The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-18

prlces-the newspapers governed by
the capitalists, and muzzled into 81.
lence; the Legislature shockingly cor
rupt; the work OF plumber and extor-'
ton going on in every direction
around us; there is but one refuge
for the farmers of this state; and
that is the State Farmers Alliance.
PUBLIC LECTURERS.
But how are the farmers-we will
be asked-to keep up interest in the
subordinate Alliances? 1t is hard to
get them to meet. There is nothing
to do, nothing to attract or enter
tain them.
1t is upon that point write you
this communication. Idesire to pro-
pose to you a plan by which, at small
cost to each of you, you may not
only keep up the interest in your
work, but at the same time receive
valuable information and entertain
ment.
In the towns and cities the people
are enabled to listen to great
many interesting lecturers, at a cost
of from 25 cents to $1.OO each, the
lecturers being paid from $50 to
$3.50 per night for their addresses.
Why cannot the farmers have some
thing similar, at less cost?
If you will agree that 100 of YOU
will pay 5 cts. each, or SO of you 10
cts. each, being $500 in all, to a lee
turer for lecture on matters con-
corning your own welfare and pro-
lection; and that you will entertain
the lecturer over night, and take him
to the nearest railroad depot the
next day, or to his next engagement
if he has one few miles distant, I
think l can send you once a month
an able, eloquent, deputy lecturer,
who will give an entertainment fully
worth the money you pay for it. I
will try to arrange, with your help,
so that the deputies may have a
series of such lecturer to deliver at.
points not too far apart, and each
month | will try to send you differ
ent lecturer, unless you desire to
hear the same man twice.
In other words, if you will guaran-
tee the lecturer a collection of not
less than $500, write me at once, as
surfing me of that fact. l will then
arrange a campaign, and notify you
OF the time and the name of the lee
turer. If you have any choice as to
the day Of the week, or preference
as to the hour at which the lee
ture is to take place, please inform
me of it, and l will try to comply
with your wishes.
What farmer is there who grudges
five or ten cents to listen to good
Alliance speech, once month? And
this will serve to keep up interest in
your Alliance work. You cannot ex-
pect any poor man-and the friends
OF the Alliance are all practically
poor men-tO go around the state,
paying railroad fares and other ex-
penses out of his own pocket and lee
turing for your benefit, if you will
not try to help yourself The money
you will lose by one winters bad leg
islation would pay for a lecturer
every night in the year.
INSURANCE.
But there is another very import
ant subject upon which these lectur-
ers can talk to you, and one of the
utmost consequence to your pocket
books.
If you will go down into many New
England towns and cities, as have
done, and inquire how the people who
are living in idleness in such hand
same houses, keeping their horses
and carriages, obtain their incomes,
you will be told, as l was, that they
hold stock in fire and life insurance
companies. Ii you ask whether those
insurance companies do business in
New England alone, you will be told,
-"Oh, no, principally in the Vest"
These people, therefore, are able to
live in idleness in Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Vermont, New York etc.,
because a lot of poor fools are work
ing for their benefit in Iowa, Mime
sofa, Wisconsin, etc. Your brains
are not half as fertile as your fields
Go to St. Paul, Minneapolis, and in
fact all the great cities OF the United
States, and you will see magnificent,
gorgeous palaces six to ten stories
high, built by the great insurance
companies. Where did they get the
millions to erect all these costly
structures? The answer is, out of
the people who insured, of course.
1t is another instance of watered
stock; thepeople furnish the business,
provide the money, do everything;
the companies take the salaries and
pocket the profits.
Now, the State Farmers Alliance
proposes that the money which has
heretofore gone from the pockets of
the farmers, to build up the wealth of
the East, shall be kept at home, to
build up Minnesota, and SO they
have taken steps, which will be ex-
1alo mod To 10a1 in dofoil To orixxo xxo1a