The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-01-13

Pre- sident Vermilya appointed com
mittee to meet with the Fedora tioL
of Labor and to remain standing for 6
year, as follows: Messrs. G. p Aldrich
T. ]. Meighen and j. l. Vermilya.
The afternoon session was short and
largely given over to the discussion O1
the various questions that have been
more or less debated since the begin
ming of the convention. Adjournment
was taken early, pending the report
OF the committee sent to confer with
the state railroad and warehouse com
mission. The evening session was de-
clared off to allow the delegates to at
tend the lecture of Hon. John Red
mond, NJ. p, at ConOyer Hall.
Following is the complete report OF
the committee on resolutions. which
was adopted without discussions:
The Farmers Alliance Of the state Of
Minnesota, in convention assembled, here
by reiterate their attachment to the grand
fundamental principles in Industrial and
political life, which have given health to
the organization, which have won for 1t so
large a share of the confidence and esteem
of the producing masses, and which have
enabled it in the past SO effectively to di-
rect attention toward, and secure at least
partial remedies for, the greatest evils
which have afflicted American society.
Recognizing as universal principle in
social and political economy that the
wealth and prosperity of the nation have
their basis in the well being of agriculture
we ask the attention Of the whole people
both of the state and Of the nation, to the
condition Of unprecedented depression
which at present distinguishes the agricul-
tural calling.
AS a result of the adoption and promo
ton of policies in legislative and adminis-
trative departments of the government the
-lessening of the values of agricultural pro-
ducts has gone steadily on, until we have
reached a condition when in literal truth,
it has become more profitable for the
farmer to leave his acres untitled beyond
that point absolutely necessary to the
maintenance Of his family and the pay
ment, atvast sacrifices of his pecuniary
obligations. While the farmer has thus
continued, discouraged and impoverished,
the producing masses of the American peo-
de have been steadily driven from bad to
worse, until today, in every section Of the
country, they stand helpless, in idleress
and poverty, not knowing what additional
disaster the morrow may bring forth to
them.
On behalf of the farmers of Minnesota,
this state shall be compelled, in their
charges for carrying the products of the
farmer, to. recognize the changed corrdi-
'tions which attend the fortunes of the hus-
bandmen. While the prices which the
farmer receives for his produce have in re-
cent years been cut in two the cost Of
transportation and the usual charges Of
production remain substantially unchang-
ed. The surplus of the profits Of the soil
which remains to him after meeting his
unavoidable expense has been reduced un-
der existing conditions SO as to render his
impoverishment unavoidable. Nor are con-
ditions in this respect improving the
days go by. On the contrary, they are
growing daily worse owing, as we believe,
to the unusual facility with which the car
rying corporations now enjoying their usu-
al prosperity secured control of public
agencies in every direction and Of every
character.
IN line with Ine economies anu SdcrlIlceS
which the individual citizen is compelled to
make, we deem that the cost of the actual
conduct of government in the compensation
of public officials and in all other essential
expenditure of government shall be re-
duced to the minimum.
Resolved, That we demand that the gov
ernment, state and federal, shall assume
substantial control and regulation of all
transportation agencies, not as at present
exercised in the interest of the corpora
tions but in order to enforce some reason
able measure of justice in the relations Of
the people and these carriers. We de-
nounce the administration of the interstate
commerce commission as fraud upon the
country, regarding that body, as we do
as very little more than a pension bureau
of superannuated politicians or comp,asant
political tools. Nor do we consider our
state railroad commissioners much Of an
Improvement in that same direction.
Resolved, That we demand the abolition
of the national banks as banks Of issue,
and we declare our conviction that the
peoples money, whether gold silver or pa
per, or all combined. shall be issued by the
federal government and in sufficient vol
ume to the safe and proper conduct Of the
peoples business. We denounce the policy
of President Cleveland and the treasury
department in issuing $262, 900 United
States bonds in times of peace.
Resolved That we express our settled
conviction that the time has come when
the residents of American cities shall seri-
ously contemplate assuming the ownership
and control of all forms of public monopoly
relating to the facilities for municipal
lighting, water supply and transportation.
Resolved, that we recommend that all
state and municipal improvements shall be
done by the state and municipality directly,
and that the labor engaged on such i'm
provements shall be done by day work,
rather than by contract.
Thomas J. Meighen, Chairman,
M. J. Costello,
&C. H. Hopkins,
IN. D. Vandergon.
A. D. Roe,
j. c. Hanley.