hope
the people won't be as long finding it
out. The Democratic party is little
1t has not been in power so
long. 1t does not have so many sins to
| answer for. The Republican party in
Minnesota, to-day, would not have
enough friends to bury it after election
IT they did not have means to 20 out
among railroads and plutocratS to pro-
cure money to pay its way. That is here
in Minnesota"
Speaking of elections of senators. he
said: Eve propose hereafter to put
brains in the United States senate and
not money-bags.'
Mr.. Owen was frequently applauded
during his speech, and was congratu-
lated by large number of people, who
shook his hand after the meeting closed.
The Address
to which Mr.. Owen referred in his
speech YVES handed him by a delegation
bich represents club of railroad en-
| ployes, all of whom reside in MINNIE
sofa, and has sixty organized branches
| in the state.
1t asks for a frank expression of its con-
tents. The men OF The club say that what
| ahectS their employers affects them. If able
| to do business at fair prices they are able to
| pay fair wages.
| Unwise competition has been a powerful
| factor IN reducing railroad earnings and en-
| ployes wages, but unfriendly legislation,
| hostile commissions and prejudiced courts
| have been the most effective agents in pro
| ducing this result, and are constant menaces
to railway employees. There is no state in The
| Iowa and Kansas. where these effects have
| been so marked. and the burdens so heavy as
the state OF Minnesota. They. make COM
| parsons OF freights, passenger traffic and
| earnings to the mile that is unfayorable fo
the state of Minnesota.
| They ask of Mr.. Owen whether the state.
| while being just to the man who operates
the railroads, should not remember
1nat rates are decreasing year by year.
To enable US to intelligently vote, we ask
| you to inform Us whether, in your judg-
| ment, the Interests Of the state will REQUIRE
| you to assent to further legislation tending
10 enlarge the powers Of the railway commits
sion, or whether you would not feel it your
duty to assist in limiting its powers to pro
| hlDlt 1t from regulating the laws so as to give
| them fair compensation.