The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-08
URGE FARMERS TO COMBINE
State Alliancs Calls on Producers to
Protect Themselves.

The state convention of the Farmers
Alliance today adopted a resolution,
asking the legislature to pass a law re-
ducing the legal rate Of interest to
per cent, providing as a penalty for
the violation of the law, the forfeiture
of both principal and interest.
The convention also demands the
passage OF a maximum freight rate law
and the members viii aid in securing
relief along this line.
The following officers were elected for
the ensuing year:
President-Mrs. Emma Troudner, of
Carbonda1e, reelected.
Vice President-Soion Gray, Rice
county.
Secretary-Mrs. Bina A Otis, Topeka
Treasurer-P- NJ Gilbert. Topeka
Chaplain-Mrs. D. I. Furbeck, Tope-
ka.
Iecturer-Joel Reece, Pratt.
Assistant Lecturer-AIrs. P. J. Bare,
Baldwin.
The meeting adjourned at noon.
Replying to the attacks upon Kansas
which have recently appeared in the
eastern papers, the state convention of
the Farmers Alliance adopted the fol-
lowing resolutions, introduced at the
meeting last night by ex-Congressman
John G. Otis.
Whereas, During the past two
months numerous articles have appear
ed in the metropolitan papers of the
assailing the fair character of our state
and impugning the motives of her in
telligent people and honest citizens;
and
abuse is entirely uncalled for. a foul
blot upon journalism and a disgrace to
its authors, therefore be it
Resolved, BY the Farmers Alliance
and Industrial Union of Kansas in an
nua1 session assembled, that we hur1
back these venomous assaults upon our
fair state and ner intelligent citizenship
in the faces of the authors and publish
founded in fact and unfit to be an
swered.
THE history of Kansas as a strug-
Cling territory, as a free state battling
for the American union and later as an
example of material prosperity and
progressive thought, is a sufficient an
SWer to all these base calumnieS of the
sO-called sound money press of the east
Kansas is truly American and will ever
contend for an American monetary sys-
tenn
The committee on the good of the or
der made the following report, which
was adopted:
1.-The spirit of the age tends towards
federation and cooperation. Capital
lists cooperate through combines, trusts
and corpora tons to the advancement of
their own fortunes and the impOverish-
ment of the toilerS and producers. Self
preservation demands that the produc-
ers meet the combination with cooper
alton of the laboring masses.
I'VE therefore urge the ealing to-
gether and organizing of the farmers
of Kansas in their distinctive organi-
cations that their especial problems and
necessities may be considered We fur
Their urge cooperation by way of con-
suItation and combined effort with all
other organizations whose aim is to
condition OF the, people of this country
ard whose purposes touch our own at
any point
I'VE recommend that each sub-alli-
ance appoint a committee on political
record, the duty of which shall be to
keep a close and thorough watch of the
details of state and national legislation
and report the same to each of the reg
secure the Congressional Record, pre-
pare and report digest of the same.
.'Second-Each surveillance shall ap-
point a statistician, whose duty it shall
dustrial condition of his locality; the
number Of farm mortgages, foreclos-
ures, the prices of farm products and
the general condition of prosperity
from week to week during the year
seThird-Ne recommend the study of q
system of barter checks to facilitate the
exchange of labor and of commodities
.sFourth-We recommend the investi-
cation of the farm and village system
wherever it may be feasible
We re-affirm our allegiance to the free
mands shall not relax our efforts in be-
half of that idea"
The report of the committee on resolu-
ticns was adopted without dissent. The
organization reaffirms the principles of
the Omaha platform. condemns the oper-
alton of trusts and monOpolies, again de-
clares its unqualified endorsement and
adherence to the principles of the alliance
and recommends that the Legislature
make the necessary provisions for the
adoption of the initiative and referendum
A resolution calling upon Governor
Ieedy to appoint two women as members
of the state board of charities introduced
by Mrs. Emma Pack, was adopted
Another resolution presented by the
committee declares that the present con-
dition of affairs in this country points to
general bankruptcy and calls upon all in
dustrial organizations to unite their for
ces in an effort to establish a national
system of cooperation.
The meeting adopted a resolution fav-
oring the single tax idea although its pc
culiar wording made it almost impossi-
bic to get at it's real meaning. 1t was
presented a communication by w. B.
Gasche of Hartford.