The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-05-19

Edited by j. G. Hanley, State secre-
tary.

Edited by J. c. Hanley, State secre-
At st. Paul Mr.. J. G. Hanley will re-
ceive subscriptions for The Representa-
tive at his office, 200 Washburn bldg.
For some time past we have been try
ing to establish a permanent and sub
stantial basis for the dispensation of all
farm produce which may. be consigned
to us by the members of the Farmers
Alliance in this state. We are pleased
now to announce that we have secured
arrangements at considerable cost to
ourselves in securing membership in
boards of trade in different lines of
produce that will now enable us to mar
ket any kind of grain or produce that
may be consigned to us from our Farm
ers Alliance members at greatly reduced
cost to themselves, and guarantee that
they will secure the highest rates OBJ
tainable for their goods.
We will also give to our members
who ship in their goods to us the free
use of this feature of our alliance adj
vantage to those who purchase their
goods such as groceries, agricultural i'm
plements, binding twine, dry goods,
boots and shoes, etc. from U.S. We take
butter, eggs, cheese, veal, poultry, hogs,
etc. We sell same for cash and return
the goods needed in exchange, thus Civ
ing our farmer friends the benefit of
city prices on the goods they need.
The cooperative idea is growing at a
tremendous rate all over the United
States. 1t is gradually disclosing the
fact that it offers the only real and
permanent plan upon which this whole
reform movement can succeed. We
have the weapon in our own hands to
use as we see fit. Will the intelligence
of the people direct the use of this great
weapon for or against their interests
Time is beginning to reveal that at last
the privatiOn and distress of the people
are awakening lively interest in all
reforms which tend to better their con-
dition, and of all the special reforms
which appeal to the reason and intelli-
gence of the people is this feature of re-
form.
Cooperation is taking on a thousand
and one forms and each and every one
is being tested and found a success.
Cooperation is the coming solution of
all social and political reforms.
On June 18th the State Federation of
Labor of Minnesota will convene at ST..
Cloud, Mimi, and as the Farmers Alli-
ance and Industrial Union of this state
elected three fraternal delegates to rep
resent the F. A. and5I. IT, at that con-
vention, would it not be well to instruct
our delegates outside Of conveying fra
ternal greetings from Cur organization
to present some formal plan of coopera-
ton and make compact of a formal
and solemn character, whereby tha
members Of the one would stand by the
members OF the other in all matters
pertaining to the mutual Interests of
each other. If a compact of this char
acter could be established upon a rcn-
partisan plan,we could have amalgamat-
ed in one vast organization of produc-
ers and consumers, whose influence and
potent strength would make all political
parties act with alacrity and secure the
ms rnfn oh,
striving to secure by isolated and mis-
directed action. This could be done by
having set of resolutions which would
be acceptable to both organlza lions
which would constitute a platform and
we could have these same resolutions
presented at all political party conven-
lions for adoption, and have every Off
Ger nominated by any party to subscribe
to these resolutions and platform and
refuse to support the candidates of any
party who would not give his solemn
pledge that he would support this plat
form.
We have already made a start. The
resolutions adopted by the Farmers,
Alliance and Industrial Union conven-
ton last January in this city can be pre-
scented at the Federation of Labor con-
vention and ask them to accept as much
OF the platform as they can consistently
do, and add to such as it may see fit
from their standpoint as would be of
interest to their particular craft. We
will meet again next January and 20
over this new or revised platform and
arrive at general understanding Of
and knowledge Of each others interests
which can be made a common platform
for these two great non-political organ
izations to work in harmony, whose nu-
merical strength will certainly elect it's
own friends and officials to carry out
their wishes, by enacting laws hat will
make those reforms possible.
What do you think of the proposition
brethren? Let us hear from the old
war horses, Brothers Long, Poore, Ra-
billy, Meighen, Vermilyea, Donnelly and
all the other earnest and active re-