St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-02
DoNNELLY's CHOLER UP.
A Fierce Fight Over the Proposed
Amended Constitution.

A Fierce Fight Over the Proposed
Amended Constitution.
The afternoon session of the Alliance
convention started with the adoption Of
a resolution thanking the Northern Pa
cific, Great Northern and all other rail-
roads that granted the reduced rates to
members Of the Alliance in attendance
upon the convention. The report of the
committee on resolutions was adopted
and the committee discharged, and the
convention started out 10 adopt the plat
form section by section. The first sec
tion to which objection was entered
was that relating to the submission of a
prohibitory amendment. Alex Beers, of
Chisago county, wanted it submitted
with proyiso that the vote for it be
taken at special election. This sugges-
ton was defeated. The reading Of the
platform was called for, but Gen. Baker
had hardly commenced it when a motion
was made to adopt the platform without
further debate. Ii. A. Swayne, of Rice
county, moved that the Oca.a platform
be adopted, but as this platform de-
nOunced the COnger lard bill, there was
considerable objection and the motion
was lost.
j. j. Mooney, of Washington, intro
duced resolution demanding that all
moneys collected from liquor license
should go into the county treasury and
be divided in equal parts between the
general school and poor funds of the
county. A. ID. Stewart, of Redwood
county, made a strong plea in favor of
the resolution and il was unanimously
carried.
II. V. Poore, of Renville county,
wanted to know why the committee on
resolutions had not said something
about the removal of the capital to
Kandiyohl county, as had been request
ed early in the convention.
A resolution was introduced to ask
the legislature to pass a bill removing
the capital to Kandiyohi county, the
bill to be drafted by an Alliance COM
mittee OF five. composed of one member
from each congressional district, and
introduced by an Alliance member of
the legislature.
A man naried Fish took the floor and
abused the large cities
In a Disgusting
manner. Gen. Baker, in an eloquent
and convincing speech, opposed the
resolution. r. j. Meighen, of Fillmore,
wanted the matter referred to the sub
Alliances. This was defeated, and on a
vote the absurd resolution was defeated
by vote of 2s6 to 205. This result was
brought about solely through the able
speech of Gen. J. II. Baker.
A committee from the State Educa-
tional society appeared and presented a
resolution passed at the meetings of the
educational society and its branches.
AS this subject was covered by the plat
form nothing was done.
The committee on constitution ap-
peared at this time and submitted its re-
port. The usual declaration Of prin-
ciples was made, in which govern
mental control of the railroads was std-
vocated and eternal hostility to mOnop-
oily declared. The constitution as read
provided that all appointments of state
lecturers and organizers made by the
state lecturer must be approved by the
executive committee. This is a change
made by Mr.. Donnelly's friends because
Of the election of Miss Mcdonald and
the defeat Of Doc Fish. The quail
ficati0ns for membership were changed,
making only those eligible whose prin-
clpaI occupation is at farm labor, and
no person receiving salary from any
corporation shall be eligible. The con-
greSsionaI Alliances were abolished. The
position of assistant business agent was
created. The constitution was appar-
emily the work Of Mr.. Donnelly. as it pro-
vided for the organization Of auxiliary
Alliances with which all men who sym
pathiZe with the Alliance and vote with
it could be affiliated. These Alliances are
to be called Citizens Alliances and law
yers and other professional men can be
elected members by vote Of three
fOurths of the members. AS Mr. Don
nelly explained this matter the work
ingmen Ill the cities are to be allowed to
organize and work in harmony with the
Alliance men.
After lengthy explanation by Mr..
Donnelly of the purposes of the new
constitution, Albert Warren, of Lincoln
county, made vigorous speech, adyO-
eating the printing and distribution of
the new constitution among the subor-
dinate Alliances for discussion and its
adoption at the next meeting. This was
popular and
Stirred Up
Mr.. Donnelly greatly, and he again
took the floor and said the new consti-
tuition must be adopted for the sake of
organizing the laboring men of the
cities. In the course of this speech he
declared that i'll the last state conyen-
ton delegates were present from the
railroad employees club with creden-
tiaIs from Wilkin county.
Mr.. Mattson. of Wilkin county, inter-
rupted the chairman and declared he
was mistaken.
This rather took the speaker back,
and he soon finished his speech.
Miss Mcdonald took the floor and de-
clared herself opposed to the scheme
for the organization Of auxiliary Alli
ances. She declared that the farmers
ganization of the laboring men
of the city, than the laboring men
had to organize Alliances. She
claimed that only the men who could
not get into labor organization would
organize these citizens alliances. Her
speech was so strong and convincing
that Mr.. Donnelly felt obliged to take
the floor and cOunteract its effect. He
declared that the Knights of Labor in
the cities were not as strong as the
farmers: and he made very plausible
appeal to the prejudices of the dele
gates against the cities. He claimed
his scheme would reach the small
towns.
Mr. Warren moved a substitute for
the resolution to the effect that the con-
stitution be referred to committee and
published and sent to all the sub-alli-
ances for consideration, and then let it
come up for adoption at the next meet
ing. doc" Fish gained the floor
through the kindness of the chairman,