The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-09
Both Vigorously Demanded by the
Farmers Alliance in National
Convention.
Measures are Urged to Preserve
the Public Domain for
Actual Settlers.
Opening Session Of tho Meeting Of the
American Federation. of Labor
Socialists Apply.

discussion, under the report of the commit
tee on legislation. 1t contained the follow
ing amended demands: First, the abolition
of national banks, the establishment OF
sub-treasuries in the several states to loan
money direct to the people at a rate of in
forest not to exceed two per CENT? annum
on n-perishable farm products and real
estate, with proper limitations upon the
quantity of land and amount of money;
that the amount of circulating medium be
speedily increased to not less than $50 per
capita.
Second, That congress shall pass laws to
effectually prevent dealing in futures on all
agricultural and mechanical productions.
preserving stringent system Of procedure
in trials to secure the prompt conviction OF
offenders; such penalties as shall secure
the most perfect compliance with law.
Third, We condemn the silver bill re-
Gently passed and demand the free and un-
limited coinage of silver.
Fourth, It demands the passage Of laws
prohibiting alien ownership Of land and
that congress take prompt action to devise
some plan to obtain all lands now owned
by aliens and foreign syndicates. and that
all lands held by railroads and other cor
porations in excess of what is actually used
and needed by them be reclaimed and held
for actual settlers only.
Fifth, Believing in the doctrine of equal
rights to all and special privileges to none,
we demand that our national legislation be
SO framed in the future as not to build up
one industry at the expense of another.
We further demand just and equitable
system of graduated tax on incomes. We
believe the money of the country should be
kept as much as possible in the hands OF
the people, and that the demand that all
national and state revenues be limited to
the necessary expenses of the government,
economically and honestly administered.
Sixth, We demand most rigid, honest and
Just state and national control and super
vision of the means Of public communities
tion and transportation, and If this control
does not remove abuses now existing, We
demand government ownership Of such
means of communication and transporta-
tion.
A spirited debate followed the introduc-
tion of this report.
Loucks, of South Dakota, offered an
amendment to strike out tho word 'farm"
before products, but after some discussion
changed it to read "mercantile' instead of
farm. Davie, of Kentucky. offered long
amendment, and speeches for and against
these amendments went on for long time.
President Hall, of the Missouri alliance, de-
clared himself funcompronisinRly opposed to
the esnb-treasury plan. 1T is unconstitutional
and it is directly opposed to the principles
of the order; it is unjust and inequitable;
very extravagant and would bring financial
ruin to the farmer and all other classes of
the effect Of drawing tho minds of farmers
and other laborers from the greatest curse
of the age-class legislation" In conclu-
sion he said: IF such a step is taken it
will destroy the order in Missouri in less
than ninety days"
Congresrman-elect simson, Of Kapsas,
Of Yeaa % and oshsrs dsve1ed na the
ingston that the amount of circulation shall
not be less than $50 per capita was agreed
to. Many other speeches for and against
the sub-treasury scheme were made and a
vote finally taken resulted in the adoption
of the demands as above by vote of nine
ty-nine to seventy-nine.
In the afternoon session Wardell. of
South Dakota, moved to reconsider the vote
by which the alliance protested against the
passage of the election bill, stating his
reason to be q feeling that the protest
would retard the progress of the alliance in
the north and west. On motion of Hall, of
Missouri, Wardell's motion was laid ON the
table, ffty-six to thirtv-two. There was
considerable excited discussion over the
matter. The states voting with Wardell
were Illinois, Texas, Indiana. Michigan,
Pennsylvania, South and North Dakota.
There was divided vote in the delegations
from Arkansas. Missouri, West Virginia,
Florida and Kansas. Delegate Carr. of
North Carolina, presented q memorial to
congress heartily approving and asking the
passage of the Paddock pure food bill, and
emphatically protesting against the passage
of what is known as the Conger lard bill,
which is denounced as measure tending
toward more taxation and unjust discrimi-
nation against the cotton seed oil Of the
south and the beef fat of the west-sec-
dustrial movement declares increasing hos
ti:ity. The memorial was unanimously
adopted.
At the night session resolution was
passed urging the establishment of postal
savings bank. just before adjournment,
Buchanan, of Tennessee. took occasion to
warmly denounce the members who had
furnished information to press representa-.
tiyes as scoundrels, liars, knaves and trai-
tors. After passing the customary resolu-
tions of thanks the National alliance, at
one O'Clock Tuesday morning, adjourned.
The sub-treRsury bill. as it now stands in
congress, does not include provision for
loans on land but this feature does not an
pear in the formal demand to-day.
CONCENTRATION AND SUCCESS.