The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1890-03-13


go there TO remedy the wrongs ofwhich the
farmers complain.
Next in order was the election of secre-
tary. George w. Haigh of Mankato was
nominated to succeed himself MIR. Don
nelly said it was with great reluctance that
he was Obliged to oppose Mr.. Haighs re-
election, but he found that it was necessary
that the secretary should be at st. Paul.
near the headquarters of the organization,
so that letters can reach him promptly
Mr.. Haigh lives in the country several miles
from Mankato. Now there is here man
who has all the qualifications for perform
ing the work Of secretary and can attend
promptly to all correspondence. He noml-
mated DIR. Everett w. Fish.
After considerable discussion by the
friends of the candidates, the previous
question was ordered and the alliance bal
loted with the following result:
Total number votes cast 28S
Necessary to choice. a,
e. w Hagn - -
E. w. l43
Scattering.
The Haigh supporters thought their man
was elected and began to cheer, but Mr.
Donnelly raised the point that he had not
received a majority OF the votes and another
ballot was necessary, The chairman was
evidently at q loss how to decide, and he
asked Mr.. Gibbs advice. Mr.. Gibbs said
that according to parliamentary rules an
other ballot was necessary, and the chair so
ruled.
While the vote on the second ballot was
in progress, the president made the surpr1s-
ing announcement that he held plurality
of votes would elect, and if the second bal
lot showed no choice he would declare on
the first ballot the election of Haigh. The
second ballot resulted as follows:
Whole number votes scast...........".""".......2
Necessary to choice. LA
T. W Flsh 10 10
CT.
The chairman said there was no choice
and he would declare Mr. Haigh elected on
the first ballot.
Mr.. Donnelly protested He did not de-
sire to appeal from the decision of the chair.
That would be only last resort. But in the
interests of harmony and peace he sug-
gested that third man be selected, and he
moved that the secretary cast the ballot of
the convention for John LathrOp of Lac
qui Parle.
Iais motion called forth considerable dis
cussion in regard to the chairman's decision,
but was finally seconded by Gen. Barrett,
put and carried unanimously.
Next came the election of a treasurer.
Matthias Nachbar of Scott county was NOM
mated by Gen. Baker.
Mr. D0nnelly said he had nothing against
Mr.. Nachbar, but the alliance was going
into the fight to capture the legislature.
Now the vote in this state that holds the
balance of power between the two political
parties is the great Scandinavian-Gothic
vote. 1t is the controlling vote in Mime
sota and with proper attention it could be
secured for the Alliance candidates. A
Scandinavian should therefore be selected
as treasurer There was a member of the
1887 legislature from Otter Tail county who
labOred hard in the interests of the farmer.
There was not truer or abler man in that
legislature than H. z. Bjorge, and he nom
mated him for treasurer
Mr.. Nachbar said he desired to withdraw
his name.
Several members spoke in support of Mr..
BjOrge, but deprecated the nomination of
any man on the ground of his nationality.
One Scandinavian said: "Our people do
not desire offices as Scandinavians, but as
American citizens"
Mr.. Bjorge was then elected unanimously,
and briefly returned thanks.
Treasurer Nachbar presented his report to
March l, showing receipts of 81, 7o6. .06, and
on hand of $850.04 but there are accounts
to the amount of about $500 unpaid. The
secretary's report gave detailed statement
| OF receipts and disbursements, and showed
that 235 new alliances were organized dur
ing the year.
The sum of $500 was appropriated for di-
vision pro rata among the delegates whose
expenses had exceeded 81. The following
We're elected as the finance committee for the
coming year: A. Y. Poore, ]. B. Hompe
| and B. B. Lester.
Mr.. Donnelly offered an amendment to
| the constitution, providing that no person
in the employ of any railroad corporation
or holding stock in the same shall be elig-
ible to become members ofany subordinate,
| county, district or state alliance, or be
elected to any office in the same. This was
adopted unanimously.
The chairman of the committee on hail
rnI 4l.,A
the farmers had largely insured during the
year, and that all losses were satisfactorily
adjusted. The committee thought the bonds
of the secretary and treasurer should be in
creased.
THE PLATFORM.
The platform as finally adopted IS:
The Farmers Alliance of the State of
| Minnesota in convention assembled, here
by ordain and establish the following dec
laration of principles: That we maintain
the free shipment of grain from side tracks,
and the right to construct warehouses with
out regard to capacity, contiguous to the
| railway tracks at all local stations, must not
be abridged. This is essential to an open
market, and any attempt to limit their
number or control them by either state or
railway regulations, limits the number of
dealers and therefore destroys free mar
ket.
That option gambling on boards of trade
should be abolished, and we ask the state
and congress to pass such laws as shall
make all such transactions a criminal of
fense.
All forms of discrimination, including
passes, transit rates and Determinations in
terminal charges, must cease. The smallest
village must have the use of the tracks on
the same terms conceded to the largest city.
These rights are essential to the liberties oi
the people.
That in the adjustment of a schedule OF
rates for this state we believe the railway
commissioners should be guided mainly by
the schedule of rates now in force in Iowa.
But il the interstate railways leading to
Chicago shall make less rate than the
Iowa rates, we demand that the rates to
Duluth shall be no greater per ton per mile
than the rate per ton per mile to Chicago;
reasonable terminal and transfer charges
being added to the milage charges as pro-
vided for by the freedom of traffic law now
in our statutes.
Railway property shopld be taxed as 9TH
er property is taxed, and We demand that IL
pay its just proportion of all state, county
and other local taxes.
We are opposed to the passage of the bill
now pending IN congress for the relief oil
the Union and Central Pacific railroads,
and urge congress to insist upon these roads
complying with their obligations, The
propositions to extend the time of payment
to the Union Pacific fifty years and reduce
the interest on It's bonds from 6 to per cent;
Central Pacific bonds, now due, bonds bear
ing Il per cent to be paid in 125 years, we
denounce as an outrage upon the people OF
this country.
That we protest against any impairment
of the force and vigor of the interstate COM
merce law, and that we especially protest
against the repeal of that part of the law
which prohibits pooling, discrimination
and the charging more for short than q
long haul.
That we demand that the next legislature
shall pass law fixing the rates of trans
portation upon the railroads of this state
that will be sufficient to pay interest OH the
actual cost of said railroads and their ex-
penses and repairs, but not one cent of in
terest on watered stock
That we hold that mortgage Indebtedness
should be deducted from the tax upon
realty, whether such mortgage is held at
homa OF ahrnadi and we ask such laws as
| al