The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-09-16
CUT THEIR HEADS OFF.

WASHINGTON, Aug. Farmer c..
W. Macune, head of that powerful
organization, the Farmers National
Alliance, which is now exerting such
powerful influence in politics, has fur
nished the Ne10s with a letter in which
he pointedly advises the farmers of
Michigan to defeat the eight Congress
men who voted against the free coin
age of silver.
Mr.. Macune stands to the farming
community as Mr.. Powderly did to
the labor ranks. The Alliance, at
which he is the head, has upset the
politics of South Carolina, Kansas,
Alabama and many other States. 1t
threatened to control Kentucky. SEN
ator Carlisle, of that State, has recent
ly shown how public men regard the
Alliances strength by writing a letter
explanatory and apologize for his &C
ton on the silver bills.
Farmeri Macune's letter is in re-
Spouse to the following direct ques-
tions:
Mr.. @. W Macune, Chairman F1rmer.'
AUiamce:
DEAR SIR:-Wil you favor the Detroit
Evening Ne,OS with a statement of your
vi We concerning the political action
which should be taken by farmers toward
those Congressman who voted against the
unlimited coinage of silver? Eight Michi-
gan Congressman voted against this meas
ure. Many of them are, or will be, can
Cidates for denomination and election.
Their districts are largely infu need by
the vot S of farmers. The exact question
which l wish you would answer is: What
action should Michigan farmers take, at
conventions and at the polls, toward
those eight Congressman who voted
against unlimited silver coinage?
Mr.. Macune does not dodge the
point in his reply. His advice to
"cut the heads off the eight Michi-
gan Congressman is thus pointedly
stated:
Detroit McaOS You ask: What politi-
cal action should be taken by farmers to-
ward those Congressman who voted
against the Unlimited COMA e of silver?
l think the farmer should chop
their heads off without ceremony.
Free coinage of silver has been univer-
sally indorsed by the farmers as one
of the leading demands of the National
Farmers Alliance and Industrial
Union. 1t is = measure calculated 10
afford some protection to the people
from the power of the exploiting class,
and is, therefore, = move in the inter.
est of the whole people, except such as
propose by means Of the "power of
money to Cypress by It's scarcity. If,
therefore, the farmers vote for their
own interests they will vote 10 retire
their servants in Congress who have
been SO recreant to the trust reposed
in them by the people as to oppose un-
limited coinage of silver.
What action should farming inter.
ests take at the conventions and at The
polls7
If a farmer does not look after his
own interest he may expect to find
them neglected, because no other per
son will. If he employs an agent and
that agent represents his adversary
instead of him, he has no alternative
but to discharge the agent and employ
another. The fact that the farmers
of this country have been ~neglecting
their own interests in this particular
politically has led to many abuses, and
great Innovations upon their rights
and pecuniary interests have been
practlced. II a dominant party de-
sires to enact a wise law that is pre-.
emiHently in the interest of the peo-