The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-12-14
THE FARMERS AND LAB0RERS'
Union.

National Farmers Alliance and the
Knights of Labor was neither a large
nor harmonious one, but still it was lin
portant as affecting, more or less' inc
of the two most important
elements OF the population OF the couh-
try-the farmers and laborers.
The divergent interests of t. ese two
elements made it difficult TO form a
union, and may prove fatal to it IN the
end, but the undoubted truth that Ill
many things they have common GROUNDS
of complaint against existing coho'-
tions may do much to solidify hem'
The fact that the membership OF the
knights of labor has shrunken ABOUT
fifty Thousand during the past year
does not seem to promise much from
that direction, but while this Is the
case the farmers alliance appears to be
growing In strength and may d re-
newed life and vitality to its ally.
After a more or less stormy session
| the following was arrived att
Agreement made this day by and
| between the undersigned committee
REPRESENTING tho National Farmers Al
lance and Industrial Union on the one
mart and the undersigned committee
| reoresenting the knights OF Labor on
the other part.
W~itnesseth:-Th undersigned COM
mittee, representing the hnignls
OF Labor, having read the 1e
mands OF the National Farmers Am
ance and Industrial Union, which are
embodied in this agreement, hereby i'll
dorse the same on behalf of the Knights
of Labor, and for the purpose of giving
practical effect to the demand hereil
set forth. the legislative committees o
holh organizations will act in concer
before congress for the purpose OF Sc
cnrino the enactment OF laws in har
mony with the demands mutually
agreed. o.so. ;,
carry out these objects, we will supper
for Office only such men as can be de
pended upon to enact these principle
into statute law u~ninfluenced by part.
caucus.
The demands are as follows:
I. That we demand the abolition o
national banks, and the substitution q
legal tender treasury notes in lieu @
national bank notes issued In sufhclen
volume TO do the business OF the couh
try on a cash system; regulating III
amount needed on a per capita basis a
the business interests of the counlr
expand: and that all money issued b
the government shall be legal tender
payment of all debts, both public an
private.
Q. That we demand that congres
,hall pass such laws ss shall effectuall
preyent the dealing In futures OF Il
agricultural and mechanical produC
ions; preserving q stringent system
procedure in trials as shall secure u
prompt conviction, and imposing sue
!, penalties as shall secure the o pc
tect compliance with the law.
8. That we demand the free and n
limited coinage OF silver.
! 4. That we demand the passage
/ laws prohibiting alien ownership
land. and that congress TAKE early siel
TO devise some plan to obtain all LAM
now owned by aliens and foreign syl
e dictates, and that all lands now held |
railroad and other corporations Ill e.
!, less of such as is actually used Al
=. needed by them be reclaimed by Il
Government and held for actual settle
only.
Believing in the doctrine
leges to none," we demand that tax
Q ton, national and state, shall not
used to build up n interest or cls
at the expense of another.
l.. We believe that the money OF
country should be held as much
II possible in the hands OF tho Poop
q and hence we demand that all revenue
national, state or county, shall
y limited 10 the necessary expenses
,r the government economically II no
re estly administered.
6. That congress issue a suffice
;, amount of fractional paper currency
y facilitate exchange through the mediu
Y. of the United States mail.
II 7. That the means of commune
4, ton ana transportation shall be own
by and operated in the interest of I
j people, as is the United States pos
3. system. .
d For the better protection OF the j
10 terests of the two organization, 1t
mutually agreed that such seals or e
VI blems as the National Alliance and
d dustriai Union of America may ado
r. will be recognized aud protected
transit or otherwise by the knights
a Labor, aud that all seals and labels
~ the Knights of Labor will in like ma
&c ner, be recognized by the members
lie the N. +. A. and /. U. A.
r.. These resolutions OF agreement WI
1T signed by S. B. Erwin, Chairman, U.
al Hall, j. D. Hatfield, j. d. Harmon
y, s. B. Alexander, F. M. Blunt, d.
he Nonis, B. Ii. Clover, Stump Ashby,
Page, r. F. Peck, j. K. Miles, II.
Betty, w. FL. Barton, w. s. Morg
to N. A. Dunning, j. Ii. Turner,
all Adams, A. s. Mann. who compose
ut committee on demands of the N. f.
Mt and l U and by T. V. Powderly,
ly w. Wright and Ralph Beaun ont, r
lie resenting the Knights of Labor.
~ OF these demands section seven
re~prehensible, and we hope it
never find its way into legislati
ID Believing as we do in the Jefferson
doctrine that the least government
the best government we cannot but
eo with apprehension on any proposiI
'' that will add unto the country a gree
w. army of office holders than all that
Ias have now. The railroads should
ho regulated by law. and this we II
'or will be done, more and more effect,
he ". The problem is a comparati'
na' new one, but it will be solved will
d. such a radical departure from all b.
Is tofore conceived ideas of safe gov'
I d ment for a country SO large as o
up which desires to preserve its repl
len can form of government.
The other resolutions have each s
merit, if not entirely to be indor
but the fifth one is worth
lions on millions of dollars to the
ducers of the country, and we are
they see its Importance 1t Is 80
that we repeat it here:
"Believing III the doctrine of 'e
10 rights 10 ali and special privilege
none we demand that taxation, ma
ion al or state, shall not be used to
will M one interest or class at the exp
of another. We believe that the Id