The record-union., 1896-11-19
FINISHED and ADJOURNED,
The Farmers Alliance Closed Its Session
Yesterday.
Proposed Reorganization Into a Co
operative Society - Protective
Labor Laws IndOrSed.

The State Farmers Alliance finished
Its business and adjourned at l O'Clock
p. m. yesterday
The matter OF the change in the plan
OF the alliance, making it co-opera-
tive and fraternal institution through
out, was taken up and discussed at
length. The sense of the members be-
ing that such changes should be made,
the Committee on Good of the Order
drafted the following preamble and res
olutions, which were unanimously
adopted:
Whereas, We deem it necessary that
some radical changes be made in the
general policy of the order, that 1t may
be built up in the State;
Whereas, Cooperation was the great
principle that caused the wonderful
spread of the order over the State in
1891, but has been lost sight of in most
counties in the State and politics, be-
came the governing principle at most,
causing it to be regarded as partisan
political institution in many places,
thus keeping a valuable class of citi-
zens from uniting with US and causing
many to drop out of the ranks.
And whereas, We believe the great
principle of cooperation on the lines
taught by the order are of the great
est importance to the wealth producers
of the land, in order to free themselves
from the grinding monopoies and trusts
that are organized by capital ON every
side for the purpose of controlling prices
of products against the interest OF the
producer, and also exacting larger
profits from the consumers; and
Whereas, 1t seems impossible to run
+,
meeting, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the proposal to re-
organize the order into cooperative
unions to study the question of prac-
teal cooperation and take steps to
carry such cooperation into effect,
be submitted to the various sub and
county alliances in the State at as early
a date as possible.
Resolved, That this body elect some
one to attend as many of these meet
ings as possible, to present the plans
of practical cooperation and need of
reorganization, that the membership
may be able to understand the object
before voting on a change.
Resolved, That this body provide the
Lecturer or whoever is elected for this
work with 3,000mile ticket, and sub
And county alliances provide for his or
ile1. other necessary expenses.
Resolved, That in counties where
there is but few or no alliances in ex-
istence that they may be organized in
to county central unions or alliances.
as determined by the reports from the
county and sub alliances on reorgan-
ization.
Resolved, That the Executive Commit
tee in conjunction with the President
and Lecturer have full power to make
any changes they may see fit in regula-
ting fees and dues in carrying ON the
plan of reorganization
Resolved, That an address ON the prin-
cipleS of cooperation showing its great
Importance and advantage to the pro-
ducers of this State, and the Importance
of the alliances taking UP and carrying
into effect that line of work, be at once
prepared by the Executive Committee.
In the matter of the proposed change
in the State labor law, the alliance took
a position with the labor federations of
San Francisco in indorsing the changes
recommended by E. L. Fitzgerald, Com
missioner of the Bureau of Labor Sta
tictics, and accepting the proposed
amendments suggested by the fedora
tiOns The matter was fully settled by
the adoption of the following resolution
presented by the Committee ON Labor:
Whereas, The late election has demon
strated the fact that organized labor viii
support at the polls the demands of the
Farmers Alliance, we therefore extend
the hand Of fellowship to organized
labor and pledge our support to all their
Just demands. Be it therefore
Resolved, That we approve of the
proposed labor laws as set forth in the
bulletin of the Bureau of Labor Sta
tiStics as compiled by f. L. Fitzgerald,
Labor Commissioner. and amended by
the labor organizations Of San Fran
cisco. and we earnestly urge that they
be enacted into laws by the Legislature.
Resolved, That American seamen are
often subjected to hardships and abuses
that under the present system of laws
the courts are practically powerless TO
reach. and We recommend that laws be
enacted to abolish corporeal punish
ment and TO protect the men in the fore
castle and protest against unjust i'm
prisonment.
Having thus settled the questions