The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-07

yucca rate on their lines or road, as 1t
was through the efforts of the farmer
that the railroad was able to live. He
said 40 per cent Of the amount Of all
personal and real estate taxes were
paid by the farmer, and they were en-
titled to consideration, he thought
Gov. D. NJ. Clough was the next
speaker. He welcomed the delegates
on behalf of the state. He said: 'It
gives me great pleasure to welcome
you and the members of the Farmers
Alliance and Industrial Union of Min
nesota to the capitol of the state. You
represent the largest industrial inter
est and the most numerous body Of
toilers in the state of Minnesota. Ex-
Guiding those found enrolled in the
professional classes, the farmers con-
St1tute one-half Of all of those engaged
in gainful occupations. Of the taxable
real estate in this state, the farmers
own nearly half, and in their names
stand title deeds to One-fourth of all
the real estate and personal property
round in Minnesota. Their farms, live
stock and farm machinery have
greater commercial value than the
property controlled by any other in
dustry, not even excepting the rail-
roads. This last statement is in some
respects a very imperfect one. 1t does
not take into consideration a funda-
mental truth relating to the ownership
of various forms of property within the
state. The bonds and stocks of the
railroads of Minnesota are but to
trif1ing extent owned by the citizens Of
the state. They are possessed by men
and women residing outside our bor-
ders. But with agriculture it is quite
different. With the exception of a
small amount of mortgage debt. the
equities represented by Minnesota
farms are all owned by citizens Of the
state. Wishing you a pleasant and
most profitable season, /, in behalf of
the people of this commonwealth, well
come you to this commonwealth"
Following Gov. Clough, Ignatius Don
nelly delivered a speech in which he to
criticized the railroads and the corpor-
ations. During the address by Mr..
DCpnelly he illustrated his remarks,
which We're, at times, quite pointed, by
relating some funny stories, which cap
tivated the Alliance and put them in
good humor with Mr. Donnelly. Mr..
Donnelly asserted several times that
he was not making a political speech,
but declared it was with profound sor-
row that he viewed the present deplor-
able industrial condition.
Before adjOurning until afternoon,
the chair appointed a COMMITTEE on
credentials, consisting of J. G. Hanley,
I. r. Campbell and r. Borchert. A
committee on resolutions was also ap-
pointed by President Long, consisting
of Ignatius Donnelly, chairman; P. H.
Rahilly, H. V. Poore, Erick Olson, c.
H. Hopkins, Mr. Swain, Paul Kennedy,
Mic D. Vandergon and William Rus
sell. A committee was also appointed
to wait upon J. J. Hill and ask him to
address the afternoon session.
AN IMPROMPTU DEBATE.
Just before the afternoon session
there was an excited debate in the lob
by of the house between Maj. Bowler
and L. D. Long The subject of the
discussion was an echo of the meeting
held in Market hall Tuesday. The trou-
bic grew out of an assertion made by
Maj. Bowler that it was Mr.. Donnelly
who was causing all the trouble in the
ranks of the Populist party. Maj. Bow
Ter also refuted the charge that he was
a fusionist and out for office. The ar
gument, which was listened to by a
large number of the Alliance, was
protracted one, and at times looked
quite dubious. Both gentlemen were
very much excited.
The meeting was called to order at
$50, and Louis Nash then read the pa
per which prompted the resolutions
which were offered. Mr. Nash's subject
was THE Farmer in Politics. or "Tax-
alton Without Representation" Mr..
Nash in opening gave summary of
the profession of the members of state
boards, and according to Mr.. Nash,
there were but two or three farmers on
the entire list read. Even the state ag-
riculturaI society did not contain a sin
gle farmer. Mr.. Nash said the move
ment towards industrial democracy is
growing; it appears to involve the mu-
nicipal ownership and administration
Of all street lighting and ali street car
routes, federal ownership of the tele-
graph and telephone, state regulation
of mines and oil wells and federal reg
ulation, though probably not federal
ownership, of all interstate railway sys-
TENS Mr.. Nashs paper was quite
comprehensive of the subject involved.
On motion, a rising vote of thanks
was rendered Mr.. Nash for his ad-
dress. Then came the
ADDRESS OF P. H. RAHILLY,
of Lake City Mr.. RahiIly said:
The last convention Of the Farmers Alliance
Of this state appointed committee consisting
of nine members of which | had the honor
of being chairman, whose duty it should be,
first to secure. if possible, some enforcement
of those existing laws relating to common
carriers which might be regarded as favora-
BILE to the farmers of Minnesota, and, second,
to formulate and present to the legislature
such measures relating to the carriage of
mittee a sound public policy might dictate.
In the fulfllment of its mission, the COM
mittee at once visited the railroad and ware
house commission and asked that body to
cure to farmers their rights in freight and
passenger rates on railroads. The commits
sion seemed to believe that they had no
power under the present law. Having become
satisfied from the conduct and general de-
meanor of it's members throughout. that the
railroad and warehouse commission was even
worse than worthless for all public uses. we
directed out attention towards the legisia-
ture. A series Of remedial measures were
prepared and were introduced in the house.
Those measures were as fallows:
l. A bill amending the law creating the
railroad and warehouse commission and call
ing on that body on the first Monday of May
and November of each year, and at such ad-
d!tional times as might be necessary, to care
fully examine the existing freight rates, and
unless the commission were satisfied that such
rates were in all respects just and reason
able to call upon the railroads to make the
necessary reductions. On the neglect or fail
ure of the roads to make the required
auctions the bill then made it the duty OF
the commission to appeal to the courts and
to continue to 50 appeal until the lowest just
were made to prevail. Thus an imperative
duty to continue forcing down existing rates
was sought to be enforced on the commits
ton on pain of removal from office.
9 A bill providing for a uniform reduc-
ton of 20 per cent on all existing freight
rates in force Jan. 1. 1897
g. A bill providing for uniform passen-
ger rate nf two cents per mile.
4. A 81 providing for the lawful transfer
by delivery Of mileage books from one per-
son to another, the possession Of such books
being priIna facie evidence Of lawful owner
ship regardless Of the name written or
stamped the book.
s. A bill providing for the establishment of