The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-06-22
GOOD NEWS.

The Peoples Party and Alliance All.
tatiOn Forces the Great Northern
to Reduce the Wheat Rates Cent
Per 100 Lbs. in Minnesota.
The announcement made the past
week that the Great Northern Railway
had voluntarily reduced its freight
rates on grain in the Northwest
amounting to about cents per hun
dred pounds, or an average reduction q
about IA per cent on the existing freight
rates on the carrying charges of wheat.
This will amount in round numbers to
saving on the item of freight of
about $75O,0O0 per annunl.
1t is only the beginning of further
concessions by other competing lines.
The Northern Pacific will be obliged to
meet those rates which will be saw
ing to the farmers along that line of
railway of about 100000 more
1t does seem that at last the farmers
through their Alliance organization,
seconded by the Mid-Road Populists,
are beginning to plant the idea in our
public officials minds that they are in
deadly earnest, and for the first time
in the history Of the railroad commits
sion they are really willing to try to do
something
Our Alliance delegates to our state
convention in January, 1897, will re-
member with what contempt the rail-
road and warehouse commission receiv-
ed our committee and told them that
they were powerless to do anything,
and treated our committee with scant
courtesy and disrespect, and undertook
to lecture them because of the passage
of resolutions criticising the commits
sion for the "uselessness Of it's exist
ence, etc. 1t aroused the anger AMI
Indignation of the convention, and they
turned their attention to other quarters
to seek redress for their grievances.
Certain bills were introduced in the leg
islature, among which was bill to ere
duce existing freight rates IL Mime
sofa 20 per cent" A bill to "reduce
passenger rates from cents to cents
per mile," and other railroad legislat alton.
The railroad committee of the house
treated the committee of the Alliance
with contempt, and would scarcely grant
them hearing. The result was that
the bills were all "smothered in COM
mittee," and no redress was granted to
the farmers Of Minnesota. a new plan
and policy was outlined by the Alliance,
January at the Alliance convention. Il
was decided that the Alliance, the great
agricultural society of Minnesota,
would undertake the management O.:
it's own affairs and demand represent
alton upon every state board and insti
tuition which the farmer contributes to
support by taxation They resolved
to support no candidate for Office in all
political parties, who would not pledge
himself to support the bills which their
organization Endorsed" They further
declared that they would urge the Sc
lection of FARMERS to represent agri-
cultural communities, and refuse to sup
port bankers, lawyers, merchants, and
corporations representatives hereafter
for the legislature.
The Alliance has done much since last
January. 1t has secured a rate from the
Twin Cities and Duluth on wheat equiv
alent to saving of II cents per 100 lbs
"all rail to the seaboard.' Also an offer
to build terminal elevators if SIS ,OOO,-
900 bushels CT wheat can be secured for
such railroad. 1t has secured a list of
prominent and representative farmers
from all sections of the state who have
received the official Endorsement of the
Alliance to serve as the representa-
tives of agriculture on the state boards
and institutions, and are now in the
hands of the governor. The politicians
are beginning to take fright at this
new and powerful element in state poll
tics, and are watching with keen inter
est the uncompromising and aggressive
policy which it is conducting.
The following is list of bills which
they will send to all candidates for Of
flee in all political parties.
l. A bill to reduce freight rates 20
per cent.
2. A bill to reduce passenger rates
from 3 to cents per mile.
g. A bill to protect the rights of
purchasers Of mileage books.
4. A bill to establish track scales at
all stations where wheat is shipped.
S. A bill for the reduction of the rate
Of interest from 10 to per cent.
6. A bill to exempt homesteads from
taxation to the extent Of $500.
Z. A bill to provide a market for our
wheat in oriental countries.
The above list Of bills will be pre-
scented to every legislative candidate,
and he will be requested to designate
his attitude on the bills by writing
yes or mo" after each, and returning
same to this Office, with a pledge, If