The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-01-15
FARMERS ALLIANCE
Annual Convention Of the Order Opens
This Morning With Large
Attendance.
Without Being Politicians They Re.
serve the Right to Criticise
Political Bodies.

L
press on Tuesday evening we give
but short report Of the proceedings
of the first day Of the Alliance Con-
vention. For full report see next is
sue.-ED. REP
From the Minneap polls Penny Press.
The bone and sinew of the state was
well represented by the sturdy yeomen
who assembled at Harmonic hall this
moning as delegates to the fourteenth
annual meeting of the Farmers State
Alliance. All things considered, there
was in attendance a goodly representa-
ton of the tillers of the soil who appear
ed prosperous and happy enveloped as
they were for the most part, in huge fur
coats, which contrasted happily with
their manly flowing whiskers.
But whether it was that the smoke
laden atmosphere of the city had an en-
ervating effect or not, the fact remains
that the proverbially early risers'' OF
the commonwealth were late in getting
together. and it was late when the meet
irg was called to order Prior to the
time the delegates gathered in little
knots and discussed home industries,
politics, foreign relations. the prospects
of war and other matters, while many en-
gagged in the pastime of paying their
dues.
1t was 1920 O'Clock when the meeting
was called to order by President j. j.
Vermilyea, of Olmstead county, who con-
graduated the delegates upon the large
attendance and he then proceeded to out
line the work of the Alliance He spoke
of the necessity of cooperation and har-
mOny, saying that while they were not a
political body they had the right to crit
icise all political organizations and to
formulate such measures as will conduce
to the welfare of the farmers and the
industrial classes generally He said
that the expense Of each delegate rep
resented 140 bushels of oats and that if
paid in potatoes Minneapolis would have
sufficient quantity of tubers to last all
winter
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 as general
chairman, and T. J. Meighen, of Fillmore
county, as secretary.
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 Inland shaking.
Pending the report of the committee on
credentials, Mr.. DOnnelly was requested
to address the Alliance, and he responded
with vigorous and characteristic 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 a shadow
and he Illustrated by quoting Mr.. Meighen
who said that in his county, Fillmore it
Is impossible to borrow 500 from the
banks. This condition. he said, is appalling
and it had the effect to pauperize the coun-
try as the capitalists had dried up the
fountains and wel-springs of prosperity
Men are becoming melancholy. and it
would be difficult to sell the most humor-
Gus 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 a mans
stomach you could tickle him with a SCOOP
shovel. and Mr. Donnelly added that one
live man in community was like the
Itch, he infected the whole outfit He then
referred to the mission of the Alliance and
the good it had accomplished in the estab-
lishment of elevators binding Irvine and
other industries. Referring to the financial
situation. he said that four-fifths of the
people of Minnesota would vote for the
restoration 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 We're in the
grasp of the plutocrats and the newspa-
pers, and he said that the Jews sat upon
h0 " g
its pulsations. The prospect of war was
alluded to, and he said that the money
powers did not desire war for the reason
that it took away too many workers.
Upon the conclusion of Mr.. Donnelly's
speech general discussion took place
over the proposition to form an Independ-
ent Wheat Buyers Alliance. and Frank
Hoskins. of Fergus Falls made a ringing
speech in which he denounced the wheat
combine. saying that it is stronger today
than ever, and he showed how the farmer
got the worst of it. He advocated an open
wheat market. with independent buyers
and for this purpose he thought the farm
ers should organize and take stand
against the warehouse commissioners and
the railroads. The monarch of today, he
said. is not gold or silver. but business APP
preston with it's 10 per cent commissions
l.. c. Long, state lecturer of the Ali
ance. was called for, and he addressed
the Alliance on the necessity of perfect
organization, as being the only way to
combat their oppressors and accomplish
their ends. Referring to the wheat cues
ton, he said, that he rejOiced that the SUI
preme court had decided against a state
elevator at Duluth for the reason that it
would have been managed by political fa>
vorites of the governor, who would per-
petuate the power of J. j. Hill ct al.
j. T. Ames, of Mortified, spoke on the
merits of the short and lOng-haul and Of
the great injustice done the farmers by
the railway companies. The low price of
all kinds of grain was cited and compared
with the high rates of transportation, and
he insisted upon equal trea tment for the
men who produced the real wealth of the
country.
On motion the chair was authorized to
appoint committee of seven on resolu-
tions and a committee of three on consti-
tuition as follows:
Resolutions-First district. DR.. Johnson:
Second, T. j. Meaghen; Third. L. c. Long.
Observation-Disclosures Donnelly: c. r
Blair. Winona; Thomas Hodgson Stevens
county.
At noon an adjournment was taken to
100 o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The delegates were again late in assem-
bling after the noon recess. and as the
committee on credentials was not ready
to >>port a generaI c-.-->>Sssion ensued
F. F.. Davidson spoke on <>le grading of
wheat and he referred especially to the
methods used to debase the quality-espe-
cially so with the brand known as smut
wheat and he thought that all wheat
should be inspected upon its merits.
Vice President Meighan read the report
of the committee on credentials. showing
that there were present 100 delegates from