Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-15
THE FARMERS APPEAL.
What the Alliance Says In Behalf Of the
Grain Treasury Plan.

l
A HEARING BEFORE THE WAYS AND MEANS CON-
MITrEE TeDAr-MR. LIVINGSTONE CLAIMS THAT
MANY EVILS MAY BE DONE AWAY WITH BY THIS
| PLAN.
congressman from agricultural states and
friends of the Farmers Alliance crowded the
ways and means committee room at the Capt.
| toi today to hear Mr.. Livingstone. the national
| lecturer of the alliance. expound his views on
| the Bickler bill for the establishment of sub
treasures for the deposit of grain, oats, corn,
| tobacco and cotton.
Mr.. Livingstone said there need be no mis-
| apprehension concerning the objects of the
| alliance. 1t was not seeking to displace the
| ruling political parties. The subtreasury bill
| had nothing to do with the tariff. The farmers
asked that the subtreasury bill be passed
Fifty eight homes of farmers had been sold in
| Connecticut in one day this week. Relief was
demanded and the farmers knew how to ge: it,
Farmers, he said. had to secure loans at ex-
cessiye rates OF interest. There was no iustifi
cation for tina: under Gods broad heaven
FARMER AND MANUFACTURER.
Mr.. Flower asked if the manufacturer did
not b ave to pay the same interest. Mr.. Iiy-
Ing tore replied that he did not: there WAS
difference between watered stock concerns
and the farmers real estate, yet the latter was
made the worst security in the country
lie quoted President Lincoln's prediction
that corporations would be enthroned. that the
| property of the country would be concentrated
and that the republic itself would be over
thrown. hc thanked God that the last pre-
| dictlon had not come true. If Congress refused
| to indorse the subtreasury plan. he said, it
should remove the restrictions hedging in the
| nat onal banking system.
CHANCE TO rSCApF THE cprcry Anon
The subtreasury plan gave the farmer a
chance to escape the Spectator by allowing
him TO deposit his crops in the subtreasuries at
any time and spared him selling at stated sea-
| sons. If the subtreasury bill was passed there
would not be bucket shop left in the United
states. There need be no fear that the
| bill would cause the farmers to form trust
| 1t was against the farmers nature-he had to
rush his crop to market If cotton went I'D an
eighth OF cent every farmer would be seen
hitching up his team the next morning. He
would be afraid that one-eighth of a cent would
get away from him. Then the farmers would
have but years privilege. while the banks
had twenty years.
NOT PERFECT MEASURE.
This plan was not held out as a perfect meas
ure. All legislation was the result of compro-
mise. The gentleman from New York (Mr.
Flower had predicted that the children would
be put to work in the ware houses and the
women in the fields. The inference was that
| the men under a paternal government would
be too lazy to work.
Mr.. Flower-Look at Germanv today.
Mr.. Livingstone denied that such a result
would follow. Could there be a government
more paternal than ours-paternal to the banks
he meant. He did not favor a paternal gov
ernment. If the highways were opened to
enterprise and energy the farmer would be
satisfied.
WAITING LONG ENOUGH.
But the farmer had stood around waiting
long enough. He had to have relief: it was Il
ground hog case. Sixteen millions would build
all of the ware houses the alliance wanted.
What good were river and harbor improve
ments to the debt-ridden. oppressed farmer?
Never more than third of the cotton crop
would be warehoused When the certificates
issued on the crop came i'll they would meet
the needs of the wheat crop. and then the to-
bacco crop, aud SO on. There would not be ex-
cesslve changes in the volume of the currency.
PROTECTED AND UNPROTECTED STAPLES
Mr.. Flower asked why the ware houses were
to be used only for oats. wheat corn, tobacco
and cotton. Why not put in the pot wool and
rice and cheese and pork. &C.?
Mr.. Livingstone replied that these other
staples were protected by high tariffs per
cent for wool alone.
Mr. Flower read a table to show that staple
crops had fluctuated more than so per cent
within thirty years and asked if that did not
demonstrate the instability of the proposed
currency. MAY Heaven have mercy upon this
country when thousand millions of currency
was suddenly called in, it might be under
such a luctuation.'
Mr.. Livingstone replied that the fluctuations
had been caused by the fact that the farmers
had been compelled to sell crops at adverse
understanding the bill proposed 20 remedy.
DO SOMETHING FOR THE FARMER.
In conclusion he said that if the committee
thought that the landed basis was the best. if
they could not accept the crop basis, let them
put it in. Do something to relieve the farmer
Report the bill to the House in some shape so
that 1t could be acted upon. Don't make il a
question of tariff or OF politics. but let the bill
stand on its merits.
Ex-PREslDENT CLEVELAND AND THE ALLIANCE.
The Farmers Alliance circular, which was
Endorsed by ex-President Cleveland was not
the circular which set forth the ware house
subtreasury scheme, which contemplates the
issue Of currency on farm products. The cir
cular sent to him contained nothing on that
subject.
1t said: profoundly impressed that we. the
Farmers Alliance. united by the strong and
faithful ties of financial and home interests
should set forth our declarations OF
Intentions, We therefore resolve to strive
to secure the establishment of right
aud justice to ourselves and our
posterity; to labor for the education of agri-
cultural classes in the science of the economy
of government in q strictly non-partisau
spirit; to indorse the motto. In things es-
scnil. unity; in all things charity TO secure the
purity OF the election franchise and to induce
all voters t. intellisontly exercise it for the
enactment and execution of laws which will
express the most advanced public sentiment
upon all questions involving the interests OF
laborers and farmers; to develop a better state,
mentally, morally. socially and financially:
to constantly strive 10 secure entire harmony
and good will among all mankind and brotherly
love among ourselves; to suppress personal.
local. sectional and national prejudices. all I'M
heathful and all selfish ambitions: to
assuage the sufferngs of brother and
sister; to bury the dead, care for the widows
and educate the orphans; to exercise charity
toward offenders; 10 coEstrue tae words and
purposes in their most favorable light grant
ing honesty of purpose and good intentions 10
others and to protest the principles OF alliance
unto death"
IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
A Soldier Injured in u Railroad Acct