Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-03-18
COMMUNICATED
The Recent Farmers Convention


The Recent Farmers Convention
The fourth annual convention of the
farmers OF northern Virginia vas held q!
Good Templars' Hall, Alexandria, on the
11lh of February. The first busineEs in OIL
der was the election OF officers for the ensu
ing year which resulted az follows: Presi
dsot, 0. E, Hine; 1st vice president, n. w
Pierson 2od vice president, l. 8. Chapin /;
treasurer, j. w. Roberts Secretaries W.
Gillingham aud Arthur w. Phillips Before
the close of the convention the chair an
nounced the names ofC. Lukens, Adam Mar
tin ard II. II. Garrett as ad itional mem.
BERG Of the executive committee.
The first question for discussion wss then
stated Are the agricultural interests OF
the country in natural and healthy condi-
ton, if not what is the remedy ?" The Hon.
J D. Taylor, M. c., of Ohio, was introduced
and spoke upon this subject. He said there
was 10 doubt about the agricultural inter-
-sts being very much depressed. The ques-
tion is then, What is the cause; what The
remedy? These were many causes. One
was We have too much politics. bad politics
Men are continually biased by their politi.
cal connections and vote against their own
interests. He explained the deadlock in
| Congress 10 show TIE aDsurdity of the pro-
ceediuas there. Ia answering the frat ques.
too it would be necessary TO touch upon
political matters The money of the coun-
try is its lille blood and should not be tam
psred with. 10 the early history OF the west
produce was very plentiful and money
earoe, hence the former was Of but little
value. Il WIS trade or barter nearly all the
tine Overcoats were rarely ever seen: were
| 6 great luxury. & young man might per-
hays have one when he went TO get married.
The cham els Of trade we're choked because
| there was so little money in circulation. Al
| though the mines of California produced 600
| miiions Of dollars, about nine-tentbs of 1t
| went abroad, hence tight times existed.
| That s very much the situation now. What
| the farmers need and all the people need is
more coed money. 10 view Of the great in.
| crease OF population our people are starving
| for the life blood of the nation. Our hnan-
ciers have made the greatest blunders. Mr..
| Cleveland wanted tho law repealed provld-
ing for the coinage of silver. He was no
| doubt sincere, but il-edvised. Agood homo
| market is what the farmer wants, end it
should be encouraged in every legitimate
| way it is OF vastly more importance
than the foreign market as only about one
tenth of our productions go abroad, hence
the necessity of providing work for our own
people and the need OF g protective tariff.
| Wherever manufactures have baen estab.
| lished agricultural prosperity Ia the ada
cent country has ensued. This country has
advanced in wealth during the last twenty
| nine years under protective tariff more
| than four times as muCh as the entire 25O
years before, since the settlement Of the
| country.
Eneiand's policy was protection for 500
wears. until she became rich aud the great
| G editor nation of the world. Now free trade
seems 10 be best Farmers should grow
more sheep and wcoI and that interest
should be protected. When the farmers Of
Hamilton county, Ohio. quit blowing SO
much and went into sheep raising, that
| county became one Of the most wealthy in
the State
Bismarck pointed to the American people
as marvel under a high protective tariff
and advised The German nation to follow
their example. Much more was said in the
same line.
Major John W. Porter, of Albemarle
county, followed in an earnest speech
in favor of the free coinage of silver; he
| thought it of more importance even than
the tariff question. More money is abso-
lutely necessary. The producing classes are
tbrottled by the capitaliste of the country.
| Kansas farmers.are petiioning for stay laws.
The farmers of Illinois are ten million dol
lars in debt on their corn crop OF last year.
The Roya! Commission of England re-
ported that the cause of depression there
was the severance of the link that bound
gold and silver together in value. Major
Porter was very sure that il The farmers OF
the country did not rise in their might and
change the current OF leglation at Washing
ton the consequences would soon be ter
rible.
The convection then took a recess Tor
dinner. which was very nicely served in the
room below by TIE ladies OF the Trinity Nj.
E. Church.
Upon reassemblipg Col. Robt. Beverly
smoke, stating that it was universally ad.
mitted that the agricultural interests we're
never before 10 such depressed condition;
the causes sre too many to eEumerate at
this time The property of the farmer
is all visible and he is taxed 10 q
greater exteat than many other callings.
He is taxed by the banking laws, by the
transportation companies, by the trusts and
by the tariff The greatest evil is the want
of currency. We had in 1870 s52 per capita
now we have less than ten. There is no
over production The wheat crop parcelled
ont would not furnish the people of this
country With a comfortable suffcency Of
bread. The trouble s 50 many cannot af.
ford to eat it. He said be was a democrat,
hut would shake off every party trammell In
this matter for the public good. Farmers
are too slow in organizing to resist the en-:
oroacbment OF their adverearies He had
hopes that relief would come through the
Farmers Alliances.
Mr.. Hill, of the Agricultural Department,
then spoke of the efforts being made to re-
organize the Department go as to make it
more effective in furtheriDg the farmers in
terests. but it must have the support Of its
beneticiaries. The plans conceived, if car
ried out, will result in greatly increased ben
eRts, but more financial aid is necessary
Congress should be aroused to the necessity
of more liberal appropriations.