Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-09-18
$4,000 votes. The Democrats pulled
$4,000, and the Republicans beat them

IS 900, and the Republicans beat them
by 5000.
About this time the National Popu.
list Party came into existence, or
rather, developed into real menace
to the old parties. The Reform work
had been done so well through old
party channels in his own state that
General James B. Weaver of Iowa.
head of the Populist movement, was
unable to make much Roadway at
home, but in some others, where Diff
erent tactics were followed, and where
much needed reforms were being de-
layed, the movement assumed great
proportions. This was notably true
in Kansas, Nebraska, North and
Western States. In Minnesota, after
a feeble protest, the Alliance was
merged into the Populist Party, though
it only polled some 10000 votes that
year. Two years later Tin 1892 Hon.
S. M. Owen was again called upon to
head the movement. The opposition
in their desperation appealed to Sena-
tor Knute Nelson, who while sticking
closely to his party had been flirting
with Alliance principles, to save the
State from the blight of populism, and
he consented to run for Governor.
The Democratic Party was nearly
eliminated, and while Mr.. Owen polled
almost 10000 votes, Nelson was elect.
ed by about $4,000 majority.
OF the nearly two score demands
of the platform, nearly half of them
have since crystalized into law
These include the Government Con
troll of Railroads, a reduction of the
Tariff, lower currency, the Australian
Ballot, and election of Senators by q
direct vote of the people. But by fa1
the most important In financial
sense to the grain growers of Mime
sofa was the law, which was bitterly
opposed by the Cordage Trust, and
the Big Business newspapers that are
fighting the League today, providing
for the manufacture of binding. Irvine
at the State Penitentiary by convict
labor. This business, commenced IN
1891, has steadily grown in volume
each year ever since, and In 1917
reached the enormous amount OF Ovel
twenty-three million pounds. More
than $50 millions of pounds in al
have been made and sold to farmers a.
a direct saving of about ten millions
| of dollars and an indirect saving of Al
least double that amount. To put i
in another form, there are some tel
millions of dollars in the Minnesota
farmers pockets today put there b!
the Alliance, that otherwise would
have been in the pockets of Cordag'
companies. No wonder: Big Business
hates farm organizations.
In addition to the manufacture o
Irvine, there has since been added al
extensive line of farm machinery, in
Guiding binders, mowers, rakes, Ton
que and Transportation trucks. Recent
ly the manufacture Of boots and shoe'
has been undertaken. It will pay an.
farmer who has the time to make ,
visit to the State Penitentiary.
There are some of the men VIII
were active in the Alliance movement
who are on the battle line today read.
for action. They heard the call sound
ed by the League and they have res
pended TO the summons. Some o
them have fallen by the wayside an
very few have apparently becom
weary in we'll doing and have retire.
from the conflict. Among those wer,
in the very front OF the fight in tn
days of the Alliance, and who hav'
again answered the call is the Draw
old war horse and incompatible Demo
crat, Thos J. Meighen, of Preston
who, although he has become rich ii
this worlds goods largely through
the increase in the value of farm
lands, still has heart that beats IL
sympathy with the common people.
In my next will tell you something
of the Farmers Club movement ane
what it has accomplished.