The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-03-02

HumDug. IL was 1OlSted upon the a&r-
cultural classes as representing the In
terests of the farmer, but really
represented the mOnOpOlist classes and vOt-
ed down every plank in the platform of the
National Farmers Alliance and Industrial
Union of America with membership of
100000 members. 1t Is said that these self
constituted brigader generals Of agri-
culture were the ones who go before con-
gress Of the United States and demand in
the name Of the farmers, that certain leg
islation be enacted, that will eventually
ruin the farmers. And this high sounding
organization which pretends to represent
the farmers, has no connection with its in
terests at ALL and only for the name which
is cloak which monopolies Of all kinds
use to humbug the farmer and lead him
to believe that this high sounding farm as
ISOLATION speaks for the agricultural in
terests of the country. Who were they
that made up this aggregation? Why the
paid agents Of monopoly in every instance.
The delegates were made up of bankers,
money lenders, lawyers, judges, politicians.
elevator men, state officials and office
seekers etc The farmer can see how
we'll his interests would be taken care or
by consigning them to the tender mercies
of such men. No brethren, the time mas
come when the real agricultural society
should speak out and denounce those dema-
gogues and political eXploiters of the So
called National Congress and show up the
fraud of these sweet, fat, well fed farmer
humbugs. We can do it. They can only
succeed by our lack of action and lndl1-
ference to our own interests. Arouse your
selves brethren and give the lie to the state
house cliques of the nation who said that
we could never arouse the farmers, that
they simply a lot of dough-heads,
hay-seeds and bilious cranks who had no
other mission on earth but to shout calam-
ity and discuss the financial question.
1t is strange in this age of enlightenment
and intelligence to see the gross ineuual-
tiles which pervade nearly every walk of
life. And In no instance is its garing
h1dfousness so apparent as amongst the
farmers. 1t is strange that class SO
numerous and intelligent would permit
their interests to be exploited by a few
demagagues or politicians who seek to OBJ
tain fat office and good living at the
farmers expense which in return for this
distinction and confidence reposed in him
by his farmer patron, he distinguishes him
self by misrepresentng the interests which
he was assigned to advance and protect. I
presume that the isolation of the farmer
and the attendant lack Of social relation
ship and proverbial modesty and forbear-
ance of the ruralistic class is the only
reasonable excuse we can find for this
condition of affairs. 1 would respectfully
call the attention of our farmer citizens to
some of those glaring conditions. l would
call his attention to the fact as l under
stand 1t, that the agriculturalist pays the
bulk OF the taxes to support the state and
national institutions; that he has the least
representation of any business or calling
upon any of these boards of state or ma
tional institutions. I here give the facts
as I find them in my own state 1t is for
you to determine whether such state of af-
fairs exists In your respective states l will
take the state house of my state. with her
roster Of forty officials from governor down
to barber commission. Only one farmer is
a hat
is the position Of state boiler inspector.
Inc state courts supreme-with the roster
of nine, no farmer is represented. The
governors military staff, 80 members, no
farmers State Institutions, hospitals for
the insane board of trustees, five members,
no farmer. First hospital, no farmer, Sec
ond hospital no farmer third hospital. no
farmer. Soldiers Home, farmers, none.
Institute for detectives for deaf blind and
feeble minded, farmers, none. State law Ii
brarian state capitol, no farmer need apply.
State Normal schools. three in number. no
farmers. State railroad commissioners,
four in number, no farmer, and all
through all the appointments in our state
We are siumply governed by a set of un-
scrupulous men who are in politics for
what there is in it. 1 submit, gentlemen,
this is degrading position the farmers
Of the greatest agricultural country the
globe find themselves in.
1t may be presumption my part to
suggest remedies for the state Of things
which is here portrayed. From
my experience as agriculturiSl
the past so years, cannot re
frain from calling your attention to
few facts and suggestions, which have
been forced on me very wildly. First Of
all, demand full representation in all legis-
lative bodies both national and state in
proportion to numbers regardless of party
affiliations. I desire to call your attention
to the necessity Of appointing a committee,
whose duty it should be, first to secure If
possible, some enforcement of those exist
ing laws relating to common carriers
which might be regarded as favorable to
the farmers of the nation. And secondly to
formulate and present to congress such
measures, relating to the common carriers
OF foreign products as in the opinion of
your committee sound public policy might
dictate. 1 also desire to direct your at
tention to the shrnkage of farm products
in years past, Notwithstanding those re-
duced prices, railroad freghts and pas
senger rates are the same as when foreign
products were double what they are to day.
Whatever the present actual condition Of
public sentiment may be regarding the
public carriers of the state, it Is plain to
demonstration that all the forces of official
life today are organized and amalgamated
In the great undertaking of preventing any
change in existing regulations effecting
railroads and other great corporations. The
dominant element IN our politics Is In con-
spirecy with them. The great ma jority of
the men whom the electors of the nation
in their wisdom placed in power with
the opening of last year, are their confed-
crates. And while there Is plainly mani
fest a spirit of uncertainty and unrest
among even the representatives of cor
porations of official life, the people can
expect no immediate relief except such as
the corporations think proper in the pur-
suit of their own interests to voluntarily
grant them. Let unite as one man to
defend our rights against corporations ami
trusts of every description. Remember
that as long as the producing classes Of
the nation, in the exercise of the voting
franchise, show themselves to be amen
able to the influence of fear, fraud and
chicanery, to the extent manifested by
them in the last national election. it will
remain an utterly hopeless task for any
body of men to seek relief in their be-
half, however limited their scope Of SELF
imposed burdens under which they are TO-
day struggling In conclusion, brother
farmers, beg Of you never to cast a vote
for any man who has ever used his fnllu-
eEce against your interests.