North Carolina Newspapers

PMOGRESSIV r T 71 H il iiJJ 1 THE INDUSTRIAL AND EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OF OUR PEOPLE PARAMOUNT TO ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS OF STATE POLICY. RALEIGH, N. C, JULY 21, 1891. Vol. 6. No. 22 FABMER. I THE NATIONAL FARMERS ANCE AND INDUSTRIA UNION. LI- President L. L. Polk, North Caro lina. Address, 314 D. St., N. W., Washington. D. C. Vice President B. II. Clover, Cam bridge, Kansas. Secretarv-Treasurer J. II. Turner, Georgia. Address, 239 North Capitol St.. N. W., Washington, D. C. Lecturer J. H. Willetts, Kansas. EXECUTIVE BOARD. O. W. Maeune, Washington, D. C. Aloiizo Wardall, Huron, South Da kota. J. F. Tillman, Palmetto, Tennessee. JUDICIARY. II. C. Denmiing, Chairman. Isaac McCraeken, Ozone, Ark. A. E. Cole, Fowler vile, Mich. NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Presidents of all the State organ izations with Li. L. Polk Kx-offieio Chairman. NORTH CAROLINA FARMERS' STATE ALLI ANCE, President EIia.s Carr, Old Sparta, N. C. Vice-President A. II. Hayes, Bird town, N. C. . Secretary W. S. Barnes, llaleigh. N. C. " Treasurer J. L. Allen. Falls. N. C. Lecturer Thos. B. Long. Asheville. N. C. Assistant Lerturer-R. B. Hunter, rluntersville. N. C. Chaplain S. J. Vouch. Warsaw. X. C, Door Keeper . H. fomlinsuM. Favetteville. N. C. Assistant Door -Keeper II. K. King. Peanut. N. C. Serireant-at-Arnv -J. S. IMt, Chalk Level. N. C. State Business Ar-nt NY. H. Worth, Raleigh. N. C. Trust o- Business Agency Fund --W. A. Graham. Machprlah, N. C. f.xf;utivi: committer of the north CAROLINA FAIIMEKS STATE ALLIANCE. S. B. Alexander. Charlotte, N. C, Chairman: J. M. Mewborne, Kinston, X. C. : J. S. Johnston. Rufhn, N. C. STATE A LLI ANCE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEl:. 11. J. Powell. Pudi-h. N. C. : N. C. Kmrlih. Trinitv College: J. J. You n jr. Polenta: H. A. Forney, Newtou. N. C. BRO. FELTON'S ADDRESS. Delivered Before Rocky Hock Alliance. Mr. President and Brethren : The -.vanic ...f thf farmers are so many, I scarcely know what subject to discuss. One of the greatest needs is a spirit of unity that will enable them to pull to gether. Very little will ever be accom plished Tor the real good or lasting benefit of the farming or laboring eLv-ses until they begin to stand to gether. It will be impossible to achieve grand results while one part are pull ing one way and the other part pulling in an opposite direction. Union gives force or power. No one will deny that the agricultural interests of the country are in a depressed and suffering con dition. Something ought to be done by which that depression might be re lieved and the farmer given a chance eojial with men engaged in other pro fessions. Is there any relief for the farmer.' if so, from where is it to come? Has he the power to accomplish anything in his own behalf ? I believe there is a balm in Gilead for him. That balm must be extracted by the united effort of the brotherhood. When wo consider that -IS per cent, of the entire male population of this country who are engaged in any kind of work, are engaged in agricultural pursuits, and that many others are in directly interested in the occupation, we must believe that they are in pof-es-sion of the power, or means by which llu-v can secure aid that will relieve them from their financial embarrass ment to a great extent, if they will use that power judiciously. We as a farming class are making no money. It is not because we do not work; the American farmers ase an industrious set of people. ()Llr lands yield bountifully when properly culti vated: and yet wo neither grow rich nor independent. How many million aire farmers did yon ever hear of '. lie who fee Is the world seems to have to labor the hardest, and live the poorest. D.je-s that seem right, or just? Should he not hive a; good a elianee and as decent a living as other people? Jus tice would answer vea With aii rh- cotton, corn, wheat, sugar, potatoes, etc. we produce, Ave still suffer. 'Why j.s it, bj it not because the cost of production, and of living, is greater than the .mount received IV.r the products which we sell? We do not live extravagantly either; we are forced to practice the"strictost economy to make " buckle and tongue nwt."' rFhe scarcity of money in circulation is one of the causes for so much embar rassment. Increase the volume of cur rency and we will be sure to receive a better reward for our labor and skill. The free coinage of silver and the Sub Treasury plan are some of the means, we are told, that will help us on to prosperity. How are we to obtain those ' means? By forming ourselves into a solid alliance and demand of our Congressmen that these laws shall be enacted for our relief. We have strong opiosition to con tend with. The moneyed power is arrayed against ws. The laboring classes are beginning to assert their rights, and are making their demands. If we are to succeed, we must march in solid phalanx against the contending foe, and victory will surely perch upon our banners. The great Alliance movement has already achieved, a success that has far surpassed the expectations of its oppon ent I have heard it said that farmers never can accomplish much by form ing themselves into an Alliance. Their opposers say that dissensions will arise among them that will very much cripple their eiforts. They say that we will all be too greedy after office, and as all cannot be officers, the Alli ance will burst up in confusion. Well, I believe we are nert so anxious after oiiico as many have supposed us to be. Some of us may become a little hike warm, or inuiffeient at times, but not enough so to distand our fast increas ing organization. In fact we are be ginning to revolutionize the (untry. What does this Alliance movement mean; lias already been asked by the press of the country. Our answer is: We have organized for self-protection, and don't you forget it. Our demands have been unheeded long enough. We need to send men to the legislative halls who are in sympathy with us, and who arc willing to spend their tim' and talents in framing such laws as will be conducive to our welfare. We want men who are willing and ready to stand p for us, so that when we petition to Congress to enact cer tain laws for (Air good, they wfl take the matter under favorable considera tion, and not treat us with indilference. nor fling back in our facev "unconsti tutional." We 'nope the du is not far distant when it will not be uitcnifiii h'ntKii for the government to aid the farmers. Ii. seems that in the past our govern ment lias hem run in the interest of the few in the interest of the moneyed corporations. The people are now be ginning to arise in their majesty and say that this government must be ad ministered in the infrerct of the many. We are told to keep out of politics, that it will ruin the Alliance. My brethren, if we are to have nothing to do with politics, we might as well disband at once. How shall we choose and elect suitable men to represent us in the legislative halls of our country, if we are to disregard politics entirely? Shall we leave the selection of our law makers to the eM political parties as we have done in the past? If we do, can we expect any radical change in this sin-cursed government In our past Congress we are told there were three hundred lawyers and thirteen farmers. Are there not brains and intelligence enough among tin? farmers of this broad land of ours to furnish more than thirteen men to represent us among its law-makers? I mean no disrespect to the lawyers, but I mean that we ought to have a better representation among our own class of people. The farmers are beginning to study as they never studied before. Let me admonish you, my brethren, to study the great economic questions of the day carefully, so that when you march to the ballot-box you will know how to vote intelligently. Take our own papers and study the great reform movements that are now agitating this country of ours. We should not let men of other professions do all of the thinking for us. Learn to think and devise for yourselves and be manly and inde- j pendent. Let us not forget that the j laboring classes have a mighty power i in their ballot?, if thev will use them i intelligently. But we should.be right I first and always in our demands. Let j us not be selfish; give every man or class of men, a fair chance in the race of life. We should not seek our own interest simply, but we should seek the best good of the whole country. Though we have been oppressed, let us not in turn become tho oppressor. Majr the methods of combines and trusts never gain a foot-hold among us. We should endeavor to mete out to all classes equal and exact justice Tho farmers of this country have a power which the Americapeople are bound to re spect. This grand Alliance movement is on trial, and is being watched with intense interest. Let us be care ful how we move; we may expect to make some mistakes, but when we discover that we have made an error, let us not become discouraged, but profit by our failure. Let us use the utmost precaution, and press only those measures where there is the fullest unanimity. I'll tell you, my brethren, the Farm ers' Alliance is fast becoming a leading power in the land. May we never rest satisfied until all unjust laws are re pealed, special privileges abolished, and equality insured for all. The farmers' movement is thoroughly educational. In its relation to citizen ship it strives to develop an educated farm yeomanry who will cast conscien tious ballots not merely for the party brand, but for the home and native land. In its political aspect it is a protest against bourbonism, bossism, corrup tion at the polls, and class legislation, whether McKinley isms 6 any other class ism. It is a movement in favor of the same protection to the farm as is accorded to the factory. This great upheaval among the labor ing classes means something. The de mands that we now make are but the first steps of a new departure. The blows in a light which is to end onl v in tho total overthrow of the moneyed power, the destruction of monopolies and a general remodeling of the indus trial system on the basis of equality and fraternity. Stand together, brethren, be a unit; the day is not far distant when we will be able to sing " ( )n thi n.nmntain of iimi, hat ii d rv I W L..M. While scarce t ! t j-t-irs of our service is tiiiL;in'r with ltoM. " Ami tlie ir rions ti-nc i-; Mining, which the liMi'1cts Ion.; foretol-.i. The Alliance is inarching on," " From thecahiii on the prairii-, from ihehnmhlc rot t a kje homo. Ki-oiu t lie cot ly il!a and t he vaulted cit y loine, I urn !icar tho Lr'a'l reji ici utr crj , like a h;i;'i'y harvest home. The Alliance i m; ivhin:; on." "Ah ! the vekm it is cIiimilcui:,', I c.tn now espy A luiatiO hoM of farmers h'uti:j! lustily. And I'm j-uinarln up the ulory a.- 1 hear them fry, i I a ri; ii '. II nrrah ! the A 1 1 ian-e i ma re 1 si aur on." WHAT is" FORESTRY? Tlie 1". S. Department of Agricultuie will presently issue through the For estry Division a i-pa go bulletin Xo. a), entitled "What is Forestry:' a compilation and enlargement of several addresses on this subject delivered by Prof. F. K. Fernow, Chief of the For estry Division. It treats the subject in three chap ters. The first presents briefly the iniportaixt part which our forest re sources play in the national economy. The second shows the principles which underly a national system of forest management in a wooded country, giv ingespecially and in sufficient technical detail the considerations involved in tho practice of "thinning." The third part treats of forest planting in the treeless country, discussing the ration ale of forest planting in so far as it differs from mere tree planting, and giving in detail rules for the selection of various kinds of trees in "mixed" planting. Two letters from tree-planters on the Dakota plains, giving the results of actual experience with the methods commonly pursued, form an interesting appendix. The bulletin is designed to present the question of forestry plainly, divested of the scientific terms which must necessarily accompany a techni cal discussion, and to serve not only for the formation of the owner of tim ber lands, of the fanner whose farm contains a certain area of woodland re quiring intelligent treatment or who desire to devote a portion of his farm to timber, and to the settler on the western plains, but to the citizen with whom forestry and the management of our forest resources is simply an im portant economic question, in view of ils general character a large edition of this bulletin will be published. Copies are to be had on application to the Secretary of Agriculture, Wash ington, 1). C. A WRONG PRACTICE. The practice of giving nearly all posi tions of honor and emolument to pro fession, men, has a strong influence in turning bright, ambitious young men away from agricultural pursuits. The impression somehow seems to prevail that farming unfit a man for airy other business. An insurance agent can be selected for a railroad commissioner, because political influences are brought to bear in that direction, but the busi ness farmer is left behind. In point of general intelligence the average farmer will compare favorably with the mem bers of any other class. Why, then, should their claims for official position bo so persistently ignored. Grange Advocate. SOME GOOD SPEAKING. Cedar Grove, N. C, July G, "iU. Mr. Editor: The Fourth of July was celebrated as a grand rally day by the Hurdle's Mills Alliance, with the aid of the various Alliances of Person and the adjoining counties. Early in the d ly the crowd assembling found a large arbor prepared, and by the direc tion of the Messrs. Gates, Coleman and others, everything was well suited for pleasantly entertaining the visitors. We were asked to furnish The Pro gressive Farmer an outline sketch of the proceedings. At 11 :35 the speakers took the stand. Dr. J. I. Coleman, after a brief wel come address, Introduced the first speaker, Senator R. G. Russell, of Dur ham county. Mr. Russell was a little unwell, but in the earnestness of his delivery seemed to forget his indisposi tion. After commenting on the ap propropriateness of this celebration, he proceeded : The forms of oppression were expelled when the great Fourth first became dear to the American heart, but the seeds of opression were retained and now remain with us. We look in vain for the blessings predicted and expected by our forefathers. With these apparent failures in their great purposes still, this is the best gorvern mont in the world. If this new move ment is carried out we will all once again feel it such. This movement, now shaking the Union, is to put up tlie gap in our liberties which has been let down. The remedies: There is nothing dic tatorial in the demands of the Farmers' Alliance. They do not say that they will have this or that plan or will sib mit to nothing, but simply ask for in vestigation, and free discussion of Ike merits .and demerits of the plans. The gr;md and almost sacred Declaration of Independence breathes the same spirit as does the platform of the Farmers' Alliance. Our government is so managed that it can bring to our people flu greatest enjovment of liberties undefUca, or it brings the heaviest woe and sorrow. This is a popular government and if on. freedom is abused we should i;ot heap ike blame of deieuctioii alto gether upon the of beers, but we must take part to ourselves as consequence of our abuse of suffrage. All persons have part of the responsibility and part lies as heavily upon the delicate shoulders of woman as upon the man. Woman, always "the power behind the throne," had a wielding and sway in :r influence. Hers is a dutv of grandest importance since "the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world." We propose, in the Farmers Alli once, to educate the masses, since education is the necessity of all re forms. Some call the Sub-Treasury plan a rock of destruction and tell us that here we will destroy ourselves, but we oiler to accept anything that is better, and we hear of nothing. The speaker told the story of a young doctor who tried some of everything he hael in his medicine chests upon a sick man anel failed to make any change for the better anel left in great disgust. A messenger overtook him and told him that the patient had fits. "Ah!" snid he, "now I've got him." Then the speaker said: We want to throw this present system into fits. He then took up the national bank subject anel showeel briefly where and why this was class legislation. He then took up part of the work of the Senate, reviewing and explaining his position on tlie G per cent, interest bill anel the railroad bill the one for rechartering the W. & W. R. R., and by the elevelopments showeel the wis dom of the elecision the refusal to grant the charter and then the repeal of chapter 15 of the Cexle. He said that, owing to the change ableiiess of wealth he could not see how any man could object to the wishes of the farmers. The Vander bilts, Goulds anel Carr, who today rule with a rod of iron were, not many generations ago. themselves dependen elent. How inhumane! Oh! how can a being with a soul think that lu's son now wealthy how can ho look at that bright happy little face anel think that to-morrow he may have to toil for his bread how, I ask, can he then bind setters around the poor farmers! Here he spoke of the bitter oppression of these upstarts mushroom millionaires oppressing those who occupy the pesitiotis they once held. He went on to declare that there must be reform and this reform must be secured at the ballot box. He then pleael for brotherly love and charity among the Allane'.emen and clearly depicted the happiness of the Eden they might have if this feel ing prevailed. After partaking of a dinner which proved to the visitors that the good ladies know how to cook and that the men know how to provide, Mr. J. 13. Smith. District Lecturer, was intro duced. Mr. Smith is not an orator, but is a common sense, practical man and calls a spaele a spade. He spoke of the cheers that all over the Union were being given on this Fourtii of July for the liberty of Americans, but felt little inclined to participate when he saw his brethren bound by galling fetters of slavery. He seemed to think that the old "bud of the free" must be sick. lie claimed the right of ascendency for intelligence and justice over intel ligence" and money. Saiel the farmers pay 80 per cent, of the taxes while all the others pay 20 per cent. then the others get the 80 per cent, and the farmers get less than 20. He denieel the charge that the farmers call for paternalism ; said he had letters from prominent men who asked, as the only relief they saw, that the faririers press their demands. The farmers will ngree to the laws of supply ,-,nd demand, but won't suffer Wall stneet to decide the prices of produce before it is planted. All these things make our grievances heavier than those of the colonists prior to the Declaration of Indepen dence. He took up the third party, and claimed that it was just for lL to exist since it hud become a necessity. He then showed when anel where the na tional banks hael been given the same favors asked by the Allianev, and claimeel that land, the homes of the farmers, not gold nor silver, gave the U. S. bonels their present value. Said that in eoleuiial days both North Caro lina anel Pennsylvania tried tlie Sub Treasury plan and found tliat h suc-ce-eded. Said the whiskey men were not oppressed, but ihe government gave theru class legislation. He claimed that the main purpose of the d'mianels of the farmers was to en able them t feed the little children God haei so plentifully given them and to eelueate their boys and giris to be come useful. Then closed by saying that "to-day this is not the land of the free nor the home of the brave.'" Hon. T. II. Stree t, President P. C. Alliance, was the next speaker. Mi. Street calleel for economy aval care about home, and beggexl that tlie peo ple be careful not to get in the habit of charging all their failures to the legis lation of the officials. He discusseel (1) How to reneler the farmer's life more attractive (2) To render farmer's life less lonely anel more sociftl, anel (3) To better ourselves financially. Mr. Street very forcibly took up each of these elisrisicis anel ably dis cusseel them. Dr. Wm. Merritt was introdueeel. Dr. Merritt lias a somewhat striding appearance, and listeners keep expect ing the next thing to be the joke. He thought that when the farmer occupied tho position he eliel in ante-bejium days then, and not till then, will tlie gov ernment be just and fair. He favored the third party, if necessary. Dr. J. I. Coleman was called for, and in an earnest impromptu claimed the right of the farmers to banel together and work for their improvement The people left the grounds late in tke day, anel all were pleased with the exercises and management. There ware about 1,000 people at this meeting and all were greatly benefited. J. 13. Game. WHERE DO YOU STAND? Lewesvillh, N. C, June 13, '01. Mr. Editor: Looking backward over the past history of the Farmers' Alliance, a varied scene is presented to our gaze. Different elements found their way into the Oreler; different ideas were entertained ; different opin ions were expressed; but, with all these minor differences, if we look closely, we see that all have united in the great plea for liberty. Of course in Hie worel "all" we elo not) include those who, by word anel deied have proven false to tlio fundamental prin ciples of the Order. We, in that little word "all,'' would not have you be lieve that we include those who have come in like a "wolf in sheep's cloth ing" for the sole purpose of destroying the flock. We do not include tlaise who say that, altkough a member of tho Alliance, they cannot alTord to change their political creed, even if i would be better for the people. Yes, in the main, we have stuck to gether for the right, paying no atten tion to those, either on the outside or inside, who were straining themselves to the utmost tension to bring dissen sion and discord into our ranks, who were giving the signal to the enemy to rush upon us while they saluted with a hiss. So far so good, lnit where do we stand to day? Where do you stand, brother ? Now is the time to take your position. We are on the eve of a revo lution. Yea, we are in the very midst of a mighty upheaval, the like of which the nation has never s vn. Take your position, brother, take your posi tion, if it pulls the hide off to do it. What do I mean? I mean, sir, that we cannot serve God and mammon at the same time. We must take one side or the other. There is no neutral ground. Going to stay in the old party? Are you? Well, sir, if that is the case, I have found out where you stand; but let it be distinctly uneler stood that if you are going to light with the enemy, you must take your name off our roll. Get out, get out! We don't neeel you, if you are not wil ling to "go the whole hog." You say that you are an Allianceman from one enel to the other. You sa- that joining the Alliance has not caused you to give your old party the "go by" must stick to that old party. Well, my dear sir, there is scunething wrong with you. O, but there is! Your digestion is good, to be siytn?. If it was not, you coulel not mix up things so. But you can't see straight. There is no consistency in your caue. I don't care a red cent what the name of your old party is, I say that if you try to be a member of that olel party and the Farmers' Alii. nice at the same time, you act with less consistency than the man did who sent all his sons to tho Confederate army and then '.vent to making powder for the Yankees. Why? Because they are just as much opposed to each other as night is to day. Let us take a candid view of the situation : Take the free coinage of silver: Where do the leaders of the Republican party stand on tin's great subject, or rather demand? Where? Whv, thev don't stand on it at all, nor a. " V ' in fui iy rods of it, if tiiey can help it. They say that it is not their child, and they, therefore, can't ake any stock in it. Where do tlie loaders ut the Democratic pa rty stand ? 1 J igl 1 1 spang alongside of tho Republican. They won't claim the poor little chilel, either, anel so there it rs. Where do theso parties claim kin with the Sub-Treasury? Kin! Why, they treated it as a robber of the people the poor, for saken people of Wall street. So these two hoary -heaeled landmarks of the American Union went to work in dead earnest, and burrieel it in a committee room. But that Sub-Treasury bill didn't stay buriejl worth a cent not from the people. It is more alive to day than ever. So fs.r it has harmed no one, unless, perhaps, some luckless Senator is haunted by its ghostly visage in the still hours of night as he takes a retrospective view. Well they may be scared, for there is going to be a cleaning-out spell one of theso days. Not a single demanel of importance has been submitteel to our law-makers, which these two parties ha,ve not opposed with their combined strength. So, then, there is but one logical con clusion we must take care of our selves. We must cut loose from those old associates, anel act with the body that will incorporate our principles. I say, logically, we take no other posi tion. If we stand there, we stand as an exponent of the great principles of the Farmers' Alliance, founded upon justice and right. If we are not there, we must be with the enemy, and. there fore, against those principles. Is tliat where you stand? If not, you are with the other crowd, anel you ought to let us know it, so we will know who to trust. There is an ominous roar in the dis tance; the clouds are gathering blacker and thicker; the lightning flashes zig zag across the darkening horizon. Listen! Soon the st)rm will burst, and out of it shall spring a new and prosperous people. LeRoy Lno. DOTS FROM LIBERTY, N.'C A.s I have never seen anything in your most excellent paper from our town and people, I write to let you know that we are not dead. The Alliance members here are still strong in the fahh. They have a store here anel are eking a splendid bu-iness. Again, we have one of the best schools in the State. The school is under the control of Prof. J. M. Weatherlv. who is eotieedVd to be ono ef the ablej and finest teacher4 in North Carolina. The school numbered 247 students during the lust year. Wheat is good and our px-ople seoui to be hoptVul.