The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-29
TIE TEXAS ALLIANCE.
suB-JREASURY DISCUSSED IN
CONVENTION.

lowing account OF the discusslon vi the ru"-
treasury plan by the State Alliances
II seems that everything was not unani-
nous and harmonious in the meeting dur
ing the discussions for and against the sub
Treasury bill. ON Tuesday the following
resolutian was introduced:
Whereas. the finances Of our government
are 50 adjusted that money cannot
he obtained by the agricultural and
laboring people upon which to trans
act their business without paying
such enormous rates of interest that is
sure 20 bankrupt the farmers and laboring
PEOPLE Of America and thereby destroy the
republic; and
Whereas. relief from this impending ruin
must be speedily had; and,
Whereas. the Farmers Alliance and In
dustrial Union at its December meeting,
1850. held at st. Louis, Mo-, did demand:
1. The unlimited coinage of silver.
.. The passage Of what is known as the
principles and the purposes OF the sub-treas-
ury system.
Therefore be il resolved by the Farmers
State Alliance of Texas that we de indOrse
these demands;
Resolved, That the rules be and are hereby
suspended for their immediate consdera-
ton and adoption. ". X. LAMB
HAIRY TRACY,
j. a. CULWELL,
j. j. BARNETT.
The resolution called forth violent oppo-
sition, and was bitterly fought by mlnori-
ty of conservative members, whose inilu-
ence has hitherto generally prevailed III
Alliance councils. They sought to defeat ~
by argument and compromising subst-
tItes. and succeeded i'm delaying the vote
until Wednesday night, when the body adj
iourned with the foregoing resolution
pending. On reassembling Thursday morn
ing the president announced the business
on hand to be the consideration OF mo-
ton to adopt the resolution. The opp0sl-
ton was ready for a fight by dilatory tao
tics. and had on hand number oil suDstl-
tutes to offer successfully in order to post
pone indefinitely vote on the measure.
One substitute was offered, whereupOn the
president ruled il out Of order, stating that
adjournment pending vote brought the
subject before the body without further
debate. In other words. he forced the pre-
yious question and shut of discussion.
Thereupon the opposition made desperate
attack on the ruling, and II Is understood
that the proceedings were likcned unto the
arbitrary actions Of Speaker Reed in the
House of Representatives. The president
stuck to his ruling, though it was known,
and, in fact, he himself so stated, that bis
sSmpathies were with the opposition. Mr.
Rogers, at that time leading the opposition,
appealed from the Chair to the house, and
his appeal was beautifully covered by big
majority shower Of votes sustaining the
ruling. The resolution was then passed by
go t.sffl 1. stxF 49,.
fusng to vote.
The opposition then "gOt together" and
determined to 90 before the alliance OF the
state in an address setting forth their posi-
ton and denOuncing the bill as piece oi
unwlse and vicious legislation. Accord
ingly on Thursday afternoon Mr. Rogers
got the floor and requested the privilege ol
reading a "a memorial Cries oil read
il" -" 90 ahead" came from all parts OF the
house. and Mr.. Rogers proceeded, IN calm
and dispassOnate manner 10 read the pro-
test Of the opposition 10 the >ub-Ireasury
bill. II was a genuine surprise TO the SUD
Treasury adherents, who Imagined that the
memorial" would be nothing worse tnan
a call upon the AttOrney-Genelal 10 sup
press some trust or an address to the people
indOrsing HOgg and commission. But
everybody had openly or silently invited
rising TO a point of order. At any rate the
memorial was read, and here it is:
To the Alliance Brotherhood of Texas
We. the undersigned members Of the Farm
ers' state Alliance of Texas, in annual con-
yentiOn. as sembed at Dallas. August u \.
d.. 1890. believing as we do that the sub
Treasury bin as indOrsed by majority OF
this BODY is not understood by majority
of the membership: and believing rs we do
that the agricultural classes will not in the
least be benefited by said bill should II be-
come law; and believing as we do that
the measure has been mainly supported ~
this convention by an influence Drought "a
bear outside OF and foreign TO Texas; ana
believing as we do that the measure Is
paternalistic, as well as mOnOpo-
listic, in its nature; and belieN-
ing as we do that il is undemo-
cratic and unrepubican and wholly
unconstitutional. and believing as We do
that the matter has been brought before
this body at the wrong time, for the reasons
that Endorsements at this time by this bod!
will not in any degree assist in the passage
of the bill by Congress, and that it Will
compromise and stultify large number 81
our members, who participated directly
or indirectly in the Democratic state Con-
yentiOn.--E and believing As we do that
the bill is complicated and impracticab'e
and contrary TO the spirit and genius OF our
government and of our order; and further,
that the passage OF tl.is resolution VIII ma
terially affect the adoption of The railroad
commission amendment now pending in
this State.
We issue TO you this address and appeal,
asking you to carefully consider and to in
telligcntly discuss the Sub.Treasury bill in
all its bearings, and especially its cOnstitu-
tiOnal and economic features, so that you
may arrive at juft, iair and impartial
conclusion: and that you may send your
delegates to our next annual meeting in
structed in regard 10 this matter.
We are prompted to do this, brethren.
from no other motive than 10 protect our
noble order from the encroachments Of a re-
yoluti0narv measure, forced on this c0nyen-
ton Dy revolutionary methods, yiZ.:-IheTe
was ,.dopted 10y this convention a resolu-
ton in effect that all resolutions presented
should be referred 20 appropriate commit
tees, and every effort on our part 10 nave
said matter referred 10 the committee on de-
mands was thrOtled, and that the friends Of
the measure, after agreeing TO withdraw the
original resolution, and assist in. ana assist
upon the adoption Of the substitute, in
sisted on the adoption OF the original, and
at midnight hour, after number Of dele
gates nau retlFcu Dy NOlc vi - ~ ~ ut-
manded the adoption of the original resolu-
ton, to which adoption We enter this, our
solemn protest, and call upon you, as patri-
otto citizens, as a band OF brethren, bound
by no tie but the common good Of our COM
mon people, engaged in common cause,
To stand by us in preserving our order from
the usurpatiOns of autocratic dctatiOn.
Our objections TO this measure are en-
phasized by the following:
]. Want of constitutional power in Con
gress to pass il.
.. 1t is impracticable to furnish the re-
lief sought.
3. 1t would prove most disastrous 10 the
very class ii seeks to benefit.
United States Senator John III. Reagan
says: IL do not see how Congress can pass
a law to enable the United States to loan
the people 70 per cent. Of the value OF their
crops and take their produce in pledge for
the repayment of money so loaned" And
again he SAYS: 1.-The passage of such an act
would be the longest step ever taken by
this Government in paternalism and class
legislation and would make the Govern
ment of the United States great merchant
and money lender in defiance of all past
notions as 10 its character and the reason
for its adoption by the people,
The foregoing instrument was signed by
Rogers, of Palestine; keudrick of Waco;