The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1889-11-28
TO THE ALLAN

The following letter from E. H. At
wood, addressed to Hon. kittle Halvor-
son, president of the couny Alliance was
written with view to having it read to
the Alliance during its session here, but it
arrived too late:
Iregret to announce that, owing to
circumstances over which have no con-
troll, am prevented for the first time
since the organization of the county Al
lance of meeting with you and other
warm friends at the annual meeting.
There are many reasons why l desired to
be with you at this meeting. l have
been closely watching the movements OF
the monopolists and politicians, the for
nations of trusts and the working OF
the great railroad corporations, and l
find that, while the farmers are off their
guard, resting in fancied security, these
great DO wers, ever on the alert, are ST.
lently weaving the chains OF oppression
around the unsuspecting tillcrs OF the
soil. We all remember that few years
ago the farmers of the state arose IN
their might, marshallcd their forces and
marched them to St. Paul, captured the
legislature, and demanded their rights in
tones that made the monopolists trem-
BILE and cry out in their troubled sleep
Our grievances were heard and our de.
mands granted. We secured all that we
asked for. We were the conquerors and
the enemy lay PROSTATE at our feet
What did we do then? Instead of keep
ing up our organization and etlfol cling
the good laws thai had been enacted for
Our benefit and reaDing the benefits Of
our victory, our grand army Of honest
farmers disbandc1 their forces, called in
their pickets and retired to their homes
without leaving guard to protect their
rights or prevent the enemy from gather.
ing together their scattered forces and
recapturing ali that they had lost. The
result is what it naturally would be-
We are about where we were five or six
years ago. The mighty railroad corpor
atoms are again defiant, and secretly
evade the laws or openly defy their en-
forcement. There is not a town or ham
let in the state that does not contain one
or more Of the hirelings of these soulless
corporations. They are traitors to the
best instincts of humanity and are ever
ready to work in the interests of these
corporations and against their towns
men. Ifeyer there was need of a strong
intelligent organization among farmers
it is now. While we raise and sell wheat
without poft, there are thousands o.
men made milliOnaires between here anC
Liverpool out OF our wheat. While the
stock we raise cannot be sold without a
loss, yet we find great corporations MAX
ing millions and millions OF money deal
ing in cattle. So it is with every product
that we raise. Every commodity that is
bought or sold is so manipulated by
some giant corporation that the produc-
er gets no profit and the consumer pays
an exorbitant price. l see no way o.
redress except by organization. Every
farmer should help bear the burdens o.
this fight against unjust oppression
We must understand that but fe " if any
OF the papers of the great cities are with
us. Some papers have started out and
gained Our confidence, only to betray us
We must iltelligently demaud our rights
again, keep up our organization and
keep trusty guards on duty. "Eterna
vigiience is the price of liberty" Hoping
that this meeting will be the means O
doing much good, am fraternally,
Z. H. ATWOOD.
st. Cloud, Noy. 10Th, 1899.