The representative., 1895-12-18
AN ADDRESS
To the Members of the Local Farm.
ers Alliances of Minnesota.

Gentlemen:
The Executive Committee of the State
Farmers Alliance would respectfully urge
upon you the great Importance of main
tanning our grand old organization. We
are as well aware as you can be that the
times are most distressing and the suffer-
ings of the agricultural class great. But
1T must be remembered that the main
tainance of the State Alliance costs it's
members but the trifling sum of twenty
cents year. Every farmer can spend
that much to maintain the only society
in existence which defends this class. All
other pursuits, workingmen, lawyers,
doctors, merchants, manufacturers and
bankers, have their societies for mutual
aid and protection. Surely the greatest
interest of agriculture-shOuld not be
left naked and defenceless. Political OBJ
jections cannot be urged against our So
ciety, for it is, and has been, since the
birth of the Peoples Party, absolutely
nonpartisan.
The long nights of winter have come
and the Alliance should be used as a
means OF social intercourse, promoting
friendly relations among neighbors They
should meet with their families, and talk
over the great questions Of the day; and
try to ascertain what is best for their
own interests. We must encounter the in
telligence of those who live off US with
our own intelligence. If we do not we will
UCs
Every local Alliance should buy a supply
OF books, large or small, according to
their means, and these should be circu-
lated during the winter all through their
community. The local Alliance can also
be made the instrument of purchasing
cheaper goods. cheaper machinery ETC.
In many sections the local Alliances have
built mills, erected elevators, grain
houses, etc. with eminent success, and
saved hundreds of thousands of dollars
to their members.
We must not lie down and die because
the times are hard and money scarce We
have an abundance of food, while vast
populations throughout the world are
suffering for enough to eat. The great
ness OF a race is manifested in it's abil-
ity to overcome evil cOnditions-and the
first step to this end is cooperation. One
man alone is powerless, but conjoined to
thousands, who feel as he does, he be-
comes force to be respected.
Therefor we call upon you to never
despair Do not scatter. Draw closer to-
gether. Let the farmers of Minnesota be
known all over the world as the most
intelligent and best informed of their
class in existence.
Be sure to call your local Alliances to-
gether at once, collect the dues, and elect
officers for the ensuing year, and also
elect delegate to the State Alliance
convention which meets on the second
Tuesday of January, 1896, at Harmo-
MIA Hall. Minneapolis, and if the del
egate cannot afford to pay his own ex-
penses, (and few can in these days. let
each member contribute a small amount
to help him. And if you feel that you
are too poor to do even this then select
some gentleman, as your proxy, who
can be present, SO that the state will see
that you have not lost faith in the organ
ization but that you are absent from
poverty, forced on YOU by bad laws We
will try to furnish you some of the best
speakers in the West, and to have a love
feast Of those who desire to help their
fellow men.
J. /. Vermlya. President
A. H. Hendrickson, Secretary