The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-08-14
SPEECH or COL. |. L. POLK,


ance and Industrial Union, Before the
Independent state Convention 1t
Huron, July Q. 1890.
Ladies and gentlemen, sisters and
brethren:
l desire to express my pleasure at
meeting and mingling with the people
of whom have heard SO much. |
have been made to feel wherever l
have gone in the north that my lines
have fallen in pleasant places.
| am here not as politician, but as
q citizen and an Alliance man. II any
present cannot relish the plain unvar-
nished truth of an Alliance speech they
will not be much interested. My peo-
pie have heretofore not only allowed.
but actually hired other men 10 do their
thinking for them. The Alliance is ed
ucating them to think for themselves.
After very brief photographed
sketch, the speaker continued, address
ing farmers: Who are you? You rep
resent of the population of the coun-
try. You produce IS per cent Of the
domestic exports of the country.
Without you our ships would rot at
our wharves, and Jay Gould could not
buy his breakfast. You clothe and
feed the world. Let us see if you are
appreciated.
want to say that in the develop
ment of our advancing civilization.
forces have arisen, demoralizing in
their character, that call for most con-
servative and manly action. When in
the history of our country have rail-
roads hourished and prospered as they
do today? When has capital sought so
eagerly investment in railroad proper
ty? When have large fortunes been
so easily made? When have manufac-
lures SO prospered? When have cities
and towns sprung up and flourished as
they do today? When have you known
agriculture to SO languish as it does
today? In 1850 farmers owned 20 per
cent of the wealth of the country. and
paid 80 per cent of the taxes; today
they own % per cent and pay IS per
cent of the taxes.
You see by these figures that we are
growing poorer; that we do not only
feed and clothe the world. but on your
shoulders rest the frame of this govern
ment. and it could not exist thirly-six
hours without you.
Presidents Cleveland and Harrison
and their cabinets have been and arc
greatly concerned about tho surplus in
the treasury. That surplus came from
the sturdy blows of the American
farmer. The bond-nolder purchased
his bonds at So cents on the dollar, and
can sell them at any time at 128. Can
you mortgage your farm for one-third
of its value aud sell your note for its
face? All interests except agriculture
are prospering. and we would rejoice
in it, if it were not at our expense.
Farmers. when they are about to take
produce to market to convert into
money, should ask themselves the ques.
ton: '.How much will dollar in mon.
ey cost me?'
Scarce money means high money
high money means cheap products.
Wicked legislation has restricted the
circulation and ground the farmer be-
tween the upper and neither millstones
While a dollar in money now buys
more merchandise than few years
ago, it is the poor underpaid shop girls
and workmen who suffer for it. Blu,
will dollar pay more debts, or inter
est, or doctors bills or lawyers fees
than formerlyp
The speaker said that he had con.
suited members of congress as to thu
trouble with the farmers. Som,
thought the remedy lay in diversified
crops; but the case Of New Jersey, ths
! very garden spot of the country, dis
proved this. Senator Morrill, though
the trouble lay in over-prodnction in ,
country where child goes to bed hun
cry. One says that the farmers ar.
too lazy; another that they are too in
dustrious, and produce too much
Could those who are crying over-pro
duction look into the dens and novels
Of poverty in the land, they would 50!
that if our exported corn and whea
could have been distributed at hOm,
there would be no over-production
The trouble is nder-consumption, no
over-production. They try to lay th'
fault on God and the farmer. l dc
clare it to be the fault Of the rotten
wicked, partial financial system of thi
country. We have quietly worked OF
and allowed the politicians to run ou
government. We have frequentl,
called out to them: "Watchman, wha
of the night?" and they have replied
"All is we'll; keep plowing." Nov
they are greatly alarmed because tn
farmers are going into politics. Th'
cry of alarm comes from little politi
clans who set around on dry good
/ UOAcS uuu cCnO ING scultIucUL Ol Nn0l
bosses. l would like to take one Q
these fellows aside and ask him VIII,
has better right to go into politics
to whom do parties belong, anyhow
Who pays the taxes? Who does tn
voting? Who does the fighting whe1
there is fighting to be done? Who ha
any better right to go into politics thai
the peaceful, conservative farmers
These fellows do not know the differ
ence between politics and partyism.
would not give the snap of my tinge
for the Alliance if il were not full q
politics. But the Alliance does not in
terfere with political or religious views
1t has no more right to dictate part
afiiliation than church connection. w
are freeman with no mans cola
around our necks. If any of you thin
You can find remedy for our ills j
either of the old parties 60 ahead an
try it. Others have tried both and gi,
en- it up and desire to form new pal
ty. The Alliance only asks you to d
your duty to your God, your famil
and your fellow men. / here registe
| o .olo.~,., ~o<h oo.o~ 10 nnc% q, holl.