The Opelousas courier., 1888-04-28
The Farmers Alliance.

614C d GIL lAAS4S
The farmers of North Louisi-
ana are taking an active part in
the politics of the State, not in
opposition to the Democracy,
but as farmers, and area making
a campaign very similar to that
of the Changers in the West
some years ago to reform what
they consider abuses in the law
and relieve the agricultural clas-
ses from hardships and burdens
of which they complain. The
Farmers Alliance is strong
throughout North Louisiana and
is in an undoubted majority ina
number Of parishes. Candi-
dates, particularly for the legis-
lature, have been called upon to
express their views on the sub
iect ON the farmers platform
whether they will support it or
not ]; and it is quite evident that
a number of representatives will
come to the next Legislature
pledged to advocate the meas
ures proposed by the alliance.
The platform of the DeSotS
Farmers Alliance touches on
both State and national ques-
tons as follows:
/. We demand to repeal of the
present lien law, as it now exists,
and ask our Representatives to
enact a law to give us a better
labor system.
?. We demand that all public
lands, scheol or otherwise, be
offered for sale in small bodies
for actual settlers, not exceed
ing $50 acres to each purchaser,
on easy terms.
8. We demand that all lands
held for speculative purposes be
valued for taxation at such:rate
as they are offered to cash pur-
chasers.
4. We demand that immediate
steps be taken to prevent for
eign non-residents from acquir-
ing titles to lands in the United
States.
5. We demand that laws be
enacted to prevent the dealing
in futures in all agricultural pro.
ducts. 6
6. That all public lands be
only sold to actual settlers.
z. That all railroad property
be assessed at the nominal value
of the stock upon which they
seek to declare dividends.
8. We demand the rapid ex-
tinguishment of the public debt
by operating the minis to
their fullest capacity in the
coinage Of gold and silver, and
rendering the same without dis.
elimination to all public credit.
ors.
9. We demand the enactment
of a commerce law that viii Sc.
cure the same rates of freights
to all persons for the same kind
of commodities, according te
the distance hauled.
2 10. We demand that all con.
victs be confined within the
walls of the Penitentiary, and
that the contract bsystem be
abolished.
Ill. We suggest the propriety
Of the parishes buying all lands
offered at tax sales, and that the
same be held for actual settlers,
in bodies not exceeding 16(
acres.
lit cannot be said that the
movement is a new one politi
cally, for these farmers are al
Democrats, and will vote tht
Democratic ticket !; it is rathel
a farmers movement within tn,
party than an opposition one
The movement began in Texas
some time ago, and is very strone
there, where it is seeking to in
troduce the cooperative system
and do away with middle men
From Texas it spread to Arkan
sas, Mississippi and Louisiana
being particularly strong in til,
northern portion Of the State
where it is making its infiuenc,
felt ia the present campaign.
-N0@--
On the 10th of March the ma
tional House Of Representative
passed 9 bill providing for til,
iSSuange nf fractional silver cay