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Farmers' Alliance in Minnesota

Farmers' Alliance in Minnesota

Creator:
S.M. Owen - The People's Candidate for Governor of Minnesota

Political poster depicting Sidney M. Owen, the Farmers' Alliance candidate for governor, 1890.

The Farmers' Alliance in Minnesota thrived from 1886 to 1892. During this time, the organization achieved the most progress toward its political goals in the state. These included greater regulation of the railroad industry as it impacted the wheat market, elimination of irregularities in the grading of wheat, and minimization or elimination of the middleman in the wheat trade.

The origins of the Farmers' Alliance are unclear. Although it had national reach, the organization was never centralized or unified. Instead, it consisted of many local chapters that shared a desire for agricultural and social reform. Farmers' Alliance chapters began as social, educational gatherings of rural men and women. But they quickly took on a more political character, as members agreed that political action was the most effective way to create change.

In the 1880s, farmers in Minnesota were unhappy for many reasons. They were struggling financially, due to an oversupply of wheat and low wheat prices. Many were deeply in debt. Farmers wanted a higher share of the price their grain brought at its final sale, after it was graded, marketed, and shipped to distribution centers. In addition, railroad freights to transport wheat were expensive and often discriminatory to rural markets. And farmers could only sell and store their grain in certain places, which led to lack of competition and unfair wheat grading and pricing. Minnesota Farmers' Alliance members wanted all of these issues addressed through regulation and reform.

The state's first Farmers' Alliance groups were formed in 1881. An annual convention was held that year in Rochester, but it was only lightly attended. Membership numbers increased each year, however, and by 1886, the state's annual convention, held in St. Paul, was quite large and attracted attention from the press and the public alike.

Also in 1886, the Farmers' Alliance in Minnesota began to enter politics in a significant way. The group first chose to work with existing political parties, instead of fielding its own political candidates. In 1886, state Republicans and Democrats agreed to incorporate issues of importance to the Farmers' Alliance into their party platforms. In 1887, members of the state legislature presented bills favorable to farmers: for state inspection of county elevators, regulation of grain warehouses, and reduction of the rate of interest from ten to eight percent on loans. The most significant gain of 1887, however, was the strengthening of the regulatory powers of the state railroad and warehouse commission, which directly addressed the concerns of many Minnesota farmers.

In 1888, the Alliance took some time to regroup politically, and in 1889, it elected Ignatius Donnelly as State Lecturer. The State Lecturer was in charge of recruiting new members, and with Donnelly in the position, Minnesota membership numbers soared. With numbers came influence, and in 1890, the Alliance decided to try politics again, this time directly. They connected with labor groups that shared their goals, such as the Knights of Labor, and put forth a number of candidates for both Minnesota and national office, including Sidney M. Owen for governor. Owen, editor of the agricultural journal Farm, Stock and Home, polled well but lost to incumbent governor William Merriam. A significant number of other Alliance candidates were elected, however, including two congressmen.

Under the leadership of Alliance legislators such as Donnelly, who was elected to the state senate, many bills relating to farmers' issues were presented during the 1891 legislative session. However, few bills were passed. Dissatisfaction with this lack of progress led to a split in the Alliance in 1892, with a large faction, Donnelly included, going over to the People's (or Populist) Party, which had many of the same concerns and goals. A small faction of the original Alliance remained but never again had a significant political impact on the state.
Cite
Huber, Molly. "Farmers' Alliance in Minnesota." MNopedia, Minnesota Historical Society. https://www3.mnhs.org/mnopedia/search/index/group/farmers-alliance-minnesota
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First Published: June 23, 2011
Last Modified: April 10, 2025

Bibliography

Chrislock, Carl H. "The Alliance Party and the Minnesota Legislature of 1891." Minnesota History 35, no. 7 (September 1957): 297–312.
http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/35/v35i07p297-312.pdf

———. "Sidney M. Owen: An Editor in Politics." Minnesota History 36, no. 4 (December 1958): 109–126.
http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/36/v36i04p109-126.pdf

Hicks, John D. "The Origin and Early History of the Farmers' Alliance in Minnesota." Mississippi Valley Historical Review 9, no. 3 (December 1922): 203–226.

———."The People's Party in Minnesota." Minnesota History 5, no. 8 (November 1924): 531–560.
http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/5/v05i08p531-560.pdf

Larson, Henrietta M. The Wheat Market and the Farmer in Minnesota, 1858–1900. New York: Columbia University, 1926.

Warner, Donald F. "Prelude to Populism." Minnesota History 32, no. 3 (September 1951): 129–146.
http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/32/v32i03p129-146.pdf

Related Resources

Primary

P1806
Edwin H. Atwood and Family Papers, 1800, 1838–1954
Manuscript Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Edwin Atwood was president of the Stearns County Farmers' Alliance (1884) and president of the Minnesota State Farmers' Alliance (1888). These papers document Atwood's activity in the Alliance and the issues and personalities related to the organization (1884-1892).

P632
Charles W. Brandborg and Family Papers, 1887–1977
Manuscript Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Correspondence related to the Farmers' Alliance in Minnesota. Charles Brandborg was president of the Otter Tail County Farmers' Alliance in the 1890s.

Ignatius Donnelly and Family Papers, 1812–1973
Manuscript Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00782.xml
Description: Correspondence, literary materials, pamphlets, speeches, diaries, scrapbooks, financial records, and other materials documenting Donnelly's career as a politician, author, editor, and more.

P777
Gustavus A. Westphal Papers, 1890–1919, 1945
Manuscript Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Correspondence, clippings, and other papers relating to Westphal's activities in the Minnesota Farmers' Alliance and People's Party.

Barrett, Theodore H. Address delivered before the National Farmers' Alliance at its seventh annual meeting held at Minneapolis, Minnesota, Tuesday, October 4th, 1887. Morris, MN: Morris Tribune, [1900?].

Donnelly, Ignatius. A broadside of truth: the Farmers Alliance, what it is, what it has done, and what it proposes to do: an address to the farmers of Minnesota and the northwest. [S.l.: s.n., 1889?].

Dunning, N.A., ed. The Farmers' Alliance History and Agricultural Digest. Washington, D.C.: Alliance, 1891.

Jelley, S.M. The Voice of Labor. Philadelphia: H.J. Smith and Co., 1888.

Merriam, William R. Address of Governor William R. Merriam: delivered before the State Farmers Alliance, March 4, 1890, at its annual meeting in St. Paul: with press comments. St. Paul: Pioneer Press Co., 1890.

Minnesota State Farmers' Alliance. Circular Letter/Office of President, Minn. Farmers' Alliance. Hastings, MN: The Office, [1891].

———. Circular letter: to be read to the subordinate alliance: Hastings, Minn., July 1889/Office of the State Lecturer, State Farmers' Alliance. [Minnesota]: Minnesota State Farmers' Alliance, [1889].

———. Constitution and by-laws of the Minnesota State Farmers' Alliance. [Minnesota?: Thos. A. Clark, publisher, 1891?].

———. Constitution and by-laws of the Minnesota State Farmers' Alliance: adopted February 4th, 1887: with brief directions about how to organize alliances: also the names and post office addresses of the Executive Committee of the State Alliance. [Minnesota: s.n., 1887].

———. Minnesota State Farmers' Alliance: Declaration of rights, resolutions adopted at Minneapolis, February 25th, 1886. An address to the subordinate alliances, and state and subordinate constitutions. [Minneapolis: s.n., 1886].

———. Resolutions adopted by the State Farmers' Alliance at their annual meeting held at the Capitol, St. Paul, Minn., February 4th and 5th, 1887. [Minnesota: s.n., 1887].

———. The Minnesota State Farmers' Alliance: Constitution and by-laws, declaration of principles, resolutions, officials, etc., 1890. St. Paul: "The Great West," [1890].

Minnesota State Farmers' Alliance, Executive Committee. Address of Executive Committee of the State Farmers' Alliance, adopted at their meeting in St. Paul, Dec. 5, 1888. [Minnesota: s.n., 1888?].

Secondary

Dethloff, Henry C. A List of References for the History of the Farmers' Alliance and the Populist Party. Davis: Agricultural History Center, University of California, Davis, 1973.

Eaton, Elaie. "The Farmers' Alliance in Minnesota." Unpublished manuscript, last modified 1920s. Handwritten.

Gilman, Rhoda R. Stand Up: The Story of Minnesota's Protest Tradition. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2012.

Hicks, John D. The Populist Revolt: A History of the Farmers' Alliance and the People's Party. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1931.

Hudson, Edwin E. "A Comparison of the Farmers' Alliance and the Nonpartisan League in Minnesota." Unpublished manuscript, last modified 1924. Handwritten.

Kolnick, Jeffrey. "Rural-Urban Conflict and Farmer-Labor Politics: Blue Earth County, 1885-1886." Minnesota History 54, no. 1 (Spring 1994): 32–45.
http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/54/v54i01p032-045.pdf

Naftalin, Arthur. "The Tradition of Protest and the Roots of the Farmer-Labor Party." Minnesota History 35, no. 2 (June 1956): 53–63.
http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/35/v35i02p053-063.pdf

Weatherhead, Harold. "The Farmers' Alliance in Norman County, Minnesota." Typescript, 1931.

Wold, Eva Emerson. "The Farmer Alliance in Douglas County, Minnesota." Typescript, 1930.

Related Images

S.M. Owen - The People's Candidate for Governor of Minnesota

Political poster depicting Sidney M. Owen, the Farmers' Alliance candidate for governor, 1890.

Ignatius Donnelly

Ignatius Donnelly, 1888. Photographer: Sarony. Donnelly managed membership recruitment for the Farmers' Alliance starting in 1889.

S.M. Owen - The People's Candidate for Governor of Minnesota

S.M. Owen - The People's Candidate for Governor of Minnesota

Political poster depicting Sidney M. Owen, the Farmers' Alliance candidate for governor, 1890.

Public domain

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society

Articles

More Information

Ignatius Donnelly

Ignatius Donnelly

Ignatius Donnelly, 1888. Photographer: Sarony. Donnelly managed membership recruitment for the Farmers' Alliance starting in 1889.

Public domain

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society

Articles

More Information

Related Articles

Turning Point

In 1892, a break within the Farmers' Alliance leads to the decline of the organization as a political force in Minnesota.

Chronology

1881
The state's first Farmers' Alliance groups form and hold their first annual convention in Rochester.
1886
The Farmers' Alliance in Minnesota begins to enter politics in a significant way.
1887
The state legislature presents bills favorable to farmers, thanks in part to the work of the Alliance.
1889
The Alliance puts Ignatius Donnelly in charge of recruiting new members, and membership soars.
1890
The Alliance puts forth a number of candidates for office, including Sidney M. Owen for governor.
1892
Dissatisfied Alliance members leave the organization for the People's (or Populist) Party, and the group's influence declines.

Bibliography

Chrislock, Carl H. "The Alliance Party and the Minnesota Legislature of 1891." Minnesota History 35, no. 7 (September 1957): 297–312.
http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/35/v35i07p297-312.pdf

———. "Sidney M. Owen: An Editor in Politics." Minnesota History 36, no. 4 (December 1958): 109–126.
http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/36/v36i04p109-126.pdf

Hicks, John D. "The Origin and Early History of the Farmers' Alliance in Minnesota." Mississippi Valley Historical Review 9, no. 3 (December 1922): 203–226.

———."The People's Party in Minnesota." Minnesota History 5, no. 8 (November 1924): 531–560.
http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/5/v05i08p531-560.pdf

Larson, Henrietta M. The Wheat Market and the Farmer in Minnesota, 1858–1900. New York: Columbia University, 1926.

Warner, Donald F. "Prelude to Populism." Minnesota History 32, no. 3 (September 1951): 129–146.
http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/32/v32i03p129-146.pdf

Related Resources

Primary

P1806
Edwin H. Atwood and Family Papers, 1800, 1838–1954
Manuscript Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Edwin Atwood was president of the Stearns County Farmers' Alliance (1884) and president of the Minnesota State Farmers' Alliance (1888). These papers document Atwood's activity in the Alliance and the issues and personalities related to the organization (1884-1892).

P632
Charles W. Brandborg and Family Papers, 1887–1977
Manuscript Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Correspondence related to the Farmers' Alliance in Minnesota. Charles Brandborg was president of the Otter Tail County Farmers' Alliance in the 1890s.

Ignatius Donnelly and Family Papers, 1812–1973
Manuscript Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00782.xml
Description: Correspondence, literary materials, pamphlets, speeches, diaries, scrapbooks, financial records, and other materials documenting Donnelly's career as a politician, author, editor, and more.

P777
Gustavus A. Westphal Papers, 1890–1919, 1945
Manuscript Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Correspondence, clippings, and other papers relating to Westphal's activities in the Minnesota Farmers' Alliance and People's Party.

Barrett, Theodore H. Address delivered before the National Farmers' Alliance at its seventh annual meeting held at Minneapolis, Minnesota, Tuesday, October 4th, 1887. Morris, MN: Morris Tribune, [1900?].

Donnelly, Ignatius. A broadside of truth: the Farmers Alliance, what it is, what it has done, and what it proposes to do: an address to the farmers of Minnesota and the northwest. [S.l.: s.n., 1889?].

Dunning, N.A., ed. The Farmers' Alliance History and Agricultural Digest. Washington, D.C.: Alliance, 1891.

Jelley, S.M. The Voice of Labor. Philadelphia: H.J. Smith and Co., 1888.

Merriam, William R. Address of Governor William R. Merriam: delivered before the State Farmers Alliance, March 4, 1890, at its annual meeting in St. Paul: with press comments. St. Paul: Pioneer Press Co., 1890.

Minnesota State Farmers' Alliance. Circular Letter/Office of President, Minn. Farmers' Alliance. Hastings, MN: The Office, [1891].

———. Circular letter: to be read to the subordinate alliance: Hastings, Minn., July 1889/Office of the State Lecturer, State Farmers' Alliance. [Minnesota]: Minnesota State Farmers' Alliance, [1889].

———. Constitution and by-laws of the Minnesota State Farmers' Alliance. [Minnesota?: Thos. A. Clark, publisher, 1891?].

———. Constitution and by-laws of the Minnesota State Farmers' Alliance: adopted February 4th, 1887: with brief directions about how to organize alliances: also the names and post office addresses of the Executive Committee of the State Alliance. [Minnesota: s.n., 1887].

———. Minnesota State Farmers' Alliance: Declaration of rights, resolutions adopted at Minneapolis, February 25th, 1886. An address to the subordinate alliances, and state and subordinate constitutions. [Minneapolis: s.n., 1886].

———. Resolutions adopted by the State Farmers' Alliance at their annual meeting held at the Capitol, St. Paul, Minn., February 4th and 5th, 1887. [Minnesota: s.n., 1887].

———. The Minnesota State Farmers' Alliance: Constitution and by-laws, declaration of principles, resolutions, officials, etc., 1890. St. Paul: "The Great West," [1890].

Minnesota State Farmers' Alliance, Executive Committee. Address of Executive Committee of the State Farmers' Alliance, adopted at their meeting in St. Paul, Dec. 5, 1888. [Minnesota: s.n., 1888?].

Secondary

Dethloff, Henry C. A List of References for the History of the Farmers' Alliance and the Populist Party. Davis: Agricultural History Center, University of California, Davis, 1973.

Eaton, Elaie. "The Farmers' Alliance in Minnesota." Unpublished manuscript, last modified 1920s. Handwritten.

Gilman, Rhoda R. Stand Up: The Story of Minnesota's Protest Tradition. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2012.

Hicks, John D. The Populist Revolt: A History of the Farmers' Alliance and the People's Party. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1931.

Hudson, Edwin E. "A Comparison of the Farmers' Alliance and the Nonpartisan League in Minnesota." Unpublished manuscript, last modified 1924. Handwritten.

Kolnick, Jeffrey. "Rural-Urban Conflict and Farmer-Labor Politics: Blue Earth County, 1885-1886." Minnesota History 54, no. 1 (Spring 1994): 32–45.
http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/54/v54i01p032-045.pdf

Naftalin, Arthur. "The Tradition of Protest and the Roots of the Farmer-Labor Party." Minnesota History 35, no. 2 (June 1956): 53–63.
http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/35/v35i02p053-063.pdf

Weatherhead, Harold. "The Farmers' Alliance in Norman County, Minnesota." Typescript, 1931.

Wold, Eva Emerson. "The Farmer Alliance in Douglas County, Minnesota." Typescript, 1930.