Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1889-12-04
The Memorial Adopted.
Following is the memorial to congress
adopted by the alliance:

~ooPlcu ny suo OllanCe.
Tothe Honorable Members Of the Senate and
House Of Representatives of the United States
Gentlemen: We, tillers Of the soil OF the state
upon her widespread prairies having accepted
the generous gift of the general government
have built homes here for our wives and little
ones, upon land given us Is free citizens of q
great nation, Being extremely desirous Of
transmitting these homes heritages to our
children, DO respectfully represent to your hoa-
orable bodies:
That, in spite of all our hearty efforts to pre-
serve our homes in spite of the unremfttiug
and unstinted help afforded US by our heroic
wives and dutifil children, whom We love and
would fa1n shelter and make happy in homes
owned by ourselves in spite Of the fertility of
our virgin soil, the indebtedness upon these
homestsads 10 constantly growing heavier. the
nope and possibility OF paying 1t waxing fainter
year by year, and we feel the titles to them
slipping from our hands.
Tho causes for this deplorable condition are
are controlling the commodities and the very
necessities of life. The transportation lines
shat take our products to the seaboard and re-
turn to us needed merchandise, are compelling
us to pay rates OF freight far In excess OF what
will yield them reasonable interest on all
money actually invested in such enterprises.
A mere handful OF men control the live stock
market of the nation, running q heretofore val
liable branch OF husbandry. By depressing the
prices OF live stock on one hand. and enhancing
the price to the consumers Of the east 60 . point
the laborers take from the earth the fuel with
which to keep us WARM, and those who make
our clothing and build our machinery are un-
able to purchase and properly feed those de-
pending on them
The cost of oil our farm machinery Ia en-
HANGED by r, ason OF high duties on iron and
steel whiie the price of the products OF our
wheat helds Is fixed in market where it must
compete with the products Of the cheapest la.
Dor in India and Europe.
But, above all these, the condition that ia
bearing hardest upon US 10 the fact that the
government Of which we. aud you, arc parts,
has reduced the amount o. currency in ci1culA-
tion to lower figure per capita than IL has ever
before been, and to q point where II ts totally
and rut1ons to the lab0ring classes. makig pos
sible and profitable the nefarious business Of
the usurer. and sapping the very life principles
OF our free instit utiOus, by first taking from the
common people the ability to own and posaess
IN their own names the homes in which they
live and second by making these people 90 de.
pendent ON the possession OF money, that the
spirit ef liberty r. .Af.. .e si.s place
to sullen Indifference and despair.
We pray you in the name OF our fellow farm.
ers and the great mass OF common people, ~
liberty loving people OF great republic, "a
provide radical relief from these great wrongs
and especially in the financial matter we do.
mAnd--
First. q an immediate ameliorasion the
amendment OF the law which now requires oui
go eFnment to loan money to bankers ON bonds
government agencies direct to owners Of small
landed eststes at very low rate Of interest
and
second, By increasing ct once the volume ol
circulating currency to an amount sufilctent fol
all the purposes Of trade aud commerce.