The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-01-20

What Has the Farmers Alliance
Done?
Edited by J. G. HANLEY.
State Secretary.

What Has the Farmers Alliance
Done?
1.-THE men who till the soil and take
their rewards in the abundance of the
earth and who regard crop failures as
chas tisements from on high have
been, are, and always will be the hope
and guard OF Christian civilization.
In this country there are thirteen
million persons living on the farms,
and in them the hope Of this nation
depends
Farmers are as rule pessimists.
They are seldom congratulated or re-
warded for their honest effort to &C
| complish public good. 1t is for this
what they have accomplished for
themselves, but also for the people OF
this state, nation and the world. 1t
was the farmers of Minnesota who
| first raised objections to the extor-
tions OF railroads. Each year they
| discovered and fought new tyrannies
that threatened their interests; each
year accomplishing little toward
| their freedom. But their progress
| was slow. They were conservative and
| moved with deliberation, but finally
in 1890 they declared for independent
| political action, and succeeded in
electing a sufficient number to the
Legislature to control both houses.
| Their purpose to create reforms
| was frustrated to some extent by the
corporations, who still had power to
prevent remedial legisla tion but not
the power to kill the doctrines and
spirit Of reform.
1t was the farmers who brought on
an lnveS tigation of the wheat steal at
the Superior and Duluth elevators,
and as a result the farmers Of this
state act sir cents more b,tshel for their
,cheat than they did before the Investigation
,cas begun. Then the difference be-
tween the price Of the grain at Cnica-
60 and St. Paul and other Minnesota
points waf seven cents per bushel -
today it is but one cent. That saving
OF six cents per bushel on $50, 000, 900
| bushels means an annual saving OF
80, 100000 per year to the farmers; and
in the six years a total of $54 ,O0U, U0U!
The rewards for their work in this di-
rection did not come in the shape of
prizes in senators hips or other offices,
but as mercy, accomplished by a
small band of men standing up to re-
sist oppression.
You are the authors Of every material
reform that has been brought about IN the
| state.
| Greater than the influence OF the
great political parties has been the
power Of the farmers. Your wards
have come in improved conditions. 1t
is not wise to have the idea that the
reward should come in any great per-
Sonal distinction, but rather in the
| satisfaction that is to be derived from
the consciousness of d duty to the peO-
pie we'll and honestly performed. II
the farmers Of this country could be
united they would be all powerful,
| greater in numbers than any other
| class, But the farmer can be criti-
| ciSed. A common observer seeing the
| conditions that threaten the nation
would be more active. take some
prompt and decisive step to WELD the
great power you possess for the bene-
tit and salvation of the nation. II
you were ordinarily patriotic you
would organize for all kinds Of action.
The time is coming when the men in
the cities released from patriotism by
mere want will attempt to tear down
this republic. 1t rests with the con-
servative element-the farmers-to
preserve the nation in its peril. The
| DiOGulCO w HlCA dAO UOody w w
| YOUR eyes, the scenes of public dis
trust, and tn. threats of coming dis
aster are Identical with those OF the
time of Louis XIV, when the clergy
and nobility cornered all the wealth.;
today it is the aristOcracy and the
bondholders.
THESE dread signs and disasters
will surely follow, and must be met
by calm Christian OrganiZation, such
as only the farming class, in this
great nation can provide. e
They must stand in solid mass be-
tween the people and those who
would wrong them, until at last the
Legislatures can pass laws sthat-WiIl
do Justice to all men land the wise and
conservative minds Of the tillers. OF
the soil shall see to it that these laws
are enfotced." 49,
The above is an extract from the
great speech delivered by Hon. w. w.
ers' Alliance meeting sheldesin the
House of Representative Hall. on the
evening of Jan. 5th. Mr.. Erwin is one
of the keeneSt observers and student
of passing evils in them 0rthWest, and
his wise and eloquent counsel should
be needed by the farmers OF the state,
as above outlined the tremendous ad-
vatages which have been secured to
the people Of this state can net be
estimated in a brief and passing no.
tice like the foregoing speech. Nor
can there be enough emphasis placed
on the conditions which this solid
phlanx of opposition has warded of
by the greedy and hostile encroach-
ments that organized wealth would
have made upon the liberties of the
people. .srs 81
And if for no other reason than the
good that has alread been accomp-
lished by the Alliance for the people
of this state it would be sufficient
reason to continue their membership
and enlist the cooperation Of every
farmer in the state, Dy joining the Al.
lance and stand together as one man,
than the tremendous power which
this organization can WELD will com.
pei the lawmakers of this state tt
enact laws that will be of real and
substantial benefit to the people OF
the state.
See that the officers of the old ALI
ances call a meeting of their local or.
ganization in every locality in the
state: talk the matter over; reason
with each other, explain the situation
to your neighbor, get him to join you
in reorganiZing the local Alliance ano
when ready correspond with your
state secretary and he will assign
some organizer who may be convent
ent to your locality to organize your
local society into the National Farm