The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-05-05
AN APPEAL FOR FUNDS.


tive at his office, 200 Washburn bldg.
AN APPEAL FOR FUNDS.
Owing to the lack of interest mani
tested by the Farmers and members of
the Alliances of the state to contribute
something to this Office in the way of
funds we are sorely embarrassed to car
ry ON the effective and necessary work
of this Office. We have already advO-
Gated personally much more funds than
we are possibly able to stand in order
to carry out the necessary work of our
office. We have some obligations to our
printer, who has been patient with US,
but expecting that we would receive the
response our appear was entitled to in
securing enough to pay his bill.
We must say that outside of half a
dozen contributions from some generous
men in all amounting to less than $40,
of which SIS was contributed by one gen.
erous heart, who always responds liber-
ally Our friends will see that the help
WHICH, lucy tuluh VIC ldNC lC-
ceived has been sadly disappointing. We
have contributed over $50 of our own
cash, and worked without pay for four
months from II and IA hours per day
in this office, but we cannot accomplish
single handed and alone the work Of
reorganization and reforms which this
movement will bring to it's members.
We need your earnest and active sup
port. When our friends see what ire
mendous good could be accomplished
by all joining together and sending in
your mite we soon would have fund
large enough to guarantee the expenses
Of President Long and his assistants in
taking the field and continuing there
until every alliance of the ,431 on our
books was reorganized and flourishing.
If we could get 81 from each alliance it
would give us fund to carry on the
work vigorously for several months. We
would therefore ask each alliance who
can do SO to send in at once at least 81
as your mite. We would also ask any
man whether he is a member of the ALI
ance or not to sit down and write us a.
letter and send 5 or 10 cents in stamps
which we need very bad to send out let
ters OF instruction to the secretaries of
the sub-alliances throughout the state
We have some 200 letters waiting to be
sent out, but lack the postage Come
friends (this means you gentle reader)
do what you can, if it is only cents,
it will be very welcome and do good
service for the movement.
Some Of our correspondents find fault
with us because we do not inject more
political tinge to our writings in this de-
partment, and to such criticisms we
must declare that we have not become
less POpulist because of our silence on
the subject of politics since we have
been put in charge of this department of
The Representative. We must therefore
call the attention of our friends to the
improperly of discussing political ques-
lions from partisan standpoint in a
National Farmers Alliance and Indus
trial Union of America, whose member
ship is composed Of all shades of pOliti-
cal and religious opinions and beliefs.
and whose feelings and opinions should
be respected, as they are generally sin
cere. 1t will therefore be seen that the
policy of this department of the Repre-
sentative will be devoted solely to the
interests and reforms advocated by the
Farmers Alliance and Industrial Union
in this state and northwest, and If
through the agency of this department
we can get our Republican, Democratic,
Populistic, Prohibition, Socialistic mem
bers to join together in securing a re-
duction of our freight rates, the estab-
lishment of track scales at stations. a.
reduction of passenger rates on rail-
roads from to cents per mile. The
resurrection of many idle mills through
out the state, the creation of competi-
ton at those points by reason of this
increased activity by securing a higher
price on the farmers product, and the
putting to work to through those means
of many an able mechanic and work.
men. 1t will make but little difference
to our members what their political
faith is so long as they can secure those
advantages to themselves through this
organization. The good accomplished
by this cooperation will be participated
in by all, and will leave to the member
ship to choose the political party whose
platform will include such measures of
relief and reform as our organization
advocates.
Had Narrow Escape From Death.
ErueSt C Athertnn