St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-02
CITIZENS ALLIANCE.
First Defeated, Taken Up Agai
and Adopted -DonneIly an

First Defeated, Taken Up Again
and Adopted - Donnelly and
Fish.
The fight commenced at the afternoon
session was resumed at once on the as
sembling of the delegates after supper.
Mr.. Halls motion made before adjourn
ment, providing for the adoption of the
constitution section by section, was
defeated. An amendment was made
which provides that each subordinate
pay the expenses of its delegate to
the State Alliance, The old cOnsttu-
tion provided that these expenses should
be deducted from the 40 cents dues.
The convention decided to adhere to the
original scheme. A motion to elect all
officers Of the Alliance was defeated.
Another motion was made to read the
constitution seriatim. The motion was
lost. There was some question as to
how large vote should be necessary to
amend the constitution. Donnelly de-
cided that majority vote could effect an
amendment instead of theuSua ltwothird
vote. e.The,Alliance constitution was then
adopted, although there seemed to be
considerable dissatisfaction that 1t was
not read by sections and adopted. The
question of Citizens Alliances was
brought up again. There had been
some sharp discussion during the recess,
and those for and against the project
were ready to carry out what looked
like good sized quarrel. The Sage,
however, had concluded to compromise,
and the white winged dove of peace was
again cOaxed out to hover over the con-
vention. Mr.. DOnnelly had conferred
with
The Labor Leaders,
and agreed to confine the Citizens AL
liances to towns of less than 5000 in
habitants and also to exclude lawyers
and bankers. The constitution OF the
Citizens Alliance was then read. Henry
PlOwman, of Otter Tail county, made
harangue denouncing the whole scheme
and claiming that the farmers should
attend only to Alliance affairs.
Ii. l.. Loucks was called for to ex-
plain the Citizens Alliances. He said
that Citizens A lliances were being or
ganized in the South, and Ralph Beau
mont, the well known labor lecturer,
was actively engaged in such work Mr..
LOucks thought that the citizens unions
should not be under the supervision of
the Formers Alliance. George Muller
followed in the same strain, and said
that citizens and business men would not
allow the interference of the farmers.
Mr.. Donnelly was again obliged to de-
fend his pet plan. A call for the preyi-
GUS que stion was carried by vote OF
15S to no. There was so much disturb
ance that it seemed impossible to get
vote. Henry Plowman moved the mat
ter be referred to the subordinate ALI
ances and reported at the end of six
months. A rising vote was taken and
the motion carried by 161 to $50. This
practically killed the Citizens Alliance
idea after spending about hye hours in
Wrangling.
The election Of the finance committee
was the next order of business. The
several congressional districts assem-
bled separately and nominated the fol-
First district. o. II. Paige; Second
district. j. j. Mooney: Third district,
B. j. Butler; Fourth district, DR.. f. w.
Fish; Fifth district. X. j. Hall.
The five members were elected by ac-
clamation.
A resolution was unanimously adopt
ed directing the special committee on
agricultural school be directed to inYes-
tigate the soldiers home also. a reso-
luton was presented protesting against
the disposal of the capitol lands in Kan
diyohi county, and that they be rented
only to actual settlers. The resolution
was adopted.
The committee appointed to investi-
gate the two Alliance hail insurance
companies explained that they had not
had sufficient time to thoroughly inyes-
tigate the books. A motion was made
to refer the examination to the insur-
ance commissioner. Mr.. SteenersOn
stated that the first division in the Alli-
ance ranks came on the subject of the
insurance companies. A motion was
finally carried extending the time of
the original committee, and providing
for the publication of such report.
Donnelly brought up the Citizens AL
lance again by asking how the eXecu-
tive committee should act when the re-
port of the sub-alliances came in. This
gave the Sage q chance to again get the
matter before the convention. A motion
to reconsider was passed. The consti-
tuition of the Citizens Alliance was then
adopted with the same enthusiasm with
which it had been voted down about an
hour before.
Report on Grain.
H. Swain, of Rice county. gave an in
teresting report on grain and transporta-
tion aid made the following recon-
mendations:
First-That If the system of railroad com.
missioners be retained then they should be
elected by the people and provided with
sufficient legal counsel and funds TO prose-
cute their work.
Second-The basis for determining the
first rate Of tariff charges Of transportation
OF freight etc, should be the actual cost Of
said railroad.
Third-There shall be legislation providing