New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-22
WHAT FARMERS DESIRE.

The new political force when mas pes'o"eu
victory upon the Democrats in several Western
States claims to control about fifty members OF
tbe next House. While casting less than
100000 votes in Western States for separate
tickets il has shown possibilities OF greater
mower in the future, so that men OF all parties
seek TO know what this body OF voters most
etrcncly desires Published platforms never
make this clear. They show what the trainers
think voters will approve and therefore in
cude many points about which the organized
body really cares little or nothing. To deter
mine which of dozen resolutions expresses the
especial purpose of the organization ana which
are merely formal and perfunctoy, or intended
as a bait to catch voters, Is often dlihcult.
Neither can the statements OF newspapers or
monument men in the different States be al
WAYS relied upon, first, because these state
ments are also intended to attract voters and
second, because most OF the writers or speakers
have their private purposes, which they are
anxious to make prominent, and thus to force
upon the organization.
The official papers and utterances OF the
Farmers Alliance set forth with camestness
certain objects which the farmers apparently
trading, free coinage of silver, and Treasury
loans on farm lands. BY the issue of paper
currency il is claimed that the Treasury can
lend money to farmers at low rate OF in
terest, ard enable them to escape from the
burden of mortgage Indebtedness. Silver coin
age is expected to raise the prices of farm prod
ucts by making money plenty, and if the dollar
cea ses TO be worth more than 80 or 80 cents
in gold still it will pay off mortgages, so that
a thousand bushels of wheat at silver dollar
per bushel may clear of debt where thou
sand bushels at so cents in gold would fail.
Hence there are some Western farmers who
want free coinage all the more because they
are told that it will make the dollar worth no
more than 80 cents in gold, while many others
simply disbelieve that any separation between
gold and silver coinage is possible.
The prohibition of gambling in grain and
other products has long been generally desired
bv the farmers OF the West, who believe that
spectators are thereby enabled to control
prices to the disadvantage of the consumers.
An act to prohibit option trading was passed
years ago by the Illinois Legislature but has
never been effectively enforced and one great
cause of dissatisfaction among Western farm
ers is that public officials have not been willing
or able to enforce it. The farmer believes that
this is because the officials or the party they
represent, will not offend the traders in cities.
Hence there is strong hope of legislation by
the United States which farmers believe United
States officials can be brought to enforce. A
bill of that nature was pending in the last Con-
gress and would probably have passed if other
| measures had not crowded il aside AT the
coming session it will doubtless be pressed with
| earnestness.
No mention has been made of the wishes
of the Farmers Alliance regarding the tariff
though most Of the published platforms include