The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-12-11

Strength enough TO hold the balance
of power, if not enough to dominate
existing parties. This is con-
sum alton devoutly wished and worked
for by the more daring and aggressive
leaders of the farmers movement, and
if their policy should prevail and said
leaders steadily keep in view the
principles and objects of the party,
and noI-as has often been done
sacrifice the people for place and
power, great results may accrue.
There are always plenty of able men
to take the lead in such movements,
but great scarcity OF honest ones.
Whenever there is a prospect for
personal or political advancement,
there will be found crowds of able
patriots ready to sacrifice thems elves
for the sake of the people.
The Farmers Alliance and similar
organizations have more to fear from
their pretended friends than from
aVowed enemies. With level headed
honest men at the head of affairs, the
present agitation amongst the agri-
cultural classes promises to be pro-
ductive OF great things, but if the
adventurer element is allowed to take
charge and run the machine it needs
no pre-science to predict an everlast-
ing smash up.
About year ago it was reported
that the Knights of Labor and Al.
lance proposed to join forces. l never
could understand where there was any
identity of interest between the
farmer proper and the Knights Of
Labor. The farmer is capitalist and
to a certain extent manufacturer,
and depends more or less on hired
labor.
The Knights of Labor is paid la
borer and generally acts as if CAPT
talists and manufacturers were his
mortal enemies. 1t is to the farmers
interest to get cheap labor, cheap
transportation rates and cheap manu-.
featured goods. 1t is the object of the
Knights of Labor to keep up the price
Of labor and consequently transporta-
ton rates and price of manufactured
acticles.
To effect their purpose they resort
to strikes, boycotts and more doubt
full acts. Farmers can have no smy-
patty with such practices, as they
would be ruinous if applied in agri-
culture. Think what the effect would
be if the agricultural Knight of Labor
should be ordered to strik
during the grain harvest
of the North or the cotton
hoeing and picking of the south. Such
tyrannical combinations can never
have the indossment of the farmer.
The farmer must avail himself OF
every kind of labor saving machine,
but the Knights of Labor is opposed
to its use, if not to its manufacture.
Mr.. Powderly attended to Alliance
congress as a representative of the
Knights of Labor doubtless with view
to.promcting a union between the two
organizations and is reported to have
advocated reform in the employment
OF child labor, insisted the government
had the right to control the railroads,
and then made an attack upon the
employment of labor saving machinery
and defrauding workmen of their right
to work. He was especially bitter
against all electric devices, declaring
that capitalists, in their greed, had
cornered Gods wealth and compelled
it to do their bidding. He denounced
sectionalism, and said: "No matter
what politicians may say, we OF all sec,
tons are here together again, and to-
gether we will fight monopoly" This
sentiment brought forth great ap-
plause.
Mr.. Powderly is shrewd fellow
and thinks a consolidation OF his
labor organizations with the now pow
erful and triumphant agricultural
associations would help to arrest the
rapidly approaching dissolution OF the
former.
The time has not arrived when the
lamb can safely make bed compan-
ion of the lion, or oil permanently
amalgamate with water, Till that
time, Farmers Alliances and other mu-
tual advantage associations will do
we'll to let the Knights OF Labor and
similar antagonistic orders work out
their own salvation.
EFFECT OF THE TARIFF ON AGRICUI-
TURE.
Secretary Rusk has just issued the
usual annual report OF his department,
and it is a medley of useful informa-
ton and humbug.
He tells the farmers that they ought
to be contented and prosperous if they
are not. That the p1ternal govern,
ment of which he is a bright and
shining member has done everything
possible to protect and conserve the
agricultural interest, and that their
action, through the Mckinley bill, has
raised the value of corn in Chicago
from 81 cents to so cents, and wheat
from 81 cents to ST..
The secretary must think the farm
ers of America a parcel of idiots, if he
expects them to thank the Mckinley
or any other bill for the enhanced
value OF their grain, when even the
most illiterate and careless of then