San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-05-31
Reply to John Stokes.


for committee, has written bylaws for
Farmers Alliance. He says: 1--WE, your
committee on bylaws, beg leave to report
the following" He does not say they have
organized a now society, and adopted the
title of the Farmers Alliance, or that they
are making by. laws for the original Alliance
already in existence. Probably he imagines
that there is not intelligence enough in the
Alliance to govern themselves. but no doubt
there ia intelligence enough in 1t to bring
him TO a sense of his situation. He says
there are 1,25O,OO0 mon in the thirteen
Southern states who cannot read the ballots
they cast-enough to damn whole nation
and nearly co per cent of this number IS
among the agricultural class. Formers, SEQ
where he places you in his first section!
2nd section. The inability of SO many to
read and understand the principles OF polit-
ical parties who propose to lead them until
they can qualify leaders among themselves,
they need not expect much mercy from po-
litical parties. Oh, what mercy 20 Con-
sistencey, what jewel thou art" Have
not the agriculturlsts submitted to the polit-
icnl parties to lead them until they have
eobbled up all the agriculturist can make
and left him barely scanty support for
himself and family A few more years the
way they have been going the last few would
bankrupt most of the farming class of our
country; but at last this state of things be-
gan to stare them in the face 80 intensely
that It has awakened them to look to their
own interest, after they had followed their
rolitical leaders to the very vortex of de-
struction. And now Mr.. Stokes must up
braid them for their ignorance. In his 10th
section he says the browning cause OF their
oppression is the shameful ignorance of this
class. After such language it is no wonder
that he hides behind his own shadow; he is
dependent upon this very class for sup
mort. 4th section. No member shall take
his children from school to work and go to
town three days in the week. It appears
that he is an advocate of education, but not
for going to town too much. That Is the
object of q town, to attract the farmers
there to get what they ere making. The
old saving: '"There Is but penny's differ
enoe between the one that works and the
one that plays" and the one that plays gets
Il. while he that works is studying his work
the other is studying how to get 1t. 1t
would be very serious charge to soy
man would curse intelligence for leading
him 70 his ruin. It would be more appro-
nriate to say that the political leader, who
considers himself intelligent, hos his own
interest of stake and presumes upon the i9-
norance of the laborer to accomplish his
own purposes; but that day is past. am
constrained to rejoice over the greater i'm
provement that is going on in this country in
The way of education in politics than ever
saw before. The people submitted to be
led by politicians and did not put their
minds to politics. but they found that the
noliticians we're getting all the profits of
their labors, and they were under the me-
cessity of organizing into society for their
mutual benefit to stop the cotton buyers
from making too many profits on the same
cotton, The merchant would buy cotton
TODAY and another buyer would give ono
dollar on every bale he would buy. 9th
section. All absurdities about raising the
price of your productions to your own idea.
II is not raising the prices but to prevent
too many profits that the buyers are making
on the farmers labor and keeping him poor
and IN debt so that can get his produce at q
low price.
"a country's productions governed by
one set of men would throw the whole CON-
mercial status of country into chaos and
result in nothing hut evil"
This sentiment is truly expressed. That
IA the sentiment on which the Alliance orig
mated. Their object is TO sell their cotton
over the heads Of all middle men, save all
the prohts the middlemen are getting rich
| on and apply It 10 their own use and live
comfortably at home buy books for their
children. aud make good, useful and intelIi-
gent citizens Of them,
''Give dishonest men an opportunity TO
defraud their creditors and cotton sharks
an opportunity 10 make fortunes in bulk"
All the colt on makers want is the full
price that cotton can be sold for. including
/ all the prfiots the middle men have been
| making Il. Oar cotton has been passing
I through exchanges for = number Of years
and We have not charged them with sEind-
ding. although they rnay have done H.
7 In section yo1 mention the Golden rule.
The r1ie is Q good one no doubt, but am
sfraid il Is about 70 be q deadle ht this
dav. asffi s0rnx enorptigns. No Institution
u can BE gotten Nd e. the present. for any good
pu-poss but vii meet With opposition The
Agricultural class has been the most pstien;
ard eorfiing people that ever lived in the
vnrid- They ehserfuily s1brnittei % b
Jed b. the professionsl class antil thsir
turlens ty-ra-ls to- Irfolcralie % h b1rne
Tssv ssragrlrf o. from yelT 90 gar trTsrg
n, make Z eo-afart1t1s support for them.
- - TIL. H.-f saa- fr-rH stra-,