The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-27

confined to farmers, but II takes in the rural
population Both sexes are admitted to mem
oership, with l6 as the minimum age. Only
"hl'e persons are admitted in most States,
and colored delegates arc barred from
the National Council The rules permit
the admission OF country doctors, preach
ers, mechanics, and school teachers
PERSONS engaged In any OF tho fol-
lowing occupations are excluded: Msr-
chants. bankers. brokers, commission mer-
chants, cotton grain, or produce buyers: law
yers, city doctors. preachers and school
teachers; land agents book agents, ped
dlers, canvassers, livery stable keepers, and
sawmill men: all dealers, spectators, and
gamblers; and any others whose greatest In
terests do not harmonic with farming. When
a person is engaged in farming. and In addi-
ton thereto follows one OF the occupations
that are not admitted. the rule 10 that he can
not be admitted but the association is allowed
to make some exceptions. under conditions
prescribed In the laws OF tho order.
The purposes OF the Alliance, as officially de-
clared. are these:
To labor for the education of the Agricultural asses
In the science OF economic government in a strictly
non.pAritsAn spirit To endorse the motto: I'm thngn
essential unity and in all thingn charity To develop
better state. mentally. morally. socially and haAn-
caily To create better understanding for sustaining
]
strive to secure entire harmony and good will among
Alsrnaukind and brotherly love among ourselves To
suppress personal local sectional and national preju.
dceS all unhealthy rivalry, and tensh ambition. To
assuage the suierngS OF brother or sister bury the
dead for the widows and educate the orphans
exercise charity toward Offenders; to cons,ruo words
and deeds In their mos, favorable light granting hon
esy OF purpose and good intentions 70 others aud 10
protect the principles Of the Alliance unto death
The governing body is the Supreme Council.
which Is composed OF delegates from the State
organizations. The executive officers are
President. Vice-Presdent Secretary. and
Treasurer. The subordinate Alliances seek TO
provide the members with such social. educa-
uonal, and commercial advantages as can be
gained by cooperation. They endeavor to
secure the highest price for the produce raised
for SALE and the lowest price on the COM
modities that must be purchased. or the
political methods OF the Alliance one Of Its
official declarations is:
Our political methods strictly non pArtsA and
must ever remain So because every candidate before
taking tho pledge assured that will In no
fict with his political or religious views AL political
parties represented in our ranks and al are
pected work in their respective parties to secure
Just recognition OF the rights OF the farmer All cues
tons in political economy will be thoroughly discussed
and when the order agree on reform as necessary
they will demand it OF the Government and Of every
political party, and IL the demand goes unheeied they
will devise ways to enforce IT. Tho most essential re-
forms must como from legislation. but that does not
necessarily compel the responsibility OF choosing can.
didates and filing tho oftreG such = course may DO
necessary but will not DO rescrted TO under any
other circumstances
Inasmuch as the Alliance is now vigorously
demanding OF Congress radical legislation
which neither political party has sanctioned or
even considered. the order will probably soon
a.aF- a. H-ta Ira
demands. In fact the order has taken de-
cided stand on many pending measures OF i'm
The tenor Of ali he Official utterances o. the
Alliance upon political tories implies deep
seated Win FxnG Ind
declared himself at the last annual Convention:
While, our order, as an order, ia strictly
dec.aratton Of purposes s' says That We Shall
labor for the education OF the agricultural
classes in the science OF econ9m!c government
In O strictly non partisan spirit
II is an evident fact that the origin and
power to rerpetuate the existence, OF the
Cypress our people and threaten tn. over
threw OF our free institutions Is due 70 unjust
shat Sill exist Between bet our @
and these powerful corporations, and COM
bines. are such as to give good reason for
the history OF our Cove nment when confidence
in our political leaders and great political
organizations is almost destroyed. and the
estrangencnt DO ,ween them and the people is
be, oming more manifest every day.
gee that there is 70 Just cause for the now al.
most universal depression that pervades the
laboring classes OF every section Of our coun-
try and are disposed o attribute the same to
the corruping influence that these great COM
bines and cGporations exert over our leaders
long as our people neglect TO inform them
serves upon the great issues o the hour, and
TO the neglect Of their own interest. they viii
continue 10 lose their individuality, influence.
and power in our POLITICAL institutions. and lie
wholly at the mercy OF the soulless corpora
ttons that are now Gliding such an influence
over our Government The very. existence OF
government. the yesy life and prosperity. OF tho
,HGricqltnral and le6orinE people DEFEND
largely; !: not Th9i!y, GPhn financial land anu
In giving Official expression 10 It's opinions
on public questions, the Alllnnce adopted what
amounts to full political platform. These
are its planks:
We demand the abolition OF national banks and the
substitution OF leEA! tender Treasury in lieu OF
national baaS notes issued in sufficient 10 do
the business Of tho country on cash system rbEuAt
ing tie amount nesd.d on per capita oasss as the
business Interests OF the country expands and that all
money issued by the Government shAi be legal tender
In payment OF all debts both public and private
We demand that Congress shall pass such laws
shall e!ec.uay prevent the dealing in futures OF all
Agricultural Aud mechanical productions, preserving
stringent system OF procedure in trials shall procure
shall secure most perfect compliance with the Law.
We demand the free and unlimited coinage OF silver
We demand the passage OF laws prohibiting the
alien ownership OF land, and that Congress take early
steps devise some plan TO obtain all lAndS owned
by aliens and Syndicates and that all lands
held By railroad and other corporations In excess OF
such as is actually used and needed By them, DO
claimed by the Government and hold for actual setterA
Believing in the doctrine of "sqla rights 10 all AND
special privileges We demand that taxation
national State shall not DO uSad 10 build no in.
terest or the expense OF another We believe
nat the money OF the country should be kept as much
possible in the hands OF the people and hence
demand that all revenues nAiionAl State or county,
shall be limited to the necessary expenses Of the Gov.
ernment economically and honestly administered
We demand taAt congress Issue a sufficient amount
OF fractional paper currency 10 facilitate exchange
through tho medium OF the United states mail.
We demand that the means. OF communication and
transportation shall be ownsd by and operated Ia the
interest OF the people as is the United states poS;A
system
These demands were supplemented by a
resolution that in order 10 carry out these
oolects We viii supGor5 for Office only sucn
men a. can be deDenae1 upon % enact these