The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-05-16

From One of the Grand Old Workers
for Reform.


(When 1 was publishing the Anti-Mono-
list nearly 20 years ago one of our ablest
correspondents was the writer of the fol-
lowing letter. 1t will be seen he is still
striking heavy blows for right d.
Hon. Ignatius Donnelly-My Worthy Old
Friend
Permit an old veteran to congratulate
you your reelection to the honorable
position of president of the Farmers ALI
ance Some friend sent me copy of the pa
per giving a full report of the conven-
ton held at Minneapolis The convention
was a grand one. 1 only wish l could have
been with you. Iowa is SO completely I'M
der the influence of the Republicans that
nothing but an upheaVal, like that in KAN
sas could save her from the crew of Of
fice-holders and money lenders that have
shaped her politics for the last 80 years.
The old party papers hold the reading part
of the community under the old prejudice,
and we have not enough of papers to ex-
pose their treachery.
The signs of the times are suspicious that
a thorough reform or revolution is inevita-
BILE. and the whole civilized world is in the
same vortex. l often think our country is
in similar position that France was 1C0
years ago. To the student of history it is
matter of notoriety that the winding up of
the century is always pregnant with revo-
luton and it is significant fact that our
miliionaires are copying the exodus of the
French mobiles a century since in transmit
ting their boards of wealth to other lands.
The best remedy to meet the vast accumu
lationS of wealth, whether real of fictitious,
is taxation. The exemption of bonds, mort
cages and debts from taxation is fatal to
the industries of the nation. The courts
should demand that the stamp of the asses
sor should be on the face of all such obli-
cations for each and every year since is
sued, or they would not collect them. Eng
| land collects fl0.000.C0O for stamps alone and
then all legacies transactions are taxed.
l am glad to Sovereign's action,
whether successful or not; it will arouse
spirit of inquiry that may awaken the
farmers to action. The apathy of the farm
erS as a class is surprising; they are mas
terS of the situation if only united. l hope
Milton Georges movement will succeed. 1t
was the farmers Institutes during the
grange excitement that caused the action
of the Iowa state legislature in restricting
the passenger fares and traffic charges.
How can we secure the united demand of
the farmers against the issue of any more
bonds and the taxation of all bonds in ex-
stence at present? Where is the gold to
come from to pay the interest of the bonds
and mortgages now in existence? AS for
the issue of more, l consider it nothing
short Of insanity. AS l stated above taxa
ton is the safety valve of the period; but
the farmers must secure representation from
their own class. A lot of corporation law
yers is a poor dependence for representa-
ton for the farmers of the nation.
1 hope you will pardon advancing
my views on subjects that you are better
posted than I can possibly be. but hav-
ing been into this movement since it's first
start, wishing you all the compliments of
the season, l remain yours for reform
SAMUEL. SINNETT.