The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1892-07-23
The Alliance Picnic.

weather was not very favorable early in
the day, which prevented many from at
tending, but q deep interest in tho move.
nsnt seemed NANTES: among the people in
general.
Pains had been taken to arrange pleas
ant, shady bower around. the speakers
platform, and the remarks Of the gentlemen
who did the Grating were listened to with
marked attention and caused no little en-
thusiasm. The exercises were fully carried
out and the picnic success both from a
political and SOCIAL standpoint.
President of the day Angus Critics called
the meeting to order aud extended hearty
welcome to the people who had come to
spend the day With those who were trying
to advance the alliance movement.
Music was furnished by the Willow City
Glse Club.
Ex-President Shortridge of the alliance
and candidate for governor ON the Inde-
pendent ticket, was introduced and spoke
as follows:
The reasons why farmers have not been
Is prosperous as they should are clear and
convincing to my mind. The parties are
before the people with their platforms, stat
ing affairs should be continued in the future
as they have been in the past. speak
with the interests of the people at heart and
not from partisan standpoint. We do not
in any way intend to injure the commercial
interests Of any town or county in the
state, but on tho contrary-those business
interests will prosper with our prosperity.
The great issues Of the coming campaign
are the tariff aud money issues, and should
be understood as clearly as possible. There
is no system of taxation today that is not
more burdensoms to the farmer than to any
other class. We are taxed to furnish in
come on railroad swatered stock far above
the cost Of the roads. This taxation is
keenly aud heavily felt There has not
been law passed to remedy this evil. The
interstate commerce law fell short of its
work, and in this state we have railroad
company that il not worth one iota to the
people, and have Acknowledged themselves
powerless in the matter. Congressman
johnson states he was offered $25, 900 f,r
his aid to secure the" appointment Of JUS
tices by the railroads, and his successful
competitor necessarily carries the stigma
| ~ a tool ~ ~
| Ifalliance men had control Of legislation
questions in congress would be decided on
their merits, aud the people relieved OF
many millions of taxation. The time has
come when party ties are like a rope Of
sand, for the people ore thinking and stud
ying the questions of the day. There is an
unrest all over the United States, and the
people have concluded that there is some
thing rotten in Denmark, and the troubles
must be remedied by political revolution.
There is not shade or shadow in the old
party platforms one whit better than two
years ago. The farmers are not prosperous
in the land. and whoever says they are tells
IN absolute falsehood. The monied aris-
tocraoy are mockery to republican gov
ernment.
Passing to silver he said the demonetizing 6
Of silver has, the farming population
millions Of dollars. Silver has dropped
from premium Of per cent. to its present
discount, and followed the commercial
value Of oil products. Tho ordinary laws
of supply and demand have been set at
naught. Wheat is down to a rldiculously low
price, and will remain so as long a. oul
present financial laws are in vogue. Here
the speaker explained 81 length the manner
in which silver was demonstizsd and showed
how it lowered the price Of all American
products. Continuing. he said: Upon the
question Of money the republican and dem.
ooratic platfor ms are Identical and we may
look for NO redress from either of these
sources. A new party il needed for thi'
purpose and can secure its wants by hold
ing the balance Of power in our legislativ,
halls.
The speaker handled the tariff question
without gloves and advocated the loves
tariff possible to provide the necessary rev
enue, and jumped on the wool tariff viii
both feet, tearing the high protection argu
msnts into sh0ds and claimed that ell Of
the so called wooden manufactures Of the
country during the last year Of the McKin
10y law were over 60 per cent. shoddy, and
that although We produce but ons-half th'
amount Of wool the country consumes, tht
manufacturers deduct the tariff tax from
the amount paid for the material and thu
fleece the producer. The speaker statet
that the tariff and silver questions wer'
shove oil others in Importance to the people
and above al others need wise solution
first. The speaker was heartily applauded
at the conclusion Of his address.
Mr.. NJ. Shirley Of Fargo was next intro
duced and spoks in the Scandinavian
tongue, icing closely listened to and fre
quently applaaded BY those who understood
the language. He is said to have given |
very able address. := .: s II
George Nicolai followed and spoke for th'
new party IN ringing terms and with mucl
|eloqnsncs, after Which DR.. Howard wa
i called for and entertained the audience fo
/ : full hslf hour IN opposing and r.buttiDl
tbs free silver argument. The doctor ha