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J "' ' 1 ? THE INDUSTRIAL AND EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OF OUR PEOPLE PARAMOUNT TO ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS OF STATE POLICY. RALEIGH, N. Q, MAY 13, 1890. Vol. 5 No. 14 h t J i i THE NATIONAL FARMERS' AL LIANCE AND INDUSTRIAL UNION. President L. L. Polk, North Carolina. Address, 511 9th St,N. W., Washington, D. 0. Vice-President B. H. Clover, Cam bridge, Kansas. Secretary J. H. Turner, Q-eorgia. Ad dress, 511 9th St., N. W., Washington, D. C. . Treasurer W. H. Hickman, Puxico, Missouri. Lecturer Ben Terrell, Texas. EXECUTIVE BOARD. C. W. Macune, Washington, D. C. Alonzo Wardall, Huron, South Dakota. J. F. Tillman, Palmetto, Tennessee. JUDICIARY. R. C. Patty, Macon, Mississippi. Isaac McCracken, Ozone, Arkansas. Evan Jones, Dublin, Texas. sfCKTH CAROLINA FARMERS' STATE ALLIANCE. President Elias Carr, Old Sparta, N".C. Vice-President A. H. Hayes, Bird town, N. C. . Secretary E. C. Beddingfield, Raleigh, N C Treasurer J. D. Allen, Falls, N. C. Lecturer Thos. B. Long, Asheville, N. c. Assistant Lecturer R. B. Hunter, Char lotte, N. C. Chaplain J. J. Scott, Alfordsville, N. C. Door Keeper W. H. Tbmlinson, Fay atteville, N. C. Assistant Door Keeper H. E. King, Peanut, N. C. Sergeant-at-Arms J. S. Holt, Chalk Level, N. C. State Business Agent W. H. Worth, Raleigh, N. C. Trustee Business Agency Fund W. A. Graham, Machpelah, N. C. SXKOUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE NORTH CARO LINA farmers' state alliance. S. B. Alexander, Charlotte, N. C, Chairman; J. M. Mewborne, Kinston N. C; J. S. Johnston, Ruffin, N. C. SOME THINGS DONE BY CABAR RUS COUNTY ALLIANCE AT A RECENT MEETING. Sensible They Are, Too. Cabarrus County Alliance, No. 592, April 19, 1890. Mb. Editor: Our last meeting at I Mt. Gilead was one of the best we have ever had. It was a regular re vival. We had a good representation. They came there to show what Alli ance men of Cabarrus county are made of. They came with coats off and sleeves rolled up ready for work, and they did work. I will only give you a portion of the work done, as a great deal of it cannot go to the pub lie press. The first thing we were all so full of love to our God, and all wanted to thank Him for working for us and were so full that they could scarcely wait until the Alliance was opened, so the first thing was the following resolutions: Resolved, That we tender our thanks to U. S. Senator Z. B. Vance and Representative Pickler for the interest they have manifested in our behalf by the introduction into the Senate and House of Representatives of bills to establish sub treasury warehouses for farm products and we call upon our Senators and Representatives to lend their influence in having the said bill passed by Congress. Also that this action be sent to the Nation al Legislative Committee by our Sec retary. They resolved to demand of our next legislature a railroad commission bill. They also endorse the actiorj and join in the demands of the St. Louis Convention. There being a great deal of mis management and extravagance at home among our farmers, this County Alliance would recommend, in order to overcome as much of this as pos sible. 1. The increase of pastures sum. eient to raise and support stock enough to supply the wants of the family as far as they can be supplied through stock. 2. That the members owning land make the improvement of their land the first consideration in all their plans especially in regard to the work ing of lands and rotation of crops. 3. In regard to land rented we recommend that the land owner fur nish pasture for hif tenants sufficient to keep stock enough to supply the wants of his family, and that said renter make with that stoek all the manure he possibly can, and that neither owner nor renter sell any for age or cotton seed but use them joint ly for the improvement of the land. 4. We recommend that our mem bers use the most practical economy in the use of money. We especially call the attention of our people to the present foolis'i purchasing of sewing machines, buggies and expensive ma chinery which they cannot use to ad vantage. 5. We recommend that more econ omy be used in our funerals, and that each Sub-Alliance make arrangements for securing coffins at reasonable prices, and that we stop buying ex pensive coffins at once. 6. We recommend that this Alli ance discourage the present extrava cant mode of dress, and recommend home made clothing for home use, in order to relieve the present ruinous drain of the purse and relieve the women of the burden of farm labor, and allow more time for the education of the children. 7. We recommend the increase of the public school fund, making it sufficient to run a school for four full months in the year under the care of first grade teachers. Alsa that Sub Alliances choose committeemen for the various districts who will work for the interests of the school, and that they require the committee to visit the homes and see that the chil dren are kept in school for the full term of four months, and to visit the school at least twice a month and see that the school is properly provided for and the teachers do their duty. We urge that our people put these recommendations into practice as far as possible. We recommend and urge upon all our members that they educate them selves in the principles and work of our order by subscribing for and read ing some of the best of the newspaper organs of the order. We, feeling that it is our duty to help our brethren everywhere, and knowing the great burdens that lies upon the tobac:o growers, Resolved, That we urge on our rep resentatives in Congress that they do all in their power to relieve the to bacco growers of the burdens imposed on them by the abolition of all speciil tax on tobacco and by its free and unlimited manufacture and sale by any citizen. The following resolution was adopted by a unanimous rising vote: Resolved, That the officers and dele gates of the County Alliance tender their heartfelt thanks to the brethren and sisters of Mt. Gilead, Cold Water, Olive and Prosperity Alliances for their generous hospitality during this meeting, and we especially thank the ladies for their efforts towards our entertainment and for the decorations of the hall in which we have met. Bethpage Academy was chosen as the next place of meeting on the sec ond Thursday and Friday in July. The Alliance closed and everybody went home feeling that it was good for us to be here. J. S. Laffekty, Sec'y. AGRICULTURE IS DEPRESSED. Mr. Editor. It is not necessary that I should write this fact to enable the reader to realize it, for it is a self evident truth. All over this land of ours (?) on every farm, in every household are evidences so plain that, "he who runs may read," and I sol. emnly believe that he who reads will run unless he has the love of country so deeply rooted in his heart that he is willing to be a farmer. God bless the farmers; God bless those who from early morn to dewy eve are striving to earn their bread by the sweat of their brow. In years gone by when our people were wealthy and you could hear the cheerful song of the contented laborer; when agricul ture flourished and the future was bright with promise, then it was that our young men would, when leaving college, return to the farm to become the strong arm upon which their par ents learned for support and comfort in old age. Then it was an honor to till the soil. How is it now ? I ask the young men of North Carolina, those who are farmers or sons of farmers, if they are not a little ashamed to announce the fact when among city girls or young men ? Why is this ? Do the girls of to day prefer the effeminate touch, the pro found bow, the bland smile, the open flatteries of a man whose days are spent in the city ? Or is it the in ducements for ease and pleasure that city life offers that cause young men to quit the farm and go to the city ? There is a cause the above is its effect. The farmers of America are greatly to blame for our present con dition. But the error has been one of ommission rather than commission. We have been content to drift alon. hoping for better days. We have j not thought much, but have paid I others to think for us. For years i i and yea?s we have sent men to our National Capitol to represent us in the councils of the nation, and this is the representation given: ''Mr. President (or Speaker) That class of our population known as the farming cliS3, I left hard at work upon their farms. They work hard and there fore must have some incentitive. They must be making money, because their sons are coming to the cities and engaging in business. It is true I hear them talking of 'hard times' but that is all ' bosh.' Look at the great crops of cotton, corn, tobacco, wheat and sugar cane they raise every year. Why the idea is preposterous ! Besides all this my colleague who is a banker, tells me that his bank puts thousands of dollars in circulation among the farmers every year and they are bound to get their share. I am satisfied, Mr. President, as we have many petitions for national banks that we had better grant them and in that way place money in their reach. And besides this advantage ous kindness of the government they have the whole world to sell their products in. I think, sir, after as many favors as we have shown them they ought to quit talking 'hard times,' but work harder and talk less." And thus our wants are looked after by those in whom we trusted. Unfaithful servant ! Know ye not for all this the farmer will bring you to judgment with A weapon that comes down &t still Ae snow flakes fall upon the sod; But executes a freeman's will, As lightning does the work of God; And from its force, nor doors, nor locks, Can shle d jou; 'tis the ballot-box." And the end of that man is death political. Who hath believed our report? Unto whom hath the voice of the farmer been revealed ? It is related that the notes from the fife of the Pied Piper of Hamlin were so sweet, so irresistible that the children who heard it left father and mother and followed him into the depths of the mountain cavern. So it will be that the voice of the American farmer, echoing from the tempestuous head lands of Cape Hatteras to the " Golden Ga'e " of the broad Pacific, and from the blooming cotton fields of the sun ny South to the ripening gram fields of the far North, will cause the people to p?,use and exclaim vox populi, vox Dei, surely the voice of the people is the voice of God. The National Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union has made its demands and they must be heard. Wise men speak not twice. These demands will, if complied with, remedy the existing evil, and agricul ture will not languish, but flourish as the green bay tree. Let each mem ber of the Alliance appoint himself a committee of one and use his voice and influence in procuring the needed legislation. Be earnest, be active, be faithful. Push the Sub-Treasury plan, understand its value to the farmer and consequently to all except the speculator. Talk it in your meeting, but talk quick, for the time is near a!; hand when action will be taken on the bill by Congress. It is decided that we want it, that we need it, that we must have it. Then let us be to the front and work with a will and all will be well. Howard F. Jones. Steedsville, N. C. NUTS TO CRACK AT THE FARM ER'S FIRESIDE. There is too much free iom in this coumry, rather than too little. In dianapolis Journal. The President last week bagged four ducks. The people are just now "loaded for bear." Missouri World. With catgut on the free list the Western farmer can saw his fiddle and be happy even if he does burn his corn. Wilmington Sar. Ninety thousand Kansas farmers want to know what good it doss Kan sas to have Mr. Ingalls part his hair in the middle. Wilmington Star. " You may fool all of the people part of the time, part of the people all of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time." Lin coln. The politicians as a rule are laying low, " waiting till the clouds roll by." They will not have long to wait until tl o cyclone strikes them. Missouri J vrld. A tariff on hides is a big thing for the farmer. He may get ten cents more possibly lor Lis hides, and pay a half a dollar mor. for his boots, etc. He will make money by this opera lion. Wilmington tar. When the subsidy boomers get in their work and give us a merchant marine perhaps the Kansas farmers can ship their corn instead of burning it Wilmington Star. It may be some relief to the Kan sas farmers who are burning their corn to know that diamonds have been put on the free list in the new tariff bill. Wilmington Star. There is now and then a farmer, who is holding off from the Alliance, to see what the consequences will be. If all the farmers were like these, they would soon see what the consequences would be. Dexter (Kansas) tree Press. There is a good deal of juggling going on now in State poli'ics. The farmers like brer rabbis, are lying low, waiting for a chance to knock a hole through slates of the ring that you can throw an elephant through. Southern Mercury. "A white boy with no. umbrella, bossing one black boy ploughing a mule bought on a credit, can not mak farming pay, especially if he wants to mortgage a possible crop to buy a. cheap Ohio buargy for his summer drives.'' Dr. Hay good. Pennsylvania is flourishing in the matter of mortgages. It is reported that the farmers held a meeting at Reading, when it was said in Berks county the mortgages amounted to $9,000,000 and in Lancaster they ag gregated $25,000,000. Bully for the tariff ! Wilmington Messenger. Remember Alliance men, that your enemies are now at work trying to stir up strife among our membership, at tempting to blacken the fair names of your chosen leaders. This is done to divide your forces and cripple your in fluence. Money and corruption go hand in hand when the enemy decides to inin you. Southe-n Mercury. A New York report says that one of the ocean steamers was recently "fol lowed by a school of sharks." That's nothing. The whole people in the United States have been followed by bond and bank sharks for 25 years, and the worst of it is, that many of the said people have been overtaken and litter ally devoured by these monsters. Chicago Sentinel. The time of congress is chiefly occu pied with passing bil!s for the relief of individuals. The motto seems to be " Take care of one per cent, of the people, and let 99 per cent, go to the demnition bow-wows." Sample con gressional bills : A bill for the relief of Christopher Columbus ; a bill for the relief of the Indians at Devil's Lake ; a bill for the relief of the widow of General Whangdoodle (who died of delirium tremens), etc., ttc. Iowa Tribune. Of course, it is much more econom ical for the corporations, monopolies and tariff-nourished Trusts to elect United States Senators by the Legis latures than it would be by a vote of the people. In fact, through a vote of the people these monopolies would not be likely to elect a single United State Senator. Hence their opposi tion, and that of their Senatorial attorneys and representatives, to any change of the Constitution in this respect. Philadelphia Recori. Puck's last cartoon entitled u Getting his eyes open " is excellent. It repre sents a farm house plastered with mortgages, and the farmer and wife outside at work with taxed imple ments, clothing, pump, &c. McKinley is rushing away with his tariff bill. Reed armed with a bludgeon and his kingly robe on, is guarding him, while little Ben undt-.- grandfather's hat is striding along ith his short legs hugging in his arms the Republi can platform of 1888. Wilmington Messenger. There never was a time when so many farmers were alert and ready to grasp their opportunities as the present. It is evident that not a few are deter mined to secure for their products a fair and reasonable compensation. Farmers begin to see there is politics in milk, butter, vinegar and tobacco, as well as in railroads and other cor porations. The man who c in not see it is not qualified to represent them, however true he may be to strictly party lines. No class of men are so heavily taxed, none work harder, and none get so little pay for labor as farmers. The men of thought and intelligence are bound to know why, and also the remedy. But far too many simply grumble and say farm ing doesen't pay. Interest, taxes and the mortgage emphasize their words, but fail to answer the all important question, . W hy not ? G. H. Jessup, Litchfield county , Ct. PAPER MONEY. BY OLD FOGY. Legal -tenders, greenbacks, national bank notes these terms and the word convertibility have in the last few years become synonymous. In truth and fact they are not and can not be. Can a currency based on gold and silver, that is, redeemable in gold and silver, be so in fact when there is Dot enough gold and silver to redeem it ? Let me quote from the report of the Director of the Mint, 1889, page 38: Total gold bullion, silver bullion, gold coin, silver coin, $618,196,403. Total legal tenders, old demand notes, certificates of deposit, gold certificates, silver certificates, national bank notes, $991,989,719. I le ive it with you to say if it is possible to redeem the paper, amount ing to almost one thousand millions, with a little over six hundred millions of coin and bullion ? The needs of the country are in ex cess of all the silver and gold that the government has or can have. 1st. The reports of the Treasury and of the banks show that the per cent, of gold, silver and paper used as a medium of exchange amounts to only 1 per cent. 98 per cent, is done with bills of exchange, drafts, checks, etc. 2d. The annual amount of our manufacturing, which is sold at wholesale, is six billions of dollars and retailed at eight billions yearly. 3d. Rent and taxes three and a half billion of dollars yearly. 4th. Imported goods with tariff added 878 millions. 5th. Railroad and telegraph receipts one and a quarter billions. 6th. Value of minerals not manu factured, as coal, etc., two hundred millions. 7th. Agricultural products, twenty three hundred and seventy-five mil lions yearly. 8th. Wages paid for labor, seven thousand two hundred and sixty mil lions. 9th. Banking and insurance, two hundred millions. There are thousands of items that would swell the list, but this is suffi cient for our grand total amounts to twenty-three thousand six hundred and sixty-three millions of dollars ($23,663,000,000) and all this busi ness to be done with 1,400 millions of money and only 500 of that amount in active circulation. That is to say every dollar in active circulation does the work of 50 dollars. The proportion in other countries is very similar. Now if, as I think I have showD, it is impossible for our country to have a currency that is sufficient for the needs of business based on coin, what can the currency be conditioned on to make it safe and redeemable ? It can be based on the land values of the country. Would not one billion of dollars be a very safe mortgage on the lands of this country ? Yet at 2 per cent, that would ling to the government twenty millions of revenue yearly. The fast that loan compar.ies place mortgages on real property 50 per cent, of their value is too wei. known to need proof. Again, the currency can be based on the products of the country. Sup pose we issue one bill on of dollars on products of the sjil, the total amount of which is about three bil lions, would not this be good se curity ? When the war closed if the bills is sued by the Confederate government had been issued and secured by cotton in warehouses, would not the Confed erate bills have been gladly received dollar for dollar? The issuing of money by a govern ment without anything pledged for redemption is good only so long as the credit of the government; issuing is good and depreciates when the credit of the government is impaired. This continental currency Confed erate currency and our greenbacks were all oLce at par. The first two went out of use because they were based on nothing the greenback was at all rates of discount. In June and July of 1864, when Lee was in Pennsylvania, gold was up to 285, and in September after confidence was in some degree re stored it fell to 191. But with money conditioned on real values, it would be on par with gold or silver. The gr.at point of difference as against the present system lies in the power of money to oppress. In 1 888 the capital of the banks in the United States was $383,531,145, and the total net earnings was $65, 360,487 dollars or 17 percent. Again, Mr. Astor has just come into possession of a fortune of $150, 000,000. He wa3 worth $50,000,000 prior to this. Now suppose you allow him $500, 000 yearly to live on and p it at in. terest his income just as it comes in from his rents, in 50 years he will be worth 2 billions of dollars and need never to do anything but make invest ments. Uuder the provisions of the Sub Treasury we take from the banks and money lords the power to op press. Loaning money to the people at one per cent, per annum would para lyze the banker but it would elevate and benefit the farmer and laborer. THE CAUSE OF LOW PRICES OF FARM PRODUCTS. Mr. Editor: The time has long since arrived for the farmer to realize the great incumbus 'and strain that has been keeping all his interests in the most unsatisfactory and unhealthy condition. The most intelligent, in dustrions and capable among them, after making every honorable effort to stem the current of depression in prices of produce and meet the oner ous demands of unjust discrimination against them by the minority monop olists, knows that individual efforts to avert these difficulties has been un successful. If the manufacturer Is still to be kept in affluence by an un just discrimination in his favor, and the farmer, owing to this unjust legis lation which has driven his customers from him, is compelled to buy at the additional cost of at least 60 per cent, more than the article could be sold for in open market, what, may it ask, will be the outcome if this condition of things is to continue ? The aver age farmer is at present compelled to stint and economize in every way possible to enable him to live at all. From my personal knowledge he has but few comforts in comparison with the monopolist, for whom he is so heavily taxed, and to whom he is compelled to pay bounty, he has not really any comforts. Is it not time for the American people to call a halt in these proceedings ? Is the majority of them who are farmers, to continue making brick without straw, and con sent without a murmuer of disapproval to be driven by their task-masters to the polls and there cast a ballot that will fasten the fetters still mere firmly upon themselves, all in the name of freemen ? It is not the silver question that effect the price of our cereals, it is the effect of unjust legislation mak ing it prohibitory for the American people to receive from those who were the farmers best customers, goods manufactured by those cus tomers. England, owiLg to this un just discrimination has opened up sources of supplies that were almost unheard of before, and can now fur nish us with wheat from India nearly or quite as chip as we can produce it ourselves. If the farmers will only act together and send the right kind of representatives to legislate for them, and in their true interest, this very serious evil would be materially lessened, and in time the farmer re garded as entiled to the position he is so worthv to V. I very much hope, Mr. Editor, that the efforts you havt so earnestly made to indue the farmers to organize, will prove successful, as in this way alone can they accomplish success. Fraternally, Wm. Powell, Sec'y Alliance No. 8 IS. RESOLUTIONS AGAINST THE PASSAGE OF THE CON GER LARD BILL. Resolved, That the passage of the Conger lard bill and its enactment as a law will cripple the cotton seed oil manufacturing interest of the South ern States. Resolved, That this, the Chowan County Farmers' Alliance, earnestly p1 ctest against the passage of any bill wjX has any such tendency of further ! repressing agriculture, and prayer j fully hope that the Sub-Treasury bill or something better if possible be passed to ameliorate said condition. . Rsolved, That a copy of these reso lutions be sent to The PBOGRESsm P armer for publication with a request that the editor send a marked copy to each of our Senators and to Hon. T. G. Skinner. L. W. Pabkeb, Pres't. Wood Privott, Sec'y. There are 40,000 strikers in one French town. )
The Progressive Farmer (Raleigh, N.C.)
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May 13, 1890, edition 1
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