Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-04-01
VERY DIFFICULT.
The Task Of Legislating for the
Relief of Farmers
Owing to Their Varied Views
or Various Subjects.

The Depression Among the Inhabitants
OF the Rural Districts Likely to At
tract More Attention. in Congress Than
Any Other Subjsot-Their Demands
Command Attention.
WASHINGTON, April i.-Intense iu-
terest continues to be shown here in the
demands of the farmers. Undoubtedly
the depression among the inhabitants of
the rural districts win attract more at
tention IN congress than any ether sub
ject, and the prospects are that the
farmers viii cut the most effective figure
in the elections this fall that they have
ever made.
Their demands for legislation further
than provided in the tariff bill win COM
mand attention. There are not fifty
members Of the house who can afford to
ignore the demands of the farmers. 1t
is true that men representing the metro
poiitan districts, and some districts In
New England, as well as few sections
in the south, where Confederate and
bourbon prejudices prevail, may refuse
TO heed the calls of farmers, but the
great majority must look upon them
with the greatest seriousness.
There never has been question more
vexatious than that presented Just now
to the farmers. How to afford relief for
making money more plentiful is indeed
perplexing. The trouble is, farmers re-
fuse to permit congress to enlarge the
circulating medium of the country
through the usual channels, or those
channels which will put the money inn
mediately into the hands Of the people
Free trade would afford no relief
whatever, not even for the immediate
present. Indeed, free trade would wreck
every commercial interest of the coun-
try, because it would crush out the
manufacturing and other interests which
are behind every financial superstructure
of the government as well as the people.
There is such deep-seated prejudice
among the farmers against National
banking interests that although legisla-
ton to broaden the circulation of banks
and to encourage the establishment of
new banks would make money more
plentiful, and directly with the people,
thus lowering the rates Of interest and
making loans easier.
Any legislation that might favor Ma
tional banking would be promptly con-
demned by the Farmers Alliance and
farmers in their individual capacity. Ii
is easy enough TO demand greater flow
Of money, but those who make the de-
mand should consider the fact that there
is contribution under which congress
must work, and a regular way of doing
business, which cannot by any hook or
crook be overthrown. To print green
backs or to coin silver to be owned by
the government would in no way relieve
the farming interests or make money
more plentiful.
Congress might print stack of legal
tender notes mile square and put them
under shed in any community in the
country, but without some kind of pro-
vision to put his money in the hands of
the people, those who live within sight
of it would see mortgages ON their farms
foreclosed and the sheriff proceed to sell
them out under the hammer.
The question Is: What is the practical
way Of putting larger flow Of tho cir
culating medium directly into the bands
Of the people that they may be immedi-
ately relieved? The ingenuity of man
has so far been unable to conceive a
proposition which has not met with q
powerful objection from some source.
II is no defense OF the monopolsts or
the monied interests to say that no OBJ
lection comes from the powerful finan-
cial centers to any proposition which
farmers have made with q view TO their
own relief.
The bankers, loan companies, railroad
and other corporations readily see that
the relief of the farmers is to their own
-. -.
indeed serious one TO not only the
farmers but the statesmen in congress.
The latter know that unless they can do
something to pacify the demands made
upon them their political careers are
drawing TO rapid close. This is indeed
a good time for men of genius to submit
their propositions to representatives In
congress. It is easy to make a general
demand for relief, but very hard TO pro-
pose something which is feasible and
practical,