Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1881 — FARMERS’ ALLIANCE. [ARTICLE]

FARMERS’ ALLIANCE.

Meeting of tke National Bodjr <M cago. The second annual meeting of the National Farmers’ Alliance was held in Hershey HaH. Chicago, on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct 5 and 6. Delegates were present from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, lowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, Wisconsin and New York. The Secretary reported that the alliance was in a favorable condition. There were nearly 1,000 subordinate alliances in existence, with a membership of 24,500. The alliances were distributed as follows: Nebraska, 291; Kansas, 245; lowa, 150; New York, 00; Wisconsin, 51; Michigan, 19; Missouri, 19; Indiana, 10; Illinois, 45; Minnesota, 50. The presiding officer, W. J. Fowler, made a, brief speech, in the course of which he stated that the alliance had so extended its field of usefulness and its capacity for work that it could take hold of questions which a year ago it was unable to grapple with. The alliance would now be able to go for some of the patent monopolies, such as the barbed-wire swindle, in instance. There was money enough to carry the barbed-wire cases up to the higher courts, and thus much material aid could be given to the farmer. Mr. Mulholland reported that the prospects of the alliance in Kansas were flourishing. Mr. Williams, of lowa, said the situation in that State differed a good deal from that in most of the others. A State Alliance had been formed at Des Moines, and the only objection raised to coming into the National Alliance was the life-membership rule. He thought that the voting should rest with the active members, and that men should not be allowed in on the strength of their money. Mr. Anderson said that Wisconsin had not had a farmer representative in Congress during the twenty years he had been a resident of the State. He thought the farmers should unite to support the alliance. The Wisconsin State Alliance was well officered and was doing well.

Mr. Wood, of Illinois, reported a very encouraging feeling throughout his State, and a firm determination on the part of farmers to join in the movement. If the two great political parties continued to neglect the interests of the producers, the latter would swing loose and vote independently. They would go into their own political conventions and vote for their own men, and, if they could not carry their point, they would support independent men. The .farmers of Illinois had voted long enough against their own interests, and had been led like lambs to the slaughter every time the ballot box was passed around. The alliance was not designed to form a new party, but to encourage independence among the members of the existing parties. Mr. Norton, of Wisconsin, said that as long as the farmers were content to be led by the ears by the leaders of the two old parties it nutted the managers well enough. When the farmers were satisfied there was no hope from either side they would come out and act for themselves. Mr. Wood, of Illinois, said it was a mistake to think that nothing could be got from existing political organizations. The trouble was that farmers stuck too close to their fields and barns, and*allowed tbe moss-back politicians to run the caucuses and conventions. He did not think it necessary to form a new party, for experience had taught them that they could secure their ends and yet remain in the existing parties. Tne farmers formed 50 per cent, of 1 lie voting papulation of the country, and, by influencing nominations, could compel the legislation tbev wanted. Mr. Williams said the farmers could not control nominations. The politicians put up the conventions and freely distributed drinks, lunches, and money if necessary. The. combined influence of the whisky and railroad intere ti was brought to bear, and the farmers got left. Mr. Root, of Nebraska, said the great trouble in Nebraska was with the “machine,” which had run the State until the meanest men in it got all the offices. He proposed that members of the alliance should nominate their own men, and if Republicans or Democrats choose to vote for them, so much the better. In Nebraska the farmers sought to get equal taxation, and that monopolies should treat all men and all places alike, and not pull down or sei up men at their pleasure. Railroads should not be allowed to freeze out men by a system of rebates—another name for robbery. Nebraska farmers wanted no legislation to protect the interests of the producer, and only asked such legislation as would prevent other men from stealing.

The committee on changes in the constitution presented a report recommending several minor changes in the document. The only important changes suggested was one abolishing the life-membership clause, which was adopted. It was decided that a national lecturer should be added to the list of officers of the alliance. An amendment to the effect that each State having an alliance should be entitled to two delegates and to one extra delegate for every 10,000 individual members of the alliance was adopted A proposition to admit representatives of all farmers’ societies to the deliberations of the alliance was debated a' extreme length, the chief question raised being whether or no the Grange representativea should be allowed to vote. The rule on thia subject was allowed to stand as before, so that the outsiders can both talk and vote. The Committee on Resolutions then reported the following, which were unanimously adoptedWhereas, Farmers and others are oppressor by unequal taxation, by subsidies to monopolies, bv selfish and dishonest officials, by rail road extortion and unjust disriminations and by other privileged classes ; and, Whereas, Congress only can regulate commerce among the States, and a national union of all interested is necessary for success— Resolved, That farmers, and all in sympathy with them, unite in a local, State and national society for mutual agreement snd united action Resolved, That all property, real and personal, corporate and individual, should be equalh taxed, and that the hold rs of mortgages and other lines of property should be taxed for their lien, and the owner for the balance of his property. Resolved, That we favor a just income tax. Resolved, That the salaries of all public officials should be only a fair compensation for services rendered; that all Government positions should be elective as far as practicable, and that the appointment of Postmasters and other officers by the success! ul party is a gross violation of civil-service reform and a fruitful source of corruption. Resolved, That we emphatically condemn the practice of receiving free railroad passes by Judges, members of Congress, Legislatures and other public officials. Resolved, That it is the duty of the General Government to at once exercise its constitutional right to regulate commerce between the States by passing such laws and establishing such regulations as will secure to the whole people just and impartial rates for the transportation of freights aud passengers. Resolved, That the combination and consolidation of railroad capital and influence of the United States in the maintenance of an oppressive and tyrannical transportation system is an accomplished fact, demanding instant, vigorous and unceasing action on the part of the producers of tbe country to remedy the same ; and we earnestly urge all farmers to organize through tbe Farmers’ Alliance or other organizations tor systematic and persistent political action, and to subordinate other political questions to the emancipation of the people from this terrible oppression. Resolved, That we demand such changes in our Patent law as will give patentees a remedy for the infringement of their claims, from the sellers of patents only, and not from their users, who are usually innocent purchasers of rights which they are made to believe are valid. Resolved, That all persons should be allowed to make patented articles on payment of a royalty of a per cent, of the price of the article ; royaltv to be the same on all patents. Resolved, That the adulteration of food is as dishonest and more injurious than counterfeiting money, and should be punished as severely.

Resolved, IThat, as delegated nominating conventions are frequently controlled by trading and bribery and fail to justly represent the people, we recommend the plan of nominating all elective officers by direct vote with all members of the organization. The following telegrams were read : New Yobk, Oct. 5. W. T. Fowler: The National Anti-Monopolv League sends greetings and an earnest wish that your organization may increase and prosper. ’The people must organize in defense of their rights, or acknowledge that mon may become their masters. . 8. E. Chittenden. Yobk, Pa., Oct. 5. W. J. Fowler, Esq., President National Alliance: lam prevented by a serious and painful accident from being with you to-day, but be assured that as long as I five I shall give what feeble aid I can for justice to land and labor. I hope you Will speak freely to-day, and let all the world know that you do not ‘ * lack gall to make oppression bitter.” Jebe 8. Black. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President—John J, James, of Kansas. Vice President—Hon. Matt Anderson, of Wis cousin. Secretary—D. W. Wood, of Illinois. Treasurer—Allen Root, of Nebraska. Lecturer—D. W. Wood, of Illinois. After selecting St. Louis ns the place for th< next annual meeting, the convention adjourned sine die.