The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-11-13

5TIN WEEKLY STATESMAN, Z
every thing he buys and gets the same
price, and this year in Texas is getting
more for his produce than he did five,
six or ten years ago.
To remedy this alleged state of eff
fairs the Capi-Allianti suggested the
organization of Alliance Exchanges
and stores. The stores and exchanges
were established all over the land, but
they have not benefited the Alliance
members, and they are out of pocket
Just the amount it costs to run them.
No Alliance store ever sold farmer
bill of goods that a store not AL
lance would not duplicate, hence the
stores are of no financial benefit.
They make places, however, for
men who want to draw salaries and
live easy.
In some of the states the Alliance
stores intimidated merchants, and
something over year ago in a
neighborhood in Mississippi conflict
occurred between the Alliance and
merchants in which twenty men were
killed.
EXCHANGES WERE ESTABLISHED IN MANY
- OF THE STATES.
One was opened at Dallas and for
about a year it lowered among the
business men of Dallas and Texas as
thing of might and power.
The people of Dallas con-
tributed about $4,000 worth
of property to it. A branch was es-
tablished at Bolton, where valuable
property was contributed. Other
schemes were gotten up, and the
Capi-Allianti made propositions to bust
ness men in other cities if they would
donate so much money they, the Capt.
Allianti, would do wonders for trade.
With smirk and smiles they would
say, "We are backed by the Dallas
Exchange, the most powerful bust.
ness organization in the state or
South"
They attempted to wiring out OF
the business men of Austin thousands
of dollars, and before public meet
ing of the prominent business men
made known their desires with oily
tongues and glittering words.
The business men were willing to
assist if the project was found to be
feasible and honest, and asked few
days to consider it.
In the me lntime they sent a sharp,
wide awake business man to Dallas to
quietly investigate into the financial
standing of the great exchange which
was then IN the very zenith of its
glory and power.
He made areport to them in writing
which the writer of this article heard
read at meeting held for that pur-
pose III Musical Union hall.
. 1t stated in substance that the
great exchange which the Capt.
Allianti were making the AL
lance membership believe was
a powerful and successful
enterprise carried on in the safest and
most approved business manner, was
rotten from foundation to capstone.
Its paper was not worth five cents
ION the dollar.
ID No Dallas bank would touch it.
a No business man in Dallas would
trust the concern.
Of course the business men of Aus
tin refused to advance the money de-
manded.
i" They made no explanation why
they refused except in general wa,
land not until the Capi-Allianti see
this article will they know the reason
that compelled the refusal.
A few months after that the great
Dallas Alliance exchange went dowr
with a crash and with one fell swooI
the farmers, members of the order
it is alleged, suffered loss of ovel
$1,5OO,OOO.
Did the Capi-Allianti lose a cent
Alliance exchanges in other states
have gone down and the farmers have
been swindled by them and they Sc
openly charge.
Cotton yards have been established
throughout the Southern states, but
of what benefit financially have they
been. Cotton weighs no more; i
sells for no more in the yards than il
does out of them.
The best and most prosperou
farmers do not patronize them. Thu
cost in running them is a dead ex-
pense to the farmers, for which the,
receive no benefit whatever. The,
provide salaried places though, ant
there is the rub.
V.
1t has been estimated that tn,
salaries paid managers of alliance
stores, cotton yards and other pro-
jects gotten up by the Capi-Allianti
tie pay of walking delegates ant
lecturers, losses sustained by failure
of alliance exchanges and none.
sunk in publishing alleged news
papers, that the Alliance of the South
ern states have paid the enormou
sum of $10,O00,000, for which the,
have not received dollars benefit