The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-07-06
INVADING FOREIGN MARKETS
State Federation of Labor IndOrses
and Approves the Stand Taken by
the Farmers Alliance and Indus-
trial Union.

the Farmers Alliance and Indus-
trial Union.
AT the recent meeting of the State Fed
Grafton of Labor, held in Duluth, the Ques-
ton of extending the foreign markets OF
the United States and building ships to
carry the products of the country to those
markets received considerable attention.
The subject was brought up by the fraternal
delegates to the federation from the Farm
ers' Alliance and Industrial Union of Amer
lea. These were Hon. Ignatius Donnelly, j.
C.. Hanley and P. H. Rahilley. The need
of broadening the field for the manufacture
ing and industrial and farming interests
has been recognized by the Industrial union,
but organized labor up to this time has not
taken any action on the subject. 1t was
therefore advanced ground for the fedora
ton to adopt the following resolution after
a thorough discussion of the subject.
Resolved, That We the Minnesota State
Federation of Labor, in convention assem-
bled, do hereby indorse and approve the
proposition of the National Farmers Alli-
ance and Industrial union, and pledge our
support to their efforts to establish and
extend foreign markets in Asiatic
countries, and the building of our merchant
marine" as outlined in the able paper read
by j. c. Hanley before this convention.
Carried unanimously.
MR. HANLEY'S PAPER
The paper referred to in the resolution
as having been read by ]. c. Hanley who
is the national organizer of the Farmers
Alliance and Industrial union, is as fol-
lows:
"To the President and Members of the
State Federation of Labor-Brothers and
Co-workers:
Il am pleased to see the bonds of fra
ternity extend between the toilers of the
city and the farm with each succeeding
convention of the State Federation of Labor
and the National Farmers Alliance and
Industrial Union of Minnesota, and hope
that the wisdom and inspiration that will
follow those fraternal exchanges of dele
gates will do much to clear away the OBJ
stacles that has kept the farmers and the
mechanic and city workman apart in mat
tiers that they should be agreed on, and
should work in harmony with each other to
achieve what would be of the greatest in
terest to both fraternties.
Il am especially pleased to report that
l believe that the aims and purposes of
our two great societies have a real and
substantial interest in the success of the
other.
Il have the pleasure to announce that
as an officer of the Alliance I can assure
our State Federation of Labor that we have
the most ardent and Jealous interest in
your work. and we will at any and all times
De pleased to render you any intelligent
and consistent service within our power
TO advance and sustain your interests
while We may differ to some extent
on certain matters which have a direct
bearing on interests that do conflict, such
as the hours of labor on the farm and the
rights of unorganized labor and some small
details of this character yet on the whole
we are in hearty accord with your aims
and purposes, and hope that the small
Things that we do not agree on will not be
bar to united action upon the many things
that we do agree on.
Il hope to see this meeting the BEGIN
ming of plan and policy that will enlist
the earnest and active cooperation of the
toilers of the farm and the workshops of
the city to advocate in intelligent and
systematic manner and never let up their
agitation and education until laws. will he
enacted that will guarantee living wages
Tor the mechanic and workman and living
prices Tor the products of the American
farmer without being the prey and at the
mercy or INSCRIPTIONS masters and combi-
NATIONS who take from the producers the
fruits OF their toll without proper COM
pensation and reduce them to privation and
distress.
Il am sorry to have to acknowledge that
this condition which both the farmer and
workman complain about is due to their own
1ault. Why? Because through jealousy and
prejudice they neutralize their strength and
influence by permitting partisan politicians
70 utilize and array them against each other
You permit your interests to be represented
in the legislatures and congress by bankers
lawyers, merchants and representatives of
corporations while they feed on promises
that they never intend to keep. This is
wrong and is foul blot on the intelligence
OF the American farmer and workman Send
representatives of your own calling to rem
resent you in the legislatures and congress.
then watch the result
1t is one of the most astounding reyela-
hostile array against each other clamoring
Tor the success of their respective political
parties, whose success means new and more
aggravated conditions that they must suffer.
out winch they are willing and patient to
endure II 1t means party success Gentle
men, the working class do not disagree with
one another, their interests are mutual and
identical. l care not how radically NAV
dlsagree politically with any workman or
FARMER in this great nation, if we sit down
ana discuss our interests in a calm intelli-
gent manner without the accompaniment of
pontlcal prejudice, we are Of one mind
fully appreciate the difficulties which
are involved in the surrender of political
ties 1t is almost impossible to get or even
expect It, Then if we decide to stick to our
political parties let us do the next best
tnlng, reform those parties and compel them
~ take up ana advocate the measures that
we stand for and enact them into laws that
will give the greatest good to the greatest
number. With this condition in force and
effect it will make no difference which DO
lltlcal party wins the measures which Won
have compelled all political parties to adopt
as planks in their respective platforms, and
with representatives of your own calling YOU
are sure then that the measures that YOU
are interested in will be successful It is
my intention to call your attention to a
couple Of matters that 1 believe YOU will
agree that your society can cooperate with
our association on a matter that will be of
the utmost Importance and significance to
the American people,
IS PROSPERITY PRESENT.
Il am sure that it will go without say
Ing that the wealth and greatness of our
country rests on the producers. If the pro-
duct OF labor is well paid, prosperity is in
the land. l do not mean prosperity that
you read of in the daily newspapers. but
the real, genuine thing. 1 mean a pros
perity that is not reckoned in the in
creased valuation of property that has been
confscated from the owner few years age
when all commodities were reduced to the
lowest possible valuation. which meant
practical confscation, and now is being
doomed and watered into valuations that
are fictitious and over capitalized. 1 dc