The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-02-09
NAT. F. A. AND |. u. DEPT
At ST. Paul Mr. ]. c. Ranley will re-
ceive subscriptions for The Representa-
tive at his office, 400 Baltimore Building.

Governor D. M. Clough delivered the
address of welcome to the alliance
convention and in it he made som"
startling admissions, he said that the
farmer paid the bulk Of the taxes OF the
state, and that the farmer was the real
and substantial backbone OF this state'
that the farmers We're to blame lor
great deal of the lack of representa-
tion. which they were denied in the well
fare and. government of the state, ana
that they were too lax in their eHorls
to demand and secure fair share OF the
representation in the makeup OF all
boards and institutions OF the state 10
which they paid the bulk of the tax
for support. We presume that the gov
ernor was labOring under this impress
sion last summer when we called upon
him to appoint and commission mem
bers of the Farmers Alliance who were
REAL. and SUBSTANTIAL tillers or
the soil to represent this state at the
meeting of the national farmers con-
gress at the state capital last Angus
and September. 1t will be remembered
that the state secretary called upon tn
governor upon the occasion and mad
a spirited interview. The result OF
the meeting was that he finally con-
scented to allow us to present a list OF
about 100 names of practical farmers
from all over the state, and Of the Loo
commissions issued at that time NOT
ONE OF THE NAMES WE PRESENT
ED WAS APPOINTED. This so
aroused our indignation that we pub
lished a statement in many of the ag-
rcultural papers of this state, show
ing the political and partisan stand
taken by the governor in sending com
missions to all delegates OF the last
three Republican state conventions, and
it was only in this way an occasional
farmer got in.
1t was a most novel and grotesQtS
assemblage of FARMERS that we have
had the privilege Of witnessing. We
found the banker, lawyer, merchant,
preacher, railroad agent, elevator man,
professors, politicians, etc, as the rep
resentatives of the great state of Min
neSOta at farmers congress.
1t is with pleasure we record the fact
that Gov. Clough has been most con-
siderate in his treatment of myself and
the Alliance since or little "unpleas-
antness" and was most willing and
courteous in granting the use Of the
house OF representatives to the ALI
ance to hold their state convention and
to address the Alliance in a most re-
spectful and entertaining address Of
welcome
We have reason to hope that the ener-
getic and systematic efforts which the
Alliance is making along the lines Of
the governors suggestions will be put
into practical use and effect when those
names will be presented to his excel
lency for appointment upon the different
state boards and institutions which has
received the official endorsement of the
national Farmers Alliance of this state
representing an organization of 1900
farmer members CT same.
Numerous letters have been sent out
to all persons whose names were pre-
scented and ar answer requested. So
far very few have responded and it
looks as though we will not get enough
applicants to furnish one farmer for
each state beard or institution. It
looks as though the farmer is not an
officer seeker. Only such names as are
willing to serve will be considered and
presented for appointment.