The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-01-19
ALLIANCE ADDRESS.
Delivered by President J. F. Black at the
Smith School House Last Week. -

Delivered by President ]. F. Black at thu
Smith School House Last Week. -
Gentlemen and Brethren:-I am
glad to see so many of the yeoman-
ny of Giles county present to-day.
For what did you assemble your
selves together2 To see and be
seen? To hear and to be heardf
Or did you come together for the
sole purpose CT having a pleasant
reunion2 / think not. You come
together not alone for pleasant
reunion, but also to consider the
best methods for the improvement
and material advancement of your
class. The alliance was not the
first organization Of farmers and la
borers in this country. We once
had the grange and it did a great
good for farmers and is still do
ing good in some portions of the
United States. But to-day we have
the organization known as the
Farmers Alliance and Cooperative
Union Of America, and it has come
to stay with Us because we need it
for our protection. The alliance is
a creature of necessity called into
existence tor special purpose, and
that purpose is to better the condi-
ton OF farmers morally, socially,
mentally and financially. Who is
it among farmers that does not
Deed his condition improved? Who
can object to such a noble purpose?
And in order to improve ourselves
in any way we have got first to i'm
prove our financial condition.
How are we to improve our fnan-
cial condition, is the question for
consideration. There are many
drawbacks TO farmers improving
themselves financially. First, the
cost to farmers OF getting what they
raise to market sustains such q
close relation to the profits of the
farm that the matter of transpor-
tation becomes one of paramount
importance to them, and should be
carefully studied by every farmer.
II there were no farmers and labor
ers there would be no use for them.
Not that l am opposed to them at
all, but railroads do not respect the
rights of farmers as they should.
Not that railroad men are worse
than others, but the laws are indefi-
mite, and easily evaded. ] am OPP
posed to railroad monopolies and
determinations. At certain points
where there is competition among
railroads, 9r where water ways are
accessible, freights are cheap
enough, but where one road, as in
many parts of our state, has posses
sion, the exactions for freights are
such as greatly to reduce the profits
of the farm. Upon investigation it
has been found that it costs more
per hundred to ship produce from
Pulaski, this county, to Rirming
ham, Ala, than it does from Mash
vile to the same place. Such di s.
ordinations ought not to be tofer
ated any longer. The interstate
commerce law, passed by the last
congress, is in the right direction,
and recommend, gentlemen, as a
remedy that we demand and labor
for the enforcement of the inter-
state commerce law as speedily as
possible. That law provides
among other things that railroads.
shall not charge more for short
haul than a long one, yet they are
doing it .every day. 1t is money
in their pockets, but money out o.
ours, and if we who pay this unjust
DISCRIMINATION do not rise up en-
masse and assert our rights apd de-
mand them, who will do it for us
We need not expect those whose
pockets are being filed by the oper
alton to quit of their own accord
There is an opinion prevalen
among some farmers that they pa,
more taxes in proportion to thu
real or productive value of theil
property than other classes, ant
the subject Of tsxation should re-
ceive consideration al our hands
| Ali taxes needed for the nationa
and state government and judi
ciously expended for the genera
good should be cheeefullg paid
But farmers, trained by the yer:
necessi les Of their calling 10 eco
. nomic methods, are certainly jus
tilted in using all honorable mean
, to reduce taxation to the actua
needs of government, also to Sc
that tax laws bear equally upo
all classes. Whenever govern
pent, national, state q. ma nieipe
taxes its subjects any more tina
TO meet the demands and pay th
actual running expenses Of sai
government, it should receive at til
hands of the people censure an
rebuke that would sta.d as bea
con lighb TO the telling millions {
this country; and while we are nos
partisan, it is the imperative duty {
: every member of the Farmers All
= ance to guard against the encroacl
a uents Of every kind that woul
: prove detrimental TO the besb int
Q est of the American people. An
0 In order to be ready every memb'
: of our order should study polite
economy and learn how to vote il
e telligenlly on any and all question
g that requires his suffrage. We f
thu last twenty years have had
solid south, and the eutgrowth b'
been with many OF US, have hs
more politics than brains; and '
l. have had democracy in name on
in great part of this county. II
Il grand old party has overgrown
y self In quantity but not in qualit
: and unless our leaders bring abo
= a radical change in reference to t
= internal revenue syetem, it wou
y pine away and die. am as mu,
y opposed to the Farmers Allan
o entering the political field as al
% can be, but / want to see her me-
bers, as individuals, profit by t
. examples of others. The bank
:. mouids his politics to suit his i
n terest; the manufacturer the sam
70 the lawyer and merchant folle
= suit. The toiling and wealth pr
= ducing part of the country has u
! done this much. Now, if eve
= class makes their politics subs
: Went to their interest, why shou
60 the farmer make his interest s,
~ ondary to his politicss I do not cs
ae what you call the man y