The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-01-08
THE MINNESOTA ALLIANCE.
Officers Elected aud Platform Adopted by
The Minnesota Farmers Alliance.

"
Officers Elected aud Platform Adopted by
The Minnesota Farmers Alliance.
ST. PAUL, Minn.---The Farmers State
Alliance convention, with 693 delegates
in attendance, closed on the 1st. The
following officers were elected:
PREs1DENT--IGNATIU DONNELLY.
SECRETARY-A. L. STROMBERG.
TREAsURER---H. p. BJORGE.
LECrURER--EVA MCDONALD.
THE PLATFORM.
First-We demand that the ''war tar
iff," which has so long survived the OBJ
iect 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
for a 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 divested of it's extortions, and
we especially denounce the Mckinley
bill as the crowning 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 a freight rate law which
shall fix 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 it's desti-
nation. That the grading of wheat at
country stations be abolished, and grain
| be bought and sold upon it's 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-
tiOn by the state of public warehouses
where the producer shall store his grain
unmixed in special bins at actual cost,
at Duluth and the agricultural fair
grounds. and we demand that the legis-
iature 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 7 per cent.
terest is unjust; it should be reduced to
7 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 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 corporation from issu
| ing any mortgage, bond or stock unit
the itemiZed sccount of cash, labor OF
property received, to register and certi
fy to the same as issued in pursuance O.
law and as constituting a part of the
capital stock of such corporation.
We ask the next legislature to estab
lish the Australian system of voting TO!
the whole state, and that election day
be made legal holiday.
Tenth-We demand the prohibition
of the employment of children unde
fifteen years in the mills, shops, facto
ries and workshops of the county, anC
we also favor the adoption of factor,
and mine inspection law and the EN-
ployer's liability act, and we favor th'
publication of free text books.
Eleventh-We favor the settlemen
of all strikes by arbitration, and equa
pay for equal work, irrespective CT sex
also for shorter hours of labor in fac
tories, stores and public works and W.
alfo favor a lien law that will give la bo
first lien on it's products.
Twelfth-We are opposed to the Civ
ing away of valuable franchises by tn
state and municipality.
Thirteenth--That we hold that mort
gage Indebtedness should be deducted
from the tax on realty whether sucl
and we ask such laws as will make tn
hidden property pay equal taxes witt
the visible property.
Fourteenth-We believe in grade'
income tax for corpora tions and individ
uals to the end that wealth be com
PEELED to contribute its share to the va
rious burdens of taxation.
: Fifteenth---That the salaries of all ou
public officers, state and county, shoul
be reduced to correspond with the re
duced income of the producers and work
ing people.
Sixteenth---That in obedience to
reasonable demand we request the com
ing legislature to submit the questio
of constitutional prohibition to vot
, of the people.
Seventeenth---That we renew to tn
, soldiers whose valOr saved the natiO
the expression of our profoundest gra
, itude, and we declare that it is the sens
of the American people that the me
who fought for the Union shall receiv
liberal pensions, and that the same ger
erous spirit should be extended to tn
widows and orphans of the heroes of th
war.
5 Eighteenth-That we demand an il
vestigation of State prison at Stillwate
I and the recent parchase of bindin
twine machinery.
Nineteenth-We demand the passag
' of the Conger lard bill now before Uni
ed States senate and such further legi
f lation as may be necessary to contr(
+. the traffic in adulterated food product!
s Twentieth-That auction gamblin
on boards of trade should be abolished
= Twenty-frst-We denounces the fore
y bill now pending in congress as da1
gerous and revolutionary measure, d.
vised for partisan purposes.
> Twenty-second-Tha the govern
mental methods of dealing with th
d Indians is illogical, imbecile and expel
g sive. The entire management in all i
n details should be transferred to the W:
4 department, and our bold pioneers save
from perpetual menace of life and pro
erty, to which American citizens shoul
$ be no longer exposed.
n Twenty we demand tn;
t. the government foreclose its lien on tt