Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-02-20

for the better protection of their inter-
ests? Can there be any reasonable
objection set up? The products of
agriculture makes and sets in motion
the commerce of the world, our rail-
roads gr0an under its weight and our
oceans are whitened with its sails.
Many other interests inferior to it and
wholly dependent on it, are thoroughly
organized for their mutual protection
and benefit. And the persons, or many
of them, who will set up the loudest
wall against the farmers alliance, nine
out of ten already belong to some such
organization.
1.-The farmers profits are the pro-
ducts of his labor and sweat, and it is
but simple justice that he should gather
the fruit of his toll. 1t is right that
they should have the benefit of the full
strength of the markets on all the pro-
ducts of their farms without paying
per cents. and commissions to those
who took no part in their production.
"But the farmers when organized
must be very careful not to give too
much scope to their power by an
tagonizing anything that tends to
building up and developing the gen.
eral interests of the country, lest they
be found in the same predicament of
the man who sawed off the limb
between himself and the tree. We
need and must have cities and towns,
and everything that tends to their
growth and prosperity but adds value
to the farm and its products. We
must have merchants. manufacturers
and all kinds of skilled labor, and the
prosperity of one means the prosperity
Of the other. Farmers make very
poor merchants and merchants make
equally as poor farmers. Every man
to his calling, and all are mutually bene-
flied.
s'It is the duty of the farmer to keep
posted as to the worth of what he buys
as well as to what he sells.
s'There are many things to be con-
sidered by this farmers alliance that
are worthy of very careful consider
alton. The agricultural interests
demand cheaper rates of transporta-
tion, and cheaper money. The laws
governing interests and usury are too
much like the handle on a jug-all on
one side. In fact our laws are SO
plant that they are but hot-beds in
which to sprout and grow millionaires.
I'VE look in vain to political parties
for relief. If we could live ON party
pledges we would do well enough.
Within the past few years the very air
has been full of high protective tariff
and free trade. each was Eeld out by
its friends and supported as the anti
dote of all our woes. We have one
I'VE couldn't have both at once,) pro-
.ective tariff, and it matters but little
to the holder of the plow handles,
which we have, it counts out all the
same. When the present admins
tration took hold of our government
we were flattered that all Onr hardships
and hard times were at an end. We
were promised more money and better
prices for the products of our farms.
Have we realized it? Ask the producer;
ask the wage earners of all classes and
professions, and the answer will come
back, no. The products of the farm
hardly pay the cost of production.
''As the control of our government
passes from one party to another about
all that is thought of from the president
down to our representative in congress
is to put the ins out and the outs i'll,
and the great struggling masses are
left to take care of themselves as best
they can until the next political cam
paign to be again stuffed full of mean
ingless pledges.
Il very we'll know that the alliance
is not political organization, and
should not be, and the writer is no
politician but farmer of very humble
pretensiOns.
''But this alliance to become effective
must have political influence, either
directly or indirectly. In no other
way can this partisan political mis-
management be corrected. There is
quite difference between politics and
partisan politics. 1 mean the term
politics upon which are based the
principles of all governments instituted
and ruled by the people.
II tell you brother farmers plainly.
that if there is anything done to free
us from this impending bondage we
will have to do it soon and do it our
selves. We are. already cornered on
everything and on every side. The
fetters are fast being forged to bind
us in perpetual slavery. Trusts and |
all other combines are hanging around |
us like storm clouds around the noun |
tains. So come, let US strip ourselves |
of all our deep seated prejudices that |
never have done us any good. Come.