The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-28
THEY REASON TOGETHER.
Farmers National Alliance Dele
gates, Full 150 Strong. in Ses-
sion at Omaha.
President Powers Advocates the
Close Unions OF Laboring
Men and Farmers.
independent Political Action, hut No
& New Party reforms Deemed Nec-
essary ny Him. M

CTnHA, otLIs 11.--luo eioVeUtu annual
meeting of the Farmers national alIiace
convened here this morning. A resolution
was adopted excluding all persons not men,
bers of'the alliance from the session. About
l50 delegates are present. The morning
session was consumed in routine business
and the reading Of President Powers an
nual address. He advocated the general
organization of trades unions aud knights
OF Labor with the alliance. No effective
arrangements of a national character for
the conduct of the business industries OF
the country can be made and prove of ben
eflt without being in effect the laws of the
organization which adopted them. To
prevent general and continual conflict with
laws the government itself must be con-
trolled by these societies. For the
attainment of /, the object Powers
opposed new political party
as not practicablesfor industrial orQaniza-
tions as the platform on which the party
might be formed would soon bec,me OBJ
solete. Witness the two parties which have
divided the government for the last thirty
years. He favored independent political
action and believed in men pledging them
selves to vote for good men or good meas
ures because the majority of any party OF
class may demand it. He outlined the plan
for action as follows: 5F
Let the alliance discuss and agree upon
such measures as it deems expadient to
form basis for political action for this
year and next. Place this by correspond
ence before the other great industrial or
Ran'zations, and with theig concurrence let
a convention be called to compare views
and adopt a national platform, concise
set of principles which can be cordially
supported by all, publish them to the
world, disseminate them and prepare for
the great struggle in 1892. He thought the
subjects on which these principles were
founded, included in thu following list:
Money reform, land reform, transportation
reform, ballot reform, and the suppression
of any vice tolerated by law to the peril of
our national prosperity.
Powers dwelt at length on the money
question advocating the loaning of money
by the government to working people with
out interest. If money is thus furnished
by the government its boarding will soon
be stopped, and ali the money viii soon be
AAA OAAOuAosAous LIE uIkcu tudb bu0 &OVeFQ-
ment take the railroads into its own hands
and furnish service for the people. which
corporations have failed to do. This could
be brought about either by purchase
or con iscation. Land reform was
only lightly touched upon. Powers
advocated the taking of the right
of franchise from the ignorant and
vicious and giving it to women. In conclu-
sion Powers said: "There was time when
corporations and monied oligarchies looked
upon us with contempt. That condition is
changed. The enemy is already marshalled
for battle. We must conquer or suffer
ignominious defeat"
At the afternoon session a resolution by
delegate from Illinois expressing the
wish of the National alliance that the leg
islature of Illinois select for United States
senator man favorable to the welfare and
prospects of the alliance, was adopted. A
resolution to send telegram to Kansas
urging Pfeffer's election was lost after
delegate from Kansas had denounced him
as no friend of the farmers, although edi-
tor of a farm paper. National Treasurer
Ashby read a report showing the order in
1ourishing condition. Five new states
were organized during the year. He urged
that the organization keep out of politics.
An effort will be made to form co-opera-
tive union. and q conference will be held in
Chicago, Feb. 8. with the Farmers Mutual
Benefit association. A committee of five
from the r. M. B. A., of Illinois, headed by
w. q. Stillwell, we're admitted to the con-
vention, stating that they had come for the
purpose of securing union between the alli
ance and the F. NJ. B. A..