The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-02-03
National F. A. & |. U. Department.
Edited by J. G. HANLEY.
State Secretary.
Practical Co.Operation-The Details
Given.


To the members Of the f. A. & l. U.
and correspondents asking infOrma-
tiOn regarding the reorganization Of
districts and the Industrial Union in
the village towns and cities:
Gentlemen-I have been extremely
busy with the work preliminary to the
reorganization Of our great society. 1t
takes time to become acquainted with
the details. and this being new VEN
ture, SO to speak, am obliged to seek
and obtain information, like your
selves, so that | can answer your Ques-
tions intellgently and give you the
desired Information. And when my
correspondents know the many disad
vantages which we are obliged to work
under. you will pardon what may seem
a lack Of interest on my part in not
answering correspondent promptly,
when it is understood that my cores
pondence has now reached % to 80 let
ters per day, every one requiring spe-
Cial answer and growing larger each
day, some idea of the labor connected
with the office Of secretary. may be OBJ
tanned by stating that we are now CIV
ing about II hours day from our reg
ular employment to this work. We
have already advanced about $40 for
stationary, postage and small inciden-
tails, and have not received one cent
In the way Of donation or loan
from our well-to-do men in the move
ment or any one else. We have stack
of letters now already written and
ready to mail, but have not money to
purchase postage stamps to send them
out cat this writing we have about
23O). In order that the members may
understand our pOSieiOn it Is but u.s.
tiCe for me to state that while have
been elected secretary of the State +.
A. and l. U. and am supposed to re-
ceive a salary in connection with same
l must say that | do not receive any
salary, nor do l expect any while the
organization is being revived, and all
of this work is being performed out of
love for the movement; and l must
ask the friends Of the movement to
furnish us at least with the means to
carry on the work. l certainly do my
part of the work. and am glad to be
able to be Of service to the movement,
but l can not advance any more money
at this time. We would there fore ask
any Alliance who could spare 81 to
send it in either as donation or have
the amount credited on their account,
so that when they remit yearly dues
to the state organization they can de-
duct what has already been paid. Iu
this way we could secure a fund to
proceed at once with the work Of re-
organization. Now is when the money
Is most needed. Just as soon as the
reorganization begins to reorganize
funds will come in so as to continue
the work without any embarrassment.
Come friends, do what you can, and re-
member. HE gives twice who gives
quickly"
l am obliged to answer my CORES
pondents by saying: II have not, at
this writing, received any books, rec
ords, stationery, ETC., from Mr.. Hen
Erickson, the former Alliance state
secretary; and 1 am therefore unable
locality or not; nor do | know the Of
ficers with whom you should commun.
icate.'
l would also ask all correspondents
who are seeking information to give
me their county as we'll as their post
office address, as it may be that sever
al townships are in Guided in the local
alliance. If our correspondents would
enclose a postage stamp they would
insure prompt reply to their COM
munication.
We have letter from Mr.. H. A.
ports that he has offered his farm as a
distributing point for goods in his To-
Cality.
We hope our farmer friends will en-
ter into this matter with earnestness
We have been in operation now nearly
month and this is the first offer or
inducement we have heard from the
country. We would like to hear from
Mr.. Swain as to the plan which he will
operate; it may be the means to open
up this enterprise all along the line.
We need volunteers to offer some sub
stantIal means of carrying out the
practical workings of our great soci-
ETY..
Mr.. Scott Macdonald. one of the
newly appointed deputy state organ
lZers, just came in from a business
trip down through Hastings, Red
Wing, Lake City, Wabasha and other
places, and reports great interest in
the movement among the people in
that district. He found the farmers
down there busy hauling their pro-
duce to market to pay taxes, and said
that as soon as that was through they
would be ready to undertake the work
of reorganization, which must be done
before the spring work commences,
There is plan now being discussed
by the leaders of the f. A. & I. U.
movement to call for general meet
ing of every alliance in the state. to
take place on Feb. 22nd, Washington's
birthday, as d fit and suspicious occa-
sion to revive the Alliance movement
in this state.
We are pleased to state that we
have secured large warehouse and
yard, adjoining our once, which we
can utilize for an Exc\lnge depot.
This will complete our e uipment to
put into practical operation the city
end OF +. A. & l. U. features. We are
now able to place this large yard for
the accommodation Of our customers
Tor storage purposes free Of charge for
period Of 80 days, In car load ship
ments. We have room now to put in
about SO car leads Of produce.
We have received several car loads