New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1890-03-12
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.

IL
q New Set of Officers.
The first days business of the Minnesota
Farmers Alliance was devoted principally
to speeches, by Mr.. Donnelly and Gov.
Merriam.
Gov. Merriam's excellent speech was one
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 bust
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 a commit
tee without reading. Among the resolu-
lions 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 grst mills and
elevators, so that farmers might have the benefit
of at least half their crops.
To modify and govern the rate ofinterest and
to secure more stringent usury laws.
Favoring legislation to secure cheaper fuel for
farmers resident in Northern Minnesota
Favoring a law to prevent railroad companies
from watering their stock.
CONCERNING monopolies and systems of exac-
ton bearing hard upon farmers
Indorsing the Great West as the alliance organ.
law to provide for the election of United
States senator's by the people.
law providing for the national government
owning and operating all railroads
The passage OF a law providing for absolute
prohibition OF Intoxicating iquorfor bothstates
and nation.
A 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 companys earnings should not exceed
five per cent interest over the actual expenses
under economical management
law regulating taxation and mortgages
law for the protection of forests, and with
this end in view the abolition of the two per cent
duty on lumber
Legislation providing that rtownships a 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 at for cleaning and elevating
liked at one half cent; the receipt for grain to be
made commercial paper bearing interest at not
more than per cent.
That i'll the coming election of president of
the alliance an actual, practical farmer should
be chosen.
The election by the people, instead of appoint
ment by the governor, OF the railroad commits
sion and grain inspectors.
That |. Donnelly be continued as state lect-
urer and other officers be continued, in case
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.
Thatra1lroad companies shall be compelled to
receive wheat at its actual weight and reception
the same, and that the same number of pounds
shall be shipped to the consignee receipted for
the COnSignOr.
Fixing the legal rate of interest at 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 future
ahead. The question of cooperative stores
and other cooperative institutions was con-
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 adj
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 for
the morning session it was evident that
the opposition to Mr.. Donnelly had crystal
lied. Caucusing had been going on all
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. ]. Hall Of Stearns
county, but the friends of G.. w. Sprague of
Prosper, who has held the position of pres
ident for the past six years. claimed that
his services should be rewarded by re-elec-
ton. They made stubborn fight, with the
hope of securing sufficient strength to
elect him, but when they found that
he would cut but sorry figure
when the balloting began, and that he
would only detract from Halls strength,
with the chance that Donnelly would be
elected. they agreed to support the Stearns
election was assured. Mr.. .Donnelly was
averse to his name being presented His
only desire was to secure a change Of Off
GERS. He had declared repeatedly that he
did not desire any, Office but his enthusiast
tic friends were determined to elect him if
possible.
After the revised constitution had been
considered and adopted, the order of the
day was taken up. This was the election
of officers. John Diamond. w. J. Bodkin
and Henry Fry were appointed to act as
tellers. George w, sprague was nominated
for president, but declined on the ground
that he had held the Office for six years and
that was long enough. He was accorded
three cheers and a vote of thanks for his
past services.
The chairman ordered an informal ballot
with the following result:
Whole number votes cast. Observation-Disclosures. 800
Necessary to choice ................15O
r. j. Hall ........... SO
Ignatius Donnelly "a
Scattering ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. g
AS soon as the result of the informal bal
lot was announced, Mr.. Donnelly arose and
stated that he was not and had not been a
candidate for any office. and no one could
say that he had solicited his vote for presi-
his friends to present his name.
but they declared they would not
allow him to withdraw. He, therefore had
great pleasure III moving that the secretary
be instructed to cast the ballot OF the alli-
ance for Mr.. Hall, whom he eulogized at
1n.,r Ian