The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-02-21
ItBS
For legislators Simply.

The programe OF the Farmers Alliance OF Min
nesota which will be promulgated at their state
convention on March next, was learned yester-
day from Everett W. Fish, deputy state lecturer
Of the Minnesota alliance and editor of the GREAT
WEST. weekly paper published at 75s Wabasha
street, st. Paul The paper bears this sentence
under it's head line: Representing the financial
and political interests OF the farmers OF the
Northwest" This paper came int % existence at the
hands of Mr.. Fish as editor, and Dr. A. X Frain
business manager, on Oct. Is. 1889 Prior to this
time Mr.. Fish was the editor and proprietor of
the Central Minnesotan, the official organ of the
state alliance, published at Glenwood. He sold
this paper last fall and then established the
GREAT WEsT. Mr.. Fish said with reference to
the Farmers alliance and it's political program
Six months ago there were $50 dead alliances in
Minnesota and only so lives ones. To-day there
SIS live alliances. The Minnesota alliance
this year will have nothing to do with politics ex-
cept to try to elect as many members of the egis-
lature possible. They will not permit the
gubernatorial question to enter into their organ
izations in any way. Now, since have said
that, perhaps should explain that Mr.. George
w. Sprague, OF Prosper, Fillmore County, presi-
dent OF the state alliance and with him limited
number OF politicians in the order, will under
take to work for Albert Scheffer for governor
They will be assisted in this movement by cx-
Lieut.. Gov G. A. Gilman. But an overwhelming
majority OF the alliance will not be merely against
Mr. Sprague's course, but will undertake to sit
upon it, Aside from this matter with Sprague
and his followers, the alliance OF Minnesota is in
perfect harmony. 1 am inclined to think that
Mr.. Sprague lacks the confidence that once was
his OF the n embers of the alliance A pretty good
joke was played upon the alliance recently. In
November last. at a committee meeting OF the
state alliance, Joseph keenan, was suggested by
Sprague as delegate to the National Union con-
ventiOn at st. Louis. Upon Sprague& sugges-
ton keenan, was duly elected such delegate.
Shortly afterward a German alliance discovered
that Keenan, was machine agent OF the Deer
1ngs, ana was drawing a salary OF 500 per
month. OF courre Mr.. keenan, didn't go to st.
Louis. The state alliance holds that the state
railway commissioners and the United States
senat Ors should be elected BY the people The
alliance also believes that every railroad in the
state is bonded and stocked way above its cost
and worth. have already shown in The GREAT
West" from contracts and other facts and fig
ures that there is no consecutive fifty miles Of
railway in the state that cost over $4,000 per
mile. have shown from the sworn statements
OF the officials of the Kansas City railway that
lis miles OF that road, including grading. bri6g-
ing. masonry, land, stations, all equipments, To-
cOmotives and cars of all kinds cost only $13 $50
20 per mile. The operating expenses taxes, ETC..
train mile run were 20 cents. Thus you the
percentage of expense in each 100 cents is Is. 3d.
leaving percentage Of profit in each 100 cents Of
34.37. Now the railroad commissioners have con-
coded that all these roads cost from $4,000 to
500 600 per mile, while here is road that cost
~ $2,l46 per mile for track superstructure. in
Guiding rails. We contend that the stock Of
every railroad in the state is badly watered and
that the farmers have to pay for all this in
freights. These questions will all come up before
the state convention, which meets on March in
st. Paul. committee will be appointed to ex-
anime into this railroad matter, and the farmers
against the railroads. They think they see their
way cearest in dropping every thing else to COM
bine on the election Of Legislators. We have no
time to look after the interests Of gubernatorial
candidates.