The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-01-08
THE MINNESOTA ALLIANcE.
Omcsrs Elected aud Platform Adopted b
-. I hA Minnesota Earmara, .AlliAnca

Omosrs Elected aud Platform Adopted BY
The Minnesots Farmers' Alliance.
ST. PAUL, Minn.--The Farmers State
Alliance convention, with 693 delegates
in attendance, closed on the LIST. The
following officers were elected:
PnEs1DENr--IGNATIUS DONNELLY. 4
SEcRErARY-A. L. STROMBERG.
TREAsURER---H. p. BJORGE.
LEcrURER--EVAM MCDONALD.
The PLATFORM.
First-We demand that the t.war tar
id, which has SO long survived the OBJ
ject OF its creation shall be radically re-
vised, giving very material reductions
in the necessaries of life and placing
new material on the free list to the end
that we may compete with the world
Tor market, and that such luxuries as
whisky and tobacco shall in no manner
be relieved from internal taxation till
the high protective tariff has been
wholly Invested OF it's extortions, and
we especially denounce the Mckinley
bill as the browning infamy Of pro-
lection, - =
Second-We demand governmental
control OF the railways, both by state
and nation, to the end that all discrim-
nations shall cease; that watered stock
shall not receive the reward of honest
capital; that the pooling of rates is such
an element of monopoly as should be
absolutely prohibited that our legisla-
ture shall enact freight ia to law which
shall hx rates no higher than those now
in force in Iowa, and the reduction of
railroad passenger rates to two cents
per mile. We anticipate the ultimate
ownership of railroads by the. govern
ment as the solution of this question.
Third-As producers we demand free
and open markets for our grain, and
that the railways shall receive and ship
grain as they receive and ship other
commodities for the owner to its desti-
nation. That the grading of wheat at
country stations be abolished, and grain
be bought and sold upon its merits; that
the right to establish side tracks to
grain warehouses and the equal use of
cars shall in no manner be changed.
Fourth-We demand the maintenance
of the present freedom OF traffic law,
the present grain laws and the law for
the distribution of cars, and the erec-
ton by the state of public warehouses
where the producer shall store his grain
unmixed in special bins at actual cost,
Wv OuAuoAA oAu ChO az l4Cu4UuIdx l0AC
grounds. and we demand that the legis-
lature shall thoroughly investigate the
method of handling grain under exist
ing rules.
Fifth-Our public lands shall be re-
served in small quantities without cost
to actual settlers only, and we favor
laws for the protection of our forests.
Sixth-The present high rate of in
terest should be reduced to per cent.
terest is unjust; it should be reduced to
per cent. per annum, with stringent
penalties to prevent money loaners from
exacting higher rate.
Seventh---We favor an increase in the
volume of money eqnal to- the require
ments OF increasing trade and business.
We demand the free coinage of silver,
and condemn the silver bill as a fraud
upon the people.
Eighth---All public offices which af-
feet the interests of the people should
be made electoral.
Ninth---We demand that law forbid
ding any railroad corpora ton from issu-
ing any mortgage, bond or stock until
the itemized sccount of cash, labor or
property received, to register and certi-
~ to the same as issued in pursuance of
law and as constituting part of the
capital stock of such corporation.
We ask the next legislature to estab.
lish the Australian system of voting for
the whole state, and that election day
be made legal holiday.
Tenth-We demand the prohibition
Of the employment of children under
fifteen years in the mills, shops, facto-
ries and workshops of the county, and
We also favor the adoption of factory
and mine inspection law and the EN-
ployer's liability act, and we favor the
publication of free text books.
.Eleventh-We favor the settlement
OF all strikes by arbitration, and equal
pay for equal work, irrespective CT sex,
also for shorter hours of labor in fac
tories, stores and public works and we
alto favor a lien law that will give labor
first lien on its products.
Twelfth-We are opposed to the Civ
ing away of valua BILE franchises by the
state and municipality.
Thirteenth-Tbat we hold that mort
gage Indebtedness should be deducted
from the tax on realty whether such
mortgage is held at home or abroad,
and we ask such laws as will make tho
hidden property pay equal taxes with
the visible property.
Fourteenth-We believe in graded
income tax for corpora tons and individ-
uals to the end that wealth be COM
PEELED to contribute it's share to the va
rious burdens of taxation.
Fifteenth---That the salaries of all our
public officers, state and county, should
be reduced to correspond with the re-
duced income of the producers and work
ing people:
Sixteenth--That in obedience to a
reasonable demand we request the COM
ing legislature to submit the question
OF constitutional prohibition to vote
OF the people.
Seventeenth--That we renew to the
soldiers whose valor saved the nation
the expression of our profoundest graf
itude, and we declare that it is the sense
OF the American people that the men
who fought for the Union shall receive
liberal pensions, and that the same gen.
erous spirit should be extended to the
widows and orphans of the heroes of the
war.
Eighteenth-That We demand an in
vestigation of State prison at Saltwater
and the recent parchase of binding
Irvine machinery.
Nineteenth-We demand the passage
of the Conger lard bill now before Unit
ed States senate and such further legis-
lation as may be necessary to control
the traffic in adulterated food products.
Twentieth-That auction gambling
on boards of trade should be abolished,
Twenty-irst-We denounces the force
bill now pending in congress as dan
gerous and revolutionary measure, de-
vised for partisan purposes.
Twenty-second-Tha the govern
mental methods of dealing with the
Indians is illogical, i'm beetle and expen-
sive. The entire management in all its
details should be transferred to the war
department, and our bold pioneers save
from perpetual menace of life and prop
erty, to which American citizens should
be no longer exposed.
Twenty-third-Thatw we demand that
the government foreclose its lien on the
Union Pacific railroad and take possess
sion and operate the same in the inter-
est of people of the United States, and
we do not approve the report of Senator
Davis of this state on that question.