Thomas County cat., 1890-07-17
Farmers views on the Alliance.

EDITOR HERALD notice tnat you
have opened up an Alliance Department
in the Herald, and invite farmers tc con-
tribute to It, have been a reader of
the Herald for several years, and while
the paper has been kept right up to the
times, and have always been its friend
and patron, am now more friendly than
ever to it, and wish to contribute my
mite to make the Alliance Department
interesting. hope others will send in
their thoughts for this column.
What the farmers want is to act intelli-
gently and unitedly in this great Alliance
movement to gain their rights. In the
main the principles set forth in the ALI
ance platforms are sound and good, and
they must be carried out before farmers
have their rights 1 do not contend that
everything that the Alliances have de-
manded is correct. No, some demands
are impracticable. not to say foolish. For
instance, the resolutions passed by some
Alliances that lawyers shall not be elect
ed to any Office, not even that of Judge
or prosecuting attorney, but nobody but
farmers shall fill even these Offices. Such
resolutions hurt our movement, but do
not believe that they are endorsed by
many members of the Alliance.
Another position taken by some that
nobody shall be supported for an Office
who has ever held one, is not well taken
from my standpoint. What we as farm
ers want is an intelligent understanding
of our wants, and then firm, united and
patient effort to secure to ourselves those
things wanted, These leading wants are:
Equal rights to all, and special privileg
es to none, in all things essential unity,
in all things charity" We should be SO
united as to form mutual cooperative
or helpful society-in which the chief
corner-ctone is to live and let live. While
We should oppose class legislation as the
one chief cause of the evils we complain
of, We should religiously avoid favoring
class legislation for farmers alone. We
should do equal and exact justice to all
people, whether they are farmers or fol-
low some other occupation.
Let us demand an increase of the vol
ume of currency of the country, the con-
troll by the government of the means of
transportation, law against the extor-
ton of usuriOus interest; the suppression
of the o-called trusts which are formed
to put up the prices of the necessities of
life for the benefit of the specuiator. q
law making bribery crime. and mean
while let us educate ourselves and child
rem by reading, discussing thinking, and
thus prepare ourselves to grapple with
these and other questions which are so
closely identified with our interests, and
not only Orrs, but the interests of society
in general. 1t has been said that "knOwl.
edge is power" and this is self-evident
and needs no argument. Farmers must
take good newspapers and books and
read them, and do more earnest thinking
and then unite in one common purpose
to accomplish what legislation theywant
They should move with care and deliber-
alton, and avoid making impracticable
and unwise demands, and show to the
world that all they want is fair play in
the race of life, and while opposing class
legislation, should have care not to de-
mand class legislation securing special
privileges to us as class which cannot
be enjoyed by those following different
pursuits.
Much can be accomplished by legisla-
ton. Let us see to it that only those
are sent to our halls of legislation who
are in full accord with onr general pur-
poses.
Ibelieye brighter and better day is
dawning for the farmer and industrious
worker in every calling. and if the Ali
ance, which has so rapidly grown in
numbers and influence, is true to its CEN
trail principles, it will have been move
ment wisely started and grand in re
suits.
FARMER
-Phillipsburg Herald.
Final proof notices published hereafter
in the Thomas County CAT. The old
price of $500 will prevail. Contest motto
eS 81 90 each.