The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-04-29
rspecial Dispatch to the Cincinnati Enquirer


lOpNNAAA
WASHINGTON, April 9, 1890.
Atchisoa. Kan, March 26.-The
Farmers Alliance Of Kansas, in con
vention at Topeka, yesterday passed,
among other resolutions, the follow
ing notwithstanding the fact that
John J. Ingalls, has represented Kan.
sas for eighteen years in the United
States Senate, it is a difficult matter
for his constituents to point to a SIN,
ole measure he has eve champloned
in the interest of the great agrlcuItu-
raj and Iaboring element of Kansas
and we will not support, by our votes
or influence, any candidate for the
Legislature who favors his re- election
to the United States Senate"
81. Paul, Mjmn., Apri7 2.-The in
dignation of the farmers of Minnesota
has risen to a white heat over the de-
cision of the United States Supreme
Court in the now famous Granger
cases, in which the Minnesota Railway
Commission was practically laid on
the shelf. The Executive Committee
of the State Farmers Alliance, repre-
senting over 10000 tillers of the soil,
met here Yesterday and passed a set
of resolutions de~nunciatory OF the
Supreme Court, and asking all the
Farmers Alliances in the country to
ioin with them in a National Conven-
ton looking to the abolition OF the
C1pro,oo TO77rt
The American farmer as a factor in
politics now threatens revolution. His
condition has reached taat point that
his W salvation overshadows every
other con sideration. From all Sec
tions of the country the daily record
shows the foreclosure of farm mort
cages. Observation and study de-
clare that farm values are constantly
shrinking, and that the value of farm
products depreciate rather than ap-
preciate. The banking system of the
country is so organized IS to be of but
little service to the practical farmer,
and when interposed for his relief
exacts interest at his hands outside Of
the pale of usury.
Until within quite a recent period,
though conditions heretofore as bale,
full have existed, the American far
mer has made no effort of organized
cohesiveness to better his condition.
Though each yearfound him in higher
financial straits, no remedy of relief
was suggested.
THE REVOLUTION THREATENED
By the agricultural class, and which
even the politicians are nov ready to
admit is impending, will be by the
ballot. The evidences multiply that
the farmers propose to throw aside
party affiliations and seek relief in the
support of men who are committed to
measures for their betterment. This
is the danger signal sounded in Repub,
lican Kansas, with the ominous warn.
ing to the senior Kansas Senator.
It is a notorious fact that every
class Of industry, ave that of agricul-
ture, has to an extent more or less
been aided by National legislation.
Those engaged in trade and manufac-
ture have had the benefits of a pro.
tective tariff. The banks have been
signally the benefciaries of govern
ment bounty. Even the distillers of
whiskey, in the era of overproduction
and stringency, were given three years
IN which to pay the tax upon the
surplus.
THE EXTENT OF FARMING.
The census of 1880, the only official
figures Obtainable, shows that of the
entire population over one-seventh is
engaged in agricultural pursuits. To
be explicit, those thus engaged mum.
Der in round numbers 1000, 900, while
In manufacturing and mining only g.
OOO, 600 are employed, and in profes-
sional services 4, 200, 600. Moreover,
the farm acreage Of the country in
that year was 539, O9,I79 acres,
with a valuation fixed at $40, 1877, O96,.
IT'S. AS a parallel, the invested CAPT,
tai In the manufactures of the United
States aggregated only So, 100, 223,-
sos, with the value of products at
$500, 657, 7O6. I cite these figures
to show that, of all the industries of
this fair land, farming stands out pre-
eminent and paramount.
II.
The American farmer, recognizing
his power of the ballot as an inherent
of relief, is now banded in an organi-
zstion of common brotherhood and
traternal reciprocity. 1t is known as
the National Farmers Alliance of
America. The prime object of the
association Is to better the condition
OF the farmers of America mentally,
morally and financially; to suppress
personal, sectional and national preju-
dices, all unhealthful rivalry and sell
fish ambition; to return to the princi.
pies on which this government was
founded by adhering to the doctrine
of 0OTaI piOb+u orI oC,,c1