Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-17
THE FARMERS TAKE ACTION.
The Sedgwick County Alliance and La
borers' Union State Their Grisv-
ances and Demands for
Relief,


Relief.
| The Sedgwick County Farmers Al
| lance and Laborers' Union of America
held meeting in Wichita Wednesday
January 18th, inst. at which there Were
present one hundred and fifty delegates.
The action of the meeting as embodied
in the subjoined series of declarations
and resolutions explain the object for
which the meeting was called and held.
The paper, which is endorsed officially
by F. G. Rawson, president, and Clark
Camp, secretary, is headed as a memorial
to congress and addressed to the individ-
ual members to whom copy is to be
sent, each:
To tho Honorable ---, Congressman Of the
United States:
We would respectfully call your atten-
ton to and urge upon you the import
ance of taking action in regard to the
following condition and demands Of your
constituency:
Whereas, Legislation in the past has
operated in such manner as to give in
to the hands of corporations, dealing IN
money as a commodity, the power to
control the volume of money, thereby
controlling labor, and they also control
the price of the products of labor by
working hand in hand with spectators
who gamble with the food products of
the nation and increase and deer ease the
value of the same at Will, therefore
First-We demand the abolition of
national banks and the substitution of
legal tender treasury notes in lieu of
national bank notes, to be issued in suf-
ficient volume to do the business of the
country on a cash system; regulating
the amount needed ON per capita basis
as the business interests of the country
expand, and that all money issued by
the government shall be legal tender In
payment of all debts, both public and
private.
Second-That we demand that con-
gress shall pass such laws as shall effect
ually prevent the dealing IN futures OF
all agricultural and mechanical produc-
tions; preserving a stringent system OF
procedure in trials as shall secure the
prompt conviction, and imposing such
penalties as shall secure the most perfect
compliance with the law.
Thlrd-That we demand the free and
unlimited coinage of silver.
Fourth-That we demand the passage
of laws prohibiting alien ownership of
land, and that congress take early steps
to devise some plan to obtain all lands
now owned by aliens and foreign syndi-
Gates: and that all lands owned by rail-
roads and other corporations in excess OF
such as is actually used and needed by
them be reclaimed by the government,
I Il e.. <.ly
Fifth-Believlng in the doctrine of
''equal rights to all and special privileges
to none" we demand that taxation, ma
tional or state, shall not be used to build
up one interest or class at the expense of
another, and further; we believe that
the money of the country should be kept
as much as possible in the hands of the
people, and hence, we demand that all
revenues, national, state, or county,
shall be limited to the necessary expenses
of the government economically and
honestly administered.
Sixth-That congress issue sufficient
amount of fractional paper currency to
facilitate exchange through the medium
of the United States mail
Seventh-That the means of communi-
cation and transportation shall be owned
by and operated in the interest of the
people, as is the United States postal
system.
Finally: Believing that successful re-
suits of general welfare can be secured
only by general effort, and all ordinary
methods having proved Intellectual, con-
cert of action in some form becomes a
necessity. Therefore we agree, in order
to carry out these objects, that we will
support for office only such men as can
be depended upon TO enact these princi-
pies into statute law, uninfiuenced by
party caucus. Therefore be it
Resolved, That we ask the State Farm
er's Alliance and Laborer's Union of Kan
sas to have printed memorial TO con-
gress setting forth the above true condi-
ton and demands of their constituents
and sent by the secretary Of the State
Alliance to the secretary of each subor-
dinate alliance and labor union OF Kan
sas with instructions TO have 1t brought
before their union at the first meeting
after receipt Of same, and II favorable
action is had thereon that the memorial
be signed and forwarded TO member OF
congress Of the district In which the
union Is located.
1t is also recommended that copy be
sent 10 the secretary of the National Al
lance and Laborers Union and be sent
BY him to every state Alliance and labor
union in the United States with inslruc-
tons, to the end that these demands be
made national and more effective.
r T. Packer, representing Greedy Al
lance, Ssdgwick county presented the
following resolutions adopted by that
body at its meeting January 4, which
were unanimously endorsed b. the
meeting:
Resolved. That We petition the gov
ernor of the state of Kansas 10 place BE-
fore the legislature az the next assembly
the following;
First-W hereas, The railroads Of Kan
sas are charging extortlonate freight
rates 10 points east, ana also dlscTIEIli-
mating ektoTtIonately between grain and
other classes Of traffic, therefore
We demand of the next general rs
semblr such legislation as will empower
and instruct our board Of railroad com
missioners TO make and compel such ad
justment Of rates as will be found nsces-
sary 20 protect the interest Of the farmers
Of the state. We demand that freight
rates On grain be equal 10 present. rates
on stock.
Second-We shall not approve Of the
nomination or election 70 the legislature
of Kansas or the egyxkyr-.x- If rb. ( u5tk-I