The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-25
THE FARMERS ALLIANCE.

The association OF Southern planters
which is known as the Farmers Alliance
starts out with more strength than the
Changers of the grain States in the North
ern river valleys possess. 1t has secured
absolute control of North Carolina; it HIS
dictated the nomination OF one of its men,
bers as Democratic candidate for Governor
of Tennessee; it has nominated majority
of the Congressional delegation in Georgia;
it will send members of its body to Con-
greSS from Alabama; and though it re-
fused to nominate a State ticket in Texas,
and was beaten at the late election Ill
Arkansas. 1t still commands votes enough
in those two States, as well as in Louisiana,
Virginia and Mississippi. TO make itself
feared, if not respected All this it has
done in spite Of the opposition Of the rec
ognfzed leaders of the SoUth-CariiSle of
Kentucky, Vance Of North Carolina, Mills
of Texas, Crisp of Georgia, and others who
are regarded at the North as opponents of
Southern sentiment
The Farmers Alliance was called into
existence by the same causes as the Granger
party in the grain States-namely, the in
adequate rewards of agriculture. Farmers
saw persons growing rich around them,
while they remained poor; they held exist
ing laws responsible, and sought to better
their condition by legislation adapted to
their case; tie Changers invested Rail
road Commissioners with powers to fix
rates Of fares and fTeightS; and for ten or
more years they have battled with the
railroads, which had rendered wheat and
coin growing Improbable. The alliance
finds no fault with the railroad. Its OBJ
iective point is to compel the Government to
go into the waTehousing business, and to
receive. advance upon, and hold cotton and
tobacco until such time as the owner sees
fit TO sell it. 1t argues that as the Govern
ment issues currency on the deposit of
United States bonds, il ought in like man
ner to issue currency for a like proportion
of the market value Of products Of the soil.
This, of course, is a captivating PROPOSE
tim to the Southern farmer. Instead OF
troubling himself about the offers Of dealers
in produce, Who naturally try to get his cot
ton and tobacco from him at the lowest price.
the Southern planter if the alliance should
have its way, would simply ship his crop to
the nearest United States Sub-Treasury and
draw for so or so per cent Of its value. II the
produce advanced in price the planter would
sell at his CONVEX fence and reimburse the
Government with perhaps a trifle of interest;
IL IL itHdIDCu sLdblOudi y, luS pu'tlIihCht
would have to hold it and await the planters
pleasure; if it declined. and the Sub
Treasury asked for more margin, the
planter would comply if he could and leave
the Government to make the best of recla-
nation if he could not In other words, the
alliance proposes, first, that the Federal
Government shall become a great warehouse
for Southern products; and, secondly, that
unlike other warehousemen, it shall assume
the risk of decline in the value of those
products. This is paternalism extended 10
its utmost extremity.
Bellamy, in his amusing conceit, makes the
Government the only trader in the common
wealth. 1t buys all that industry creates
and agriculture yields. But it is also the
only producer, so that it can fix for the
commodities which it supplies to the public
a price proportiOnate 10 their real cost. The
Southern Alliance goes further, and pro-
poses that the Government shall buy their
pr oducts--fOr the advance would amount to
purchase-without having any control over
the cost of production.