The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-02-11
Portage County Farmers, Alliance

Last Saturday the plans for forming Por-
tage County Farmers Alliance crystalized at
the Town Hall in this city. and the farmers of
the various townships have now an opportu ity
of identifying themselves with county organi-
zation of this young but growingly famous and
powerful association.
The delegates met at II 80 a. m and were
called TO order by E. NJ. Turner of Newton
Falls. A permanent organization was effected
by electing c. Il. Doolittle, of Streetsboro.
Chairman. and c. Root. of Aurora. Secretary
A. M. Messenger, Windham, E. P. Barnard
Rootstown. w. j. Weaver. Shalersville. n.
Stockberger, Yale. and S. Bidlake, Mantua, were
appointed as the committee on resolutions F.
K Colt. Shalersville, Harvey Buck. Windham.
and II. A. Austin. Rootstown. constituted the
committee on credentials.
at the afternoon session the business of the
convention was taken up with vigor and it did
not require any waste of words to induct the
Alliance into being. for the convention was
composed of delegates selected with reference
tU their executive ability and sturdy good
sense, whose presence together was guarantee
of careful, safe action anu dispatch of business
The following are the officers elected: Presi-
dent. W. j. Weaver, Shalersville; Vice Presi-
dent, II. A. Austin, Rootstown; Secretary, L.
streetsboro. Cornelius Baldwin. of Nelson was
recommended for State Deputy On motion.W.
f. Dobbs. Windham. Ira Meacham. Randolph.
r. II. Clark, Rootstown. were appointed by the
chair as the committee to draft a constitution
and by laws for the Alliance and to report at
the next meeting. The committee on resolu-
tions submitted the following declar ations and
demands:
I've demand the abolition of the National
Banking system. and that the government issue
the currency of the country.
Awe are in favor of the government con-
trolling all rail roads and telegraphs.
3-We are in favor of graded income tax
1--WE are in favor of cooperation with labor
organizations as far as their efforts are in har-
mony with identified interests.
5-We are in favor of the free coinage of sill
yer and that such free coinage be restricted to
the production of silver of the United States.
6-We are opposed to alien ownership of
lands in the United States.
Tive demand the election of the President
of the United States and members of the u S.
Senate by direct vote of the people
s-We are opposed to the present free pass
system ofrail.roads issued to either State county
or city officials.
S-M ueLHdnu Oh any CdnuludIe Gnab may ask
our support independent political action.
iO-We demand free school books.
live demand the Dairy and Food Commits
sioner to be elected by the people.
1--we endorse the action of the County Com
missioners in placing new roof on the Jail in
stead of involving the county in the heavy ex-
pense of a new one.
l3-We demand the reduction of saaried Of
fcers to a reasonable compensation for their
labor.
A motion to consider the report by taking up
each resolution separately was lost alter some
discussion. which was concluded by Luman
Nelson, who said he thought these resolutions
superior to the ones adopted at Gallon. and was
in favor OF adopting them as a whole. because
they could not be improved upon. Some one
had previously made motion that the resolu- |
tion relating to the government iss of cur
rency be amended by demanding that the
issue full legal tender money to |
the people at low rate of interest This MIR. |
Nelson did net favor, but he was heartily in ac-
cord with the demand for the abolition Of the |
National Banking system, fo1 he could not see |
why these institutions should be allowed to |
realize IA per cent on their investment He |
liked the wording of the clause relating to gov |
control of railways aud teiegraphs. |
The word "control'' was a great improvement |
over the one of ownership adopted at Gallon.
He asked how it would be possible for the gov
to compel private corporations to sell |
their property. or to arbitrarily deprive them
of their franchise as long as they comply with
the laws by virtue of which they exist. He
thought all such demands absurd and useless.
and urged that nothing unreasonable be de-
manded On their reasonable conservatism
and adherence to practical measures depended
The life of their organization, for if they de-
parted from the plain dictates of reason, or de-
nanded changes impossible to be made. people
would brand them as fanatics and cranks.
They must not like Icarus, fly blindly into the
lace of the blazing sun. He advised the adop-
lion of the resolutions as whole at once. and
IN motion this was unanimously done.
Mr. Dobbs then extended an invitation for
he Alliance to meet with the Windham sub
Alliance at its next session. which was accept
ID. The meeting will be held sometime within
he next three months. but the date was not
known.
Mr. Nelson thought that the pile should be
nore thoroughly enlightened as to the objects
f the Alliance; their minds should be radical
' disabused of the idea that it is partisan or
anixation. He was of the opinion that people
onfounded the Northern Alliance with the c
outhern, where the mem bership was largely i
1t makes no difference what {
lan's politics are. He is welcome to join the c
lliance provided he is otherwise eligible and {
cceptable. He thought if the objects of the s