Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-12-12
President MitchelI,s views.

Mr.. Hugh Mitchell during bis visit
10 attend the annual meeting Of the Far
mer's Alliance in Florida last week was
interviewed upon the present Status Of
the Alliance as national organization.
lie says: II is very difficult for the Far.
mers' Alliance to restrain the West and
Northwest, because they have al 'eady
become independ, Of Oh party aiiiia
tons, and have neutralized the pivotal
prestige Of New York and the Middle
States The mission Of the Farmers
Alliance is FIRST Of AL to accom- pish re-
form in the national finances. More
money and less taxes is the fundamental
rock on which the alliance is based -
We want to largely increase the circu-
lating medium of the country. We are
strictly non-par.isau. yet full Of politics.
All the evils we suffer and complain Of
come from national legislation, and
therefore our drst aim will be to achieve
reform in this direction. The reduction
Of taxation Of course carries with it tariff
reduction, but the tariff is not the only
or the most important Of the items. -
There must 60 along with that reform
an increased volume Of circulation, and
it must be taken away from the control
Of the national banks. There are exlre-
mists in this organization who say the
tariff has nothing to do with the present
state of political affairs, just as you find
extreme Democrats who say it has all to
do with it. Yet in every State platform
of the Alliance they have declared for
reduction of the tariff, and in the West
ern States we have insisted tina: the
tariff shall be levied On Injuries and the
necessaries exempted We insis. al
ways that the tariff shall not be used to
build up one industry at the expense of
Of others. We most emphatically de-
clare for the abolition of national banks
as the vehicle Of issuing circulating
medium. Whatever currency NC hive
ought to be issued by the government
direct. Our sub-treasurY plan is simply
a means Of increasing the circulating
medium it volume necessary to meet the
requirements of business and of putting
it before the people in a cheaper way
than we now get it. We propose to
substitute farm products for United
States bonds. We propose a Acxible
currency, and provide against undue ex
panson What we arc mainly after is
20 curb the capitalists; to take from them
the power to Cypress the people. 1t has
been objected shat the sub-treasury plan
would create a multitude of officers, but
we offset that by reminding you that we
have now the middle men and others,
who eat up the profits Of the farmer 49,
Now we do not insist upon the details of
the sub treasury plan, all we Sant is
recognition of the principle looking to
the creation of greater circulating me-
dunn. issued directly to the people, and
not controlled by favored class by
national banks-and one that will con
tract OF expand as the needs of the coun-
try may require. Farmers cannot do
business with a staple currency; it must
be flexible.
On the subject of third party move
mcnt, which is so apparently S3Ps'most
in the pinds of large section Of the
Alliance, Mr.. Mitchell gave it as his in
dividual opinion that the Alliance is not,
rs a whole. in favor of such a step at
present. But he felt sure the sentiment
Of the West aud Northwest was decided
" in that direction. They" he added.
"baye achieved independence of parties
as they exist, and will be difficult to con-
troll But above all things, he SAID:
IF the Alliance does not shape national
legislation the purpose of the Organiza-
ton will fail"