The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-02-01
National Alliance Meeting.

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Gov. Larabee, in speaking of watered
stock and railroads, said the roads
claim that the shrinkage the past year
or two has been thousand million
dollars. l will rejoice if several thou
sand millions more of water is squeezed
out of these stocks. Greater prosper
| ity would result to the whole country.
Innocent holders who invested under
false representations, as farmers some
times buy tightening rods, are entitled
to sympathy, but there is no reason
why the commerce of the country
should be levied upon to pay for the
same any more than to pay the farmer
for his lack Of judgement in buying a
fraudulent patent, or merchant for
the counterfeit bill he may take over
his counter. Roads built for the legit-
innate purposes of transportation are 10
no danger. The gross receipts of all
the roads in the country for 1883 are
O0,000,000, or Sill 100000 more
than in 1887. The net receipts were
$334,O0O,00O, or 100000 mora
than the preceding year. While the
mileage only increased nine per cent in
1888, the gross earnings thirteen per
cent and the net earnings eleven per
cent. This, also, in the tace of year
Of most reckless management, doesn't
look as if the roads were being ruined.
Railway stocks of twenty.four leading
roads are one per cent higher than
they were year ago. Stocks that
were few years ago worth ten to if-
teen cents are now worth seventy-fve
cents to one dollar.
| Mr.. Wardell, of Dakota, spoke in
detail of the Farmers Insurance com
pany. In Dakota one hundred com
panies do business, giving one dollar
back of every three paid them in pre-
miums. The Alliance company has
reversed the plan and does one-sixth of
the business. It's charges are at the
rate of twenty five cents per acre, TOR
which note is given subject to the
adjustment of losses on the mutual
plan. A membership fee of 50 90 pays
the officers. Tt has done business with
$4,000 farmers and paid 1900 losses,
paying over $4,000.
Mr.. III. d. Loucks of Dakota spoke
in relation to the work in that section.
They had organized farmers ALI
ance company to purchase supplies
They have 800 active workers in the
field, and their annual receipts from
charters and dues about 5000. Last
year the Alliance insurance company
paid $4,000 in losses, and saved the
farmers million in expenses.
A demand upon Congress should be
made for laws prohibiting usury, provid.
ing for equal taxation and free mar
ket. The government should own the
transcontinental lines of railroads. 1t
will be only few years before Jay
Gould owns the government, or the
government owns the railroads.
Relative to Wisconsin, A. F Sands
said the secretary was i'll and sould not
be present. He did not have the re-
port, nor sufficient date to speak min
utely ofthe work in that State. There
were, however, ten Alliances which
met and formed State organization,
there being now sixteen Alliances in
the State. An agent has been appoint.
ed, who does the general purchasing
for these bodies.
Mr.. Ashby, of Iowa, stated that he
had made no written report for the
State. The Alliance had been organ
lied for about six years, but had done
little active work except for the past
four years. Iowa has organized on the
unit plan, or local Alliances organized
in the townships, or as country organ
izations. There are now S65 of these
Alliances in this State. The plan of
township organization is similar to
county organizations, and at present
eighteen counties have county Alliances
The progress of the Alliance work has
far outweighed all financial expendi-
lures involved and time given to its
development. Too long the farmers