Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-06-17


Badger State. Towering above all, how
ever, was Congressman Jerry Simpson,
the sockless statesman from Kansas, &C.
companied by L. Polk, president of
the Southern Alliance. Mr. Polk is the
proud head of an organization that has
an active membership of half a million.
OPENING PROCEEDINGS.
The Alliance was called to order by
President Butt at 10 o'clock this morn
ing, ali the officers being present.
were appointed committee on
credentials. A man named Eagle,
of Chicago, occupied three-quar
ters of an hour in advertising
his business as a travelling salesman,
and damning with faint praise or
indirect disparagement the country
storekeepers. He was asked a good
many questions, and some farmers took
occasion to say good word for retail
merchants. Alex. Wardall, business
manager of the south Dakota Alli-
ance, addressed the convention for
half an hour, advocating the establish
ment of an official paper, as has been
done i'll South Dakota, and urging farm
ers not to patronize papers opposed to
their interests He explained the
methods of the South Dakota Fire, Hail
and Life Insurance Company, and
asked that q committee be appointed
TO consider the latter branch as feat
ure of future work in Wisconsin. While
he was speaking Col. l.. L. Polk and
Congressman Jerry Simpson came
Iv that their presence was
not observed. On the conclusion Of his
address all except Alliance men were
asked to retire, and Col. Polk made q
speech in advocacy of the union of all
farmers organizations.
Mr.. Polk occupied the time until
noon talking about the aims and pros
poets of the Alliance. He was enthus-
iastically cheered.
At the afternoon session the commit
tee on credentials reported. President
Butt delivered his annual address and
Secretary Moody submitted his report.
PRESIDENT BUTTS ADDRESS.
President Butt, IN his annual address,
referred feelingly to the crop prospects,
saying the country as whole had not
enjoyed its usual share of blessings.
This, he said, is a strong reason why the
farmers and other labOrers of the land
should seek to assist each other. He
advocated the appointment of a state
purchasing agent and state salesman,
the former to buy in bulk
and the latter to sell the prod
uce in the same manner for
the farmers. He pointed out the man
ner IN which an agent could confer with
the agent from another state by which
producers of beef. pork and grain could
handle their own produce from farm 20
market. But this, he said, cannot be
done except by cooperation. The
President also renewed the recommen-
dation, made last wear, that the state
lecturer be authorized to appoint or
ganizers to work either by COMPRESSION
al or assembly districts or by county
He also recommended that steps be
taken to establish an alliance paper.
THE THIRD PARTY MOVEMENT.
President Butt referred to the efforts
of the alliances to secure redress of al
legged wrongs from Congress, and
branched off into the late political cam-
paign in Kansas. Referring to the Peo-
Piles Party movement, he said:
Already very full convention has met
and declared in favor Of the principles the
Alliance have decided upon. True the
convention was not an Alliance conven-
ton and the alliances were not repre-
scented there by authority except in very
few cases, 8 and it is also true
that the alliances are to meet by
delegates at Washington. D. c., February
2, 1892. to determine if they will cal
national convention to nominate candi-
dates for president and vice-preSident of
the United States. There is no reasonable
doubt that the meeting viii call convcn-
ton, and if it does that will probably end
the party organized at CIncmnati,
May %. But If it does not, then
the Peoples party will proceed to
call q convention and nominate a ticket for
tie canvass Of 1892. In this last event the
alliances, as organizations, may not take
part. as they are certainly not pledged
IN any way to cast their votes with the
Peoples party. But they should use their
best efforts with that party, which will
come the nearest TO alliance principles as
agreed upon.
DISCUSSING THE PLATFORM.
On the land and transr ortation question
there Is. so lar as KNOW OF no dispute III
Alliance circles: all agree to them. The
only place or difference | know Of is on
the money question, and on that the
main question is satisfactory. More
money to be issued by government
There IS some difference IN Opin-
ion on the matter of arriving at this.
The Southern alliances want the money
loaned by the government on our perish
warehouses ana the money advanced there
people as also Others, and if it goes into
party many votes and bring none. Many
that the government lend the money On