The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-06-28
THE FARMERS ALLIANCE.

Casselton, N. D., June 27.-To The
Forum: l read in a recent issue of
your paper a communication from ex-
Gov. Roger Allin, on the political is
sues of the day, in which he under
takes to compare some political up
heavals in this state sixteen or eight
cen years ago with the present condt-
tions. aE s%r.sa Et sr&
l have no controversy with the pur-
pose of Governor Aims article, except
in SO far as, he refers to the Farmers
Alliance Of that day, as taking an ac
tive part in opposition to the McKin
ley tariff bill AS to that, the gov
ernor is in error I was actively in
terested in the work of the Farmers
Alliance at that time and can say of
my own knowledge that the Farmers
Alliance was not political organiza-
| ton any more than the Society of
Equity of today may be considered a
political organization. There were GER
tain lines of legislation which the Al
| lance urged and secured, but it took
no action whatever against the Nc
Kinley tariff bill. The tariff was not
one of it's troubles.
The late Senator NJ N. Johnson, and
the late Governor Fancher, were both
active members of the Farmers Alli-
ance in the days of its activity, and
both were friendly to the Mckinley tar
iff BILL as were a large majority OF
the Alliance We have reason to believe
that the vote Of the members of the
Farmers Alliance had much to do with
the defeat Of Andrew Burke for re.
election as governor Of this state, bu
1t was not on account OF the tariff
issue they defeated him.
The Farmers Alliance did a goot
work and the people of this state ar
enjoying the permanent benefits of 1T
labors.> Among other things, 1t wa
instrumental in securing a large re
duction in the cost of shipping grain
it secured the right to the farmer t
load his grain into cars for shipmen
direct from his wagon instead of pass
ing it through the elevator at a heav
charge. and this brought into eXistenc
: loading stations with elevated plat
. forms for the farmers convenience.
= was unitedly opposed to bucket shop
= and was practically unanimous in ia
= yor of the prohibition or the liquc
. traffic I mention these things becaus
do not want to have the attitude {
: the Farmers Alliance misunderstood
:. or brought into comparison with II
: conflicting party interests of toda
!. And lest / might not be fully undel
= stood as to my own position In regal
!, to the contentious in the republica
i party at this time ! will say in tn
I, connection, that 1T does not seem
- me that the political conditions in tn
I state or in the nation at large, a
) such as to Justify a disruption of tt
republican party.
a, We henr a good deal of talk abo
= .'rinp rule" and "bossism," but we ha
no "ring rule or "bossism" in tt
state today, and that order of thin
has been at a heavy discount throug
8, out the country since the day that t
d Roosevelt policies were inaugurate
ia and while our recent tariff legislati
*. may not have included all the redu
2 tions that certain individuals and
calities may have wished, 1t is certai
ly long step in the right directl'
and is a big Improvement on the I
~ law, or any other tariff law we ma
all ever had. Anyone who has ever h
any experience in legislative matte
a knows that in securing the adoption
de measures affecting the different int
of ests OF the entire country, II IS not p'
he sible for any one man or set OF m
he or any one state or locality 10 get
DIS, that his or their, or Its particular
100 tions may demand, but that conc
1as sions must be made by all parties @
the cerned, and It Is often necessary
on, to the best interest Of the whole COZ
is try that an equitable comprom
be measure, so far as rates are conce
of ed. should be adopted. TINS IN
oninion. il what was done in our
ere cent tariff legislation. Under H
Of are having great prosperity and
lon, not see what more we could ask,
ing why there should be any serious
lection to 1t. Smith Stinme