The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-01-22
FARMERS ALLIANCE.
Minutes of the Proceedings of the
Fourteenth Annual Meeting,
Held January 18th, 1896

The Fourteenth annual convention Of
the Minnesota Farmers Alliance was
held in Harmonic Hall in Minneapolis,
Mimi, January 14th. 1896. At 1890 a. M,
the meeting was called to order by Pres
ident j. I. Vermilya, Of Oln1sted county,
who congratulated the delegates upon the
large attendance and he then proceeded
to outline the work Of the Alliance. He
spoke Of the necessity OF cooperation and
harmony, saying that while they were
not a political body they had the right
to crSticise all political organizations and
to formulate such measures as will con-
duce to the welfare of the farmers and
the industrial classes generally. He
said that the expense of each delegate
represented 14O bushels of oats and that
If paid in potatoes Minneapolis would
have sufficient quantity of tubers to
last all winter. Secretary of the State
Alliance A. H. Hendrickson acted as Sec
rotary with Spurgeon O'dell of Lyon
county as assistant. H. A. Swain of Rice
county was sergeant at arms.
The first business of the Alliance was
the selection of a committee on creden-
tials. and it was decided to appoint a
general chairman and secretary, and one
delegate from each county to act as such
committee. The chair appointed ex-
congressman H. E. Bowen, of Ottertail
county. as general chairman, and T. j.
Meighen, of Fillmore county, as secre-
tary.
On motion the chair was authorized to
appoint a committee Of seven on resolu-
ttons and a committee of three on consti-
tuition as follows: on resolutions, Chris
Johnson ha
J. Meighen, of Fillmore, L. l.. Long, OF
Mobiles. H. v. Poore, Renville, S. W. Pow
ell. of Washington, Jonas H. Howe, of
Hennepin, T. E. Ryan. of Pine county.
Committee on OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Donnelly; C. r. Blair, Winona; Thomas
Hodgson, Stevens county.
After the meeting had gotten fairly I'M
der way the attendance was increased by
the appearance of Ignatius Donnelly, the
advent OF the sage, who looked hale and
hearty. being greeted with subdued buzz
zing and general Misunderstanding.
Pending the report of the committee
on credentials, Mr.. Donnelly was re-
quested to address the Alliance, and he
responded with a vigorous and charact-
eristic speech He said he was delighted
in these hard times to see SO many who
had the courage to turn out and uphold
their organization. The farmers. he said
sat under shadow, and he illustrated
by quoting Mr.. Meighen who said that in
his county, Fillmore, 1t is impossible to
borrow 500 from the banks. This condi-
ton, he said, Is appalling and it had the
effect to pauperiZe the country as the cap-
italists had dried up the fountains and
well-springs of prosperity. Men are be-
coming melancholy, and it would be diff
ficult to sell the most humorous book. He
then contrasted the present with the
period after the war when people laughed
and were merry and when Josh Billings,
Bret Harte, Artemus Ward and others
got rich out of their jokes. The former
had said that if you filled mans
stomach you could tickle him with a
scoop shovel, and Mr.. Donnelly added
like the itch, he infected the whole out
fit He then referred to the mission Of
the Alliance and the good it had ac-
complished in the establishment of ele-
vators, binding Irvine and other indus
tries. Referring to the financial situation
he sad that four-fifths of the people of
Minnesota would vote for the restora-
ton of silver to it's proper position, and
he predicted great contest in the state
at the next election over the money issue.
incidentally, he took a shot at the state
delegation in congress, saying that the
interests of the people were in the grasp
of the plutocrats and the newspapers,
and he said that the Jews sat upon the
money valve of the world and directed
it's pulsations. The prospect Of war was
alluded to. and he said that the money
powers did not desire war for the reason
that 1T took away too many workers.
Upon the conclusion of Mr.. Donnellys
speech a general discussion took place
over the proposition to form an indie
pendent Wheat Buyers Alliance, and
Frank Hoskins, of Fergus Falls, made
ringing speech in which he denounced
the wheat combine, saying that it is
stronger today than ever, and he showed
how the farmers got the worst Of it. He
advocated an open wheat market, with
independent buyers, and for this pur-
pose he thought the farmers should or
ganize and take a stand against the
warehouse commissioners and the rail-
roads. The monarch of today, he said,
is not gold silver, but business ap-
preston with it's 10 per cent commits
sions.
L. c. Long, state lecturer of the Alli-
ance, was called for, and he addressed
organization, as being the only way to
combat their oppressors and accomplish
their ends. Referring to the wheat ques-
ton, he said, that he rejoiced that the SUI
preme court had decided against state
elevator at Duluth for the reason that it
would have been managed by political
favorites of the governor, who would
perpetuate the power of J. J. Hill ct al.
The credentials committee not being
ready to report, and the time being past
noon, adjournment was taken until 1:30.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The credentials committee not being
quite ready to report when the alliance
was called to order in the afternoon, F.
ID. Davidson, of Swift county, made
talk on the discrimination shown in grad
ing wheat.
The committee on credentials then re-
ported the names of 100 delegates from 43
counties who were entitled to seats.
Frank Hoskins, of Fergus Falls, started
the bail of discussion rolling by introduce
ing the following resolution:
Resolved, That we indorse the move
to organize an alliance of the independ-
ent wheat buyers and also that special
committee of five be appointed by the
president of this alliance to cooperate
and aid said movement and to secure the
direct expectation Of unmixed cargoes Of
Northern grown wheat"
Mr.. Hoskns followed up the introduce
ton of the resolution by bitter attack
upon the Minneapolis millers and grain
buyers, calling them lazy loafers."
Without further discussion, the resolu-
tions were unanimously adopted.
The meeting then returned to the trans
action Of routine business. The president
announced the following committee to
act on the resolution of Mr.. Hoskins;
Frank Hoskins, Otter Tail, chairman; L.
G.. Long. Mobiles; J. Askew, Wadena; J.
f. Oppegaard. Polk; w. J. Bodkin, Clay.
The cOmmitte met at once in one of the
adjoining rooms.
1t was moved and seconded that the
meeting at once proceed to election of Of
ficers. Several objections were heard