The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-23
DEMANDS OF THE NATIONAL
FARMERS ALLIANCE UPON,
CONGRESS.

CONGRESS-. . "
Below we print in full the demands
made by the National Farmers ALL
ance inoonvention at Shreveport.
They are sound to the core and show
in ringing language the more impor-
tant purposes of this great bodys and
the ends they propose to achieve.
This body was composed tof farmers
representing all the Southern States,
and the resolutions appended were
passed unanimously, :s
Resolved That WE the National
Farmers Alliance and Cooperative
Unionsof yAmeriea, IN convention. g.
sembled, advocate and endorse the fol
lowing principles as in.accord with the
sentiments aHsSdemardss Of tf>1 the tillksrs
-lst: Wedemand, first, the recogni-
ton, by Incorporation, t trades
unions, cooperative. stores and such
thoer associations as may be- organized
bv the industrial classes to improve
| their financial condition, or promote
their general welfare,
I'd. We demand that the all public
lands be held in small bodies, not ex-
| ceeding three hundred and twenty
acres to each purchaser, for actual set
tiers, on easy terms of payment:
Sd. That large bodies of land held
by private individuals or corporations,
shall be assessed for taxation, at such
rates. as they are offered to purchasers,
on a credit Of one, two and three years,
in. bodies of one hundred and sixty
acres or less.
4th That whereas, large bodies of
our public lands, have been sold to
foreign capitalists, thus tending to the
establishment of a landed aristocracy
in this country, similar to that which
has reduced the people of Ireland, and
other monarchical Governments, to a
condition of abject serfdom; we de-
mand the passage Of laws forbidding
the ownership of lands, by aliens, whose
allegiance belongs to other nations,
and that the public domain be held as
the heritage of u own people and our
children after us.
5th. That all lands forfeitable by
railroads or other corporations, imme-
diately revert to the government and
be declared open for purchase by actual
settlers, on the same terms as other
public lands. -,
9TH. We demand that all fences be
removed, by force if necessary, from
y public lands unlawfully fenced by cat
y tie companies, @syndicates, or any othe,
form or name of monopoly. -
9Th. We demand the extinguish
, ment of the public debt Of the Unlteo
l States by operating the minis to thei1
fullest capacity, in coming silver ane
gold: and the rendering of the sam
= without discrimination, to the publl'
= creditors of the Nation, according t.
contract. 49,: -,
I 9Th We demand the substitution
. of legal.tender treasury notes for tn
issues of national banks that tn
Congress of the United States sha
u regulate the amount of such issue b
II per capita circulation, that shall II
Is crease and keep pace with the growt
of the country's population, and tn
expansion of her business interest
We further demand the repealsof tn
70 present National banking system.
10th. We demand that, the depar
ment of agriculture be made one
es the departments of State that it sha
be increased n*scope and eficienc,
IN and in connection Herewith, the
e. shall be established a bureau OF lab'
statistics.
adj lltha We demand the enactment
Or. laws to compel corporations to pr
m their employees according to contrat
h. in lawful money for their service
to and The, giving to mechanics al
IN. laborerssa first lien upon the7Produe
x. Of their labor to: the extent of the
ie- full wages. t'Ss =. - -.
Of 18th. That the laws relating to t
hrs suppression Of the transmission OF l
ed moral, profane Or obscene literatu
or. through the. mails, be made, mo
OF. STRINGENT and be extended SO: as
w suppress the transmission OF su
M literature by any public carrier.
,ed I3th>We demand sthat the U.
of Government purchase, by right
md eminent. domain, the, telephone 2
RI telegraph lines, and operate them
a~diunctssof the IT, s. postafserviee:
not /. f14th.z That in viewof the fact IL
the delegates@to this body represen