The great West., 1890-02-14
ALLIANCE HISTORY.
At the Request Of the Great West, Eric
Olson. Former Secretary. Gives
Some Interesting Facts.

Some Interesting Facts.
The GREAT WEST desired to get
some of the facts regarding the past
representation in the state alliances,
and Mr.. Olson has kindly given us
much of the record. If any discrep-
ancies occur in reference to the meet
ing last year it will be remembered
that Eric Olson was hedged about
and practically shut out from some
of the usual field of work and infor-
nation occupied by a secretary.
ALLIANCES ALIVE OR DEAD IN 1889.
DIR. FISH:
AS your paper shows up from time
to time how many bogus delegates
were admitted into the last annual
meeting of the Farmers Alliance, /
will give you the facts.
Mr.. Diamond called for an express
sion on back dues. Mr.. Donnelly
moved, "that all the dues of the SUBJ
ordinate alliances in arrears prior to
the year 1888, be cancelled, and that
delegates be permitted to act in this
alliance upon the payment of dues
for 1888. The motion prevailed.
HISTORY OF ORGANIZATION AND DUES
PAID.
The Minnesota State Farmers Al
lance was organized at Rochester,
Dec. 8, 1881. There were then 80
Alliances in 25 counties. S. p.
Sprague, Lecturer, charged 25 cents
for each member and was to return
1Oc. for each member to the state
treasurer, which for 95 Alliances or
ganized up to Jan. 4th, 1883 at 10
members each, would have been $95.
There was paid over $2O.O5, L. E.
Finley, of Good Thunder, was secre-
tary. He was voted $500 for the
years service, but the records do not
show that he received a single cent
for his valuable services. Godfrey
Frego, of Fillmore county, was the
first president. The meeting in Man.
kato, Jan. 4th, 1883, raised the per
capita tax to 20 cents. They re-
solved to demand lower railroad
rates-fxed by commission elected
by the people to tax mortgages; to
grade wheat fair and for lower tariff
The next meeting was held Jan. 10,
1884. 1873 Alliances were then Or
ganized, which at 20 cents per men,
ber counting 10 to each organization,
would have been $276. There was
reported as collected $43 90, and ex-
penditures $37.OO. A $1.OO fee for
charters was ordered. As Alliances
were organized during the next
year, and $34 collected. 1873 AL
liances at 81 each for dues, would be
1866, but only $1O9.35 was col
lected, from 80 Alliances, 152 did
not pay anything, lecturer got moth
ing, secretary got nothing. The al
lance became a barnacle attached to
the political boodlers-to hold back
the farmers, and not hurt the opera
tors of the railroads and milling
business. Geo. w. Sprague had been
president. S. P. Sprague, lecturer
Geo. W. Haigh, Sec. came into the
Alliance at that time and began to
counteract the iniquity and helped to
get the railroad law OF 1886 passed
through the House. Then called on
Geo. W. Sprague to come help lobby
it through the senate. He came, but
only to visit J. J. Hill and G.. A. Gil
man.
Clifford, of Otter Tail, was elected
lecturer without pay. 20 Alliances
were organized and $65 paid-for
charters. Total 253 Alliances up
to Feb. 26, 1886. 81 each would
have been $5O6. 178 Alliances paid
nothing, and Is paid $22S.59. The
lecturer was then turned off without
thanks. The secretary got 1926
salary. At that meeting the
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WAS CREATED.
Dues were raised to SO cents per
annum and charter fees to 81. The
war began. Eight members OF the ex-
ecutive committee work for Alliance
principles, and three, including the
president, for monopoly and c. A.
Gilman, nee J. J. Hill and the house
of Pilsbury!
Alliance principles were formulated
at a meeting May 1926, 1886, and
declared to the world. We struck
out for political liberty on Sept LIST,
1886, but the 3 ''wise" men put on
the brakes. The saying of A. Gilman
May 25, 1886: II don't know what
the Alliance is doing neither do l
care" was the cause of his defeat. If
he had said: 81 recognize Alliance
principles" he could have been COVER