New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-22
WHAT THE FARMERS SUFFER FROM
THE PLANS OF THE ALLIANCE INDICATE THE
DISEASE, II NOT THE REMEDY

THE PLANS OF TIE ALLIANCE INDICATE THE
DISEASE, II NOT THE REMEDY.
TO the Editor of Thc Tribune
sir: am farmer. All my interests ought to be
in harmony with those of the men who are endeVo1hs
TO better the condition of American agriculture
have given attention 10 the work ana inc
proclaimed policy of the Farmers Alliance. can't
help thinking that you are rot altogether wrong IN
characterizng as an Alliance folly some of the prnc
pal schemes which they profess be anxious To work
ont ON the other hand am disposed To ask y0u
if Won are sure you and the Republican party are
tight in assuming that the present tnacial policy oil
our Government i, Incapable of improvement
" Where there is 50 much smoke there must be some
fire II is hardly possible that the farmers of all
sections of the country could he united IN Su'h Il
demand for an increased currency and for cheaper
money unless there were in their present cF
cum,tance, real need of relief. | do not believe
the propositions put forth and advocated 10y inc
Alliance cat least a. you and understand them are
At all practical But here Is the trouble inc
farmer East West. North and south when he be
come, a borrower ha, 10 pay much higher rates OF
interest than corporation, have TO pay. Men with
money to lend will buy municipal bonds, or even
the bond, Of private corporations, which are full 81
water or wind, at from IL to per
cent interest. when they would not buv
GOOD mortgages on good farms worth
twice the mortgages unless they bore a
tell WHY this i 50. There arc, of course, many
reasons. one i. that the corporate bond, can be
obtained in large blocks. and farm mortgages arc
usually for comparatively small amounts. The cost
and trouble If searching tc~, the greater certainty
Of taxation. all these and other reasons may be
given for the condition u things which actually exists
Eut what concerns the farmer is:
First lie hae to pay too high rate Of interest.
second He l. receiving too low prices for his
products Ia have profit on the cost oi prhuct0h.
Third The MONEY value Of his farm has been
steadily deprcclatug even though ne li> ALL the Tune
Dceu Increasing is fertility.
Fourth-As q result, no one wants - buy farms.
F1tn Mon seeking moro pr'it1bI' nNcNtnl'ht''
Bright boy, and intelligent men ar, leaving the farms
Sow. am not crOalcr, nor indeed am WIIlllT
10 udpr>c completely all the above propositions, Tor
/ believe that there some WdcaWake Dh>ih'>'
farmer who those dull fine, for farming are
making fair per cent on their investments. But
opinion would stand even better chance 81 pI9duc
| Ing profit able returns u other channels ~ bu~l
| ness. Wy purpose now is not b. discuss ines"
question, brought forward by the Alliance or
! 10 offer any Suggestions of my OWL but simply I"
cali the attention Of The Tribune ana the heplbl'di
ard the display = real ~tlc-man~hip IN TIE Inc lndl
| Gated by Tho demand Of the Alliance.
Even the Uhcrllfy u m" silver legislation 81 the
present Concrc-S would have been called nnancltl
| llk" a few II may Doe that there j. room
fir even greater strides toward liberal financial legs
! E'Ipu. believe something can and VIII b" done I'D
enable The farmer, country real estate owners to
! -. the money thcy need a' cheaper rates OF interest,"
and the cty lender, of good claS, of securities
~ better II interest than they are receiving DO
Ilv. Herr is the problem. Let some ono "l,e ~liS
| sc-t method, II solving ~. FARMER