The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-28

the cash with them as rule One of the corner
stones OF cur order is the encouragement of cash
buying Ivy farmers"
what doy YOU save the farmers of Heard county
by this course?
ave save them at least twenty-five per cent on
everything they purchase. think this percentage
has been saved in all of the organized counties l
know that the farmers are delighted with the
Management because it puts money in their pockets
on every dollar that they buy, and it takes the
farmer out of the hands of the opprcssor."
wv hat effect did this have on the other stores in
franklin"
"At first they were disposed to be hostile-natu.
rally because il took their trade away from them.
Men who had been customers of merchant for ten
years would quit him instantly to so to the Alliance
trade houses This rule was almost unbroken and
the merchants who had not been named criticised
us. In January, however, they came in and made
proposition which we accepted and all the houses
OF Franklin were named MS trade houses for the
Farmers alliance. But they all sell at very much
less percentage than they had sold before, and
agree to mutual cooperation with the alliance by
which their bills can be examined by commit
tee This course has ldCd fifty per cent to the cash
buying farmers, and decreased the credit farmers
fifty per cent. Many of the alliances have passed
resolutions that if they cannot pay cashfor anarcle
they win do without it. They will eat peas, and
corn bread, before they will go debt for meat aud
sugar.
"llow many OF these trade houses have been
established in Georgia.
They are named III every organized county In
some places we have two or three "trade" houses
and i'll a few instances we have none. For instance
the merchants of place around which the alliance
is not very strong may combine and agree to make
no bid for the alliance trade Opposition of this sort
VIC have met by establishing trade houses at some
other point in the county. The farmers are deter
mined that they will have at every point in this
state and other states Il trade house that will
recognize them, and that will furnish them goods
for cash at reasonable advance above cost price"
How do you propose to enlarge this work."
"By establishing exchanges which will sell the
farmers product. well as furnish him all that he
needs In Texas this has been largely accom-
plished President Macune called for subscription
of three dollars each from every member of the al
lance in that state. This raised a capital of five
hundred thousand dollars cash With this he pro-
ceeded to establish exchanges for the sale of clton
and other procure Of tie farm and agencies by
which the farmers could buy at reasonable COM
mission, anything they needed on the farm
In many there was no charge
above the manufacturers prices aie freight and at
these exchanges small IN article as soap could
be bought by any member of the alliance on these
terms. This plan will he adopted in Georgia and
other states rs we progress These details will be
worked out with great dcliberaton and care. We
propose to take no false hasty step but to be wise
i'll the light OF the errors made by former oIgan2a-
tons Of farmers We have shown that by actual
experience they save money by Clubbing together
and establishing trade houses. This alone would
justify every farmer in the state in joining the ALI
ance. We shall not sacrifice the money he makes
by this, IN any unwise experiments in other ditec-
tons but plans develop we shall have perfect
methods of selling all we make, and buying all we
need through our own agencies, or the agencies of
those who cooperate with us in sincerity and earn
estness. We do not aim to tear down any legitimate
t,,tl,t tlno
age them. Bit we do intend TO protect the farmer
from usurious charge ana force those who sell him
to take a reasonable profit on his goods"
"rhe alliance has other ends than financial oncs?"
"Of course, for great movement can succeed
by preaching money alone. Here is the formal
declaration of our purposes adopted by our State
alliance at Fort Valley They express better than
can tell you our purposes:
CONSTITUTION AND BY LAWS