The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1890-02-26
ALLIANCEA GRANGE.
PLUMB'S OPINION.
Letter From the Kansas Senator to the
Farmers of the state.


Letter From the Kansas Senator to the
Farmers of the state.
In the platform agreed upon for the
union of the Kansas State Grange and
the Kansas Farmers Alliance the de-
mand was made upon Congress for the
free and unlimited coinage of silver, or
the issue of legal tender silver certifi-
Gates against the unlimited deposits of
bullion: also for the abolition of the
National banking system; that treasury
notes be issued by the Government in
lieu of National bank notes, when such
National bank notes shall be retired;
that the amount of such notes shall be
regulated on per capita basis as the
population of the country increases;
the volume shall be increased suf-
ficiently to meet the demand of the
business interests of the country and
that they be made a full legal tender
for debts both public and private. This
platform was adopted in the belief that
an increased currency circulation will be
of advantage to the agricultural classes,
and the farmers are urging their repre-
sentatives in Congress to make provis.
ion for it in the most practicable way.
A reply has already been received from
Senator Plumb, in which he expresses
the following opinion:
81 know how hard times have been
with our farmers; first without crops,
and then when there is good crop the
prices are so low as to be wholly unre-
munerative. / know that portion, at
least, of the difficulty grows out Of an
inadequate supply Of the currency, and
this Congress can and ought to remedy.
And l have great hopes, also,
that before the close of the present ses-
sion something at least reasonably ade-
quate will be done. After all, it is prob.
ably true that there are some adverse
influences beyond the reach of legisla-
ton. The number Of sellers is many,
and the number of buyers from the sell
ers few. Every farmer is an active COM
petitor with every other farmer, and in
the process of his competitor sends his
grain and stock to the two or three great
markets of the country, where only q
handful of men buy, and these substan-
TALLY under an understanding with
| each other, which understanding Oper-
ates to reduce prices. 1t is an under
standing also which probably can
not be reached by law, not
taking the actual formal shape of a
trust or combination. Too many Of our
Kansas farmers, am sorry to say, do not
even raise their own food, but rely upon
buying it from Kansas City and other
markets. In fact, they buy back their
own bacon and -four. II the farmers of
Kansas would, during the next ten
years, raise, as far as possible, their own
food and keep at home the pork and
beef which is necessary for their own
needs and for their neighbors' use, the
effect upon prices would be quite per-
ceptible, and great advantage would be
realized by the fact that less money
would be necessary. IhOpe and believe
that the tide will turn. lam also hope
full that proper legislation will be
passed. / have labored to this end here
tofore, and shall not fail to do every
thing possible to bring about the eman-
cipation of our people, so far as an ade-
quate supply of currency can do it,"