The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1891-04-30
CONFESSION.

the experimental and crude material
with which to do it's work. as the fact
that it not only permitted but abetted
every form of riotous extravaganza both
in legislative expenses and appropria-
tions.
More sinecures were maintained than
ever before, and the highest ambition Of
most af the alliance members seemed to
be so secure tor a party friend a position
at minimum of work and maximum of
salary. 1t is no exaggeration to say that
there were score of useless attaches of
the legislature who performed no official
dutymore burdensome than appending
their signatures to the payroll.
1t is not to be wondered at that the
alliance members felt that an apology
was due the state atlarge for their course
during the eighty day of service, for
which they were paid 1O5 per diems. To
be sure the apology-or rather confess
sion,-declares that the alliance being in
the minority were not responsible, but
that statement deceives no one. The
very fact that the speaker was one of the
shiningest dark lanterns in the house is
sufficient REPUTATION of that claim. The
alliance held the balance of power, dictat-
ed the organization under a bargain
with the democrats, and was in position
to dictate with equal effectiveness the
policy of the session. The alliance had
the speaker, the speaker named the COM
mittees and the committees shaped legis-
lation-or might have done so. And the
same condition of affairs obtained in the
senate. In view of these facts the follow
ing manifesto will be read with interest,
and discounted to accord with the facts:
The undersigned, representatives and
senators, elected to the recent legislature
to advocate alliance principles, perceiv-
ing that a concerted attempt is being
made to make the farmers alliance re-
sponsible tor the extravaganza and fail
ures of the session just closed, respectful
ly state:
First-That there were but forty-six
alliance senator's and members in the leg
islature out of 1913. That this number,
being considerably less than one-third of
the whole, could not control the course
of legislation in any particular, and cam
not justly be held responsible for it.
Second-An examination of the record
will show that in nearly every instance
the alliance members and senator's voted
on the side of retrenchment, reform and
good government. They failed to ac-
complish the work demanded by the peo-
pie because they could not get support
enough from the members of the old
parties.
Third-A large part of the great in
crease in the appropriations complained
of has been due to the steadily increasing
demands of our state charitable institu-
tons. The vanity of localities and of
officials has swelled these demands be-
yond all reason. They are "the horse
leech's daughters, whose constant cry'is
"Giye, give" AS these institutions are
under the charge and management of the
republican party, the alliance cannot be
held responsible for their exactions. The
alliance has applied the pruning knife
to them; but with all the re-
trenchment possible we have not been
able to keep the appropriations within
reasonable bounds. We were driven to
the alternative OF either precipitating an
extra session at great cost to the tax
payers, or voting for the appropriation
bills and the bill increasing the tax levy.
1t was a choice of evils. In addition to
the current appropriations we are called
upon to provide for deficiencies of $780,
600, coming down to us from past legis-
latures.
Fourth-We desire il clearly understood
that we represent distinct and indie
pendent political organization, and are
in no wise an appendage to either of the
old parties. While there have been good
men belonging to both parties on the
floor of the legislature during the recent
session, we see plainly that in the great
battle for reform we can depend on no
political party but our own. To do a
special work men must be specially elect
ed for that work.
Fifth-We have asked for a reduction
of the rate of interest on money; all DO
litical parties have echoed that demand.
Our reasonable request has, for the third
time in three successive legislatures, been
denied. We must carry this question TO
the ballot box in 1892. Every man who
has proved false on this issue should be
ruthlessly prescribed by the potsrs.
Sixth-We demanded the squeezing of
the water" out of railroads stocks by
passage of an act fixing maximum rates
for the transportation of freight and pas
sengers, or by tie adoption of the Iowa
system of railroad laws. This demand
has also been echoed by both the old
parties, but it has been denied us.
Seyenth-We asked that new board
of prison Managers, friendly to the farm
ers and untainted by any bad record in
the past, should be created by law, who
would see that the great experiment of
manufacturing thyme by the convict
labor of the state should be made sue
cess. We have been defeated in this de-
mand, and we very much fear that at
tempts may now be made to bring to
naught our efforts to break up the Irvine
trust, and at the same time prevent the
conyicts from being employed at a work
which would conflict with free labor in
its struggle for an honest existence. We
have no apologies for supporting the et-
iSft ~ SSletOhSh IuC IudHuldCIuTe OF
twipe at saltwater. 1t is demanded bv
our whole people. successful, it would
save the farmers OF Minnesota several
hundred thousand doliass annually, and
the interest of the farmers is, In the long
run, the interest of all the people of the
state. The sum of $3.50. 900 voted for
the purchase of material is not a dona-
ton, but a revolving fund to be returned
annually by the sale OF Irvine.
We are defeated, but not jisheartened.
To give up the fight we are engaged in
would be to give up the cause of free gov
eminent. We are laboring to leave in
the hands of the producers the fruits of
their own industry. We call upon every
man who loves justice and right to come
to oyy help. We call upon the farmers
and the mechanics and all the hosts Of
labor to go to work, from this hour, and
prepare for great campaign in 1892
for the redemption of the state from the
grasp of the classes who now plumber
and Cypress it.
We have great work to do. A COM
mittce Of Investigation of the house has
reported sworn eyidense whicl, goes to
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