Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-11-25
STATE FARMERS ALLIANCE.
Pla form Adopted at the Recent Go
vanfiou

STATE FARMERS ALLIANCE.
Pla.. form Adopted at the Recent Con.
vsntion.
Following is the platform adopted by the
State Farmers Alliance al San Jose on No
vember 22d:
Resolved, That we view with disfavor any at
tempt TO advance the interests OF candidates for
offices before the Alliance especially for candl-
dates for the high position of President OF this
Republic, and we can assure the people that the
farmers of this nation are not looking for
Caesar or Cromwell or milllonalres, but for
Cincinnatus and when he is found we shall
know him by the character he bears and the
work he has performed.
Edmund Burke, the great EnglIsh orator ana
statesman, never uttered wiser and more truth
full sentence than when in the midst OF one OF
his grand and noble speeches he exclaimed ::
when bad men combine the good must associ-
eiate else they will fall one by one, an implied
sacrifice in contemp ible struggle"
By vast combinations of capital and its I'M
principled and oppressive manipulation this
dread alternative has been squaTely placed De-
| fore the laboring people OF this country. While
our wealth has been increasing with the most
wonderful rapidity, the astonishing spectacle is
presented of the producers OF that wealth as
certainly and as rapidly growing poorer
The cause of this unnatural condition of
things we are most honestly and earnestly en-
deavoring to ascertain. To do this more easily
and etlectudlly, 10 lllS pSO-
| pie together and encourage them in the inter-
change of thoughts. No conclusions are de-
sired or sought but those that are founded in
truth. No remedy is expected or wished for
that is not dictated by perfect justice. The as
sociates whose aid we are hoping to secure are
all those in whose hearts there continues to
burn the pure fire of patriotism aud love OF hui
mainly. The man or woman who Will coldly
turn away from our appeal must have lost from
their remembrance the deeds and virtues of the
patriotic dead.
of deep and Wit al interest to all our people. We
have found in 1889 s, 200 900 men and women in
the United States of America working for an
average of less than $500 year, while the
farmer of this country gets on an average of
$3.50 per year for the labor of himself and fam
i.y. We have also learned that Wall street and
the national banks are the most powerful factors
in shaping our national legislation, and that
those highest in authority bend in most abject
subseryiency to the narrow and selfish demands
of purse proud oligarchy
That at the dictation of a foreign money
power our currency has been destroyed and
bonded Indebtedness made to take its place,
whereby untold millions of interest have been
forced from the hands of honest toll, while com.
merce has been made to languish, manufactures
cease and all classes OF industry and improve
ment move with uncertain and unsteady tread.
That the farms and public lands of the ma
ton passing with frlghttul rapidlty into the
possession of syndicates and alien landlords,
thus breaking down the strongest bulwarks OF
liberty-the independent home and the common
school.
That the elective franchise is fast being de-
bauched by intimidation and bribery; that the
liquor saloon-the foul octopus whose hydra
head upreared in every peaceful hamlet brings
sorrow, dIscord and destruction, and whose
Shiny arms would drag down every virtue and
strangle every industry-has become danger
Gus factor in politics as well as in morals.
That one-half OF our citizens and that the
very best and purest and most law-abiding
own true wives-are deprived of their rights
guaranteed them by our great charter that says,
'All just governments derive their powers from
the consent of the governed"
and, further still, have we seen that our State
Legislatures are as a rule composed OF 1dlers
and non-producers, and the Congress of the
nation is filed with lawyers and bankers nu-
merically the smallest class of our community,
giving them the absolute veto power of all leg
islation, which power they have used for the
enrichment of the favored few and the in
poverishment of the masses
But, brothers, the light Is now breaking, the
morning beams come streaming over the east
ern hills, presaging the speedy coming of
mighty, irresistible tidal wave, the Farmers
Alliance and Industrial Union is sweeping over
the nation, until to-day from three. score thou
sand school-houses, those cradles of patriotism
and intelligence, there comes one firm and de-
termined protest against longer continuance
OF these crying wrongs, and united demand
for the immediate introduction of better eondi-
tions. Aud to this end, as prominent features
of the new order, we demand:
First-The entire abolition of National Banks
and the substitut on OF legal-tender Treasury
notes. issued in sufficient quantity to enable the
business of the country TO be transacted on
cash system; that such notes be made to rest
upon any good security, and to be a full legal
tender for all debts, both public and private,
and bear q rate of interest not to exceed per
cent per annum.
Second-Government ownership OF sill the
agencies of public transportation and commune
cation, and that they be operated in the interest
lNft k,.ar Ia oto at1
Third-The restoration of all unearned land
grants to the public domain, and legal provis
ions made to prevent the securing or holding of
large tracts of land by either corporations or
aliens for speculative purposes.
Fourth-The adoption by our next Legislature
of what is known as the Australian ballot sys-
TEN of voting" to the end that intimidations
may cease and the purity and secrecy of a free
| man may be secured.
Fifth-We hereby approve of the declaration
of the Farmers Alliance and Industrial Union,
when it said: 1--WE are opposed to the saloon
and liquor business in all its FORMS
Sixth-The election of President, Vice Presi-
dent and United States Senators by direct vote
of the people.
Seventh-That while we continue the coinage
OF gold and silver as money they shall sustain a
perfect equality as to coinsge and tender.
Eghth-That a proper and safe educational
qualification for the exercise of the elective
franchise shonld be adopted, but no discrimiua
ton on account of sex and that they should for
ever remain non sectarlan.
Ninth-That our present public school system
shall be maintained and its efficiency increased
more and more as the exigeneies OF the coun-
try may demand, and that text books used in
the pub ic schools be furnished by the State at
cost.
Tenth-That we recommend such changes in
the State law that in the event of the death of
the husband the wife has the same right TO con-
duct and carry on the business as the partner
has, without the long and tedious course of law
usual in such cases.
Eleventh-That we favor a change in the
State law that will make taxes payable semi
annually.
After the delegates had presented Colonel
] S. Barbee with a fine cane, as testi-
monial of their esteem, the first State
Convention of the Farmers Alliance Of
California adjourned sine die.