Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-04-03
ALLIANCE AND GRANGE.
GOOD RESULTS.
Advantages of Cohesion in the Alliance |
Becoming Manifest.

Advantages OF COHeSlOn IN the AIiianco
Becoming Manifest.
At last the farmer has realized that
resolutions and declarations of rights
are futile unless backed by substantial
demonstration of power-for half a
century he has annually resolved, re-
solved and lived and paid just the same.
Some points have been definitely
settled-they are unalterable facts in
the calendar of 1889, whatever history
in 1890 may write. Note few OF the
most prominent:
/. Contrary to all precedent and pre-
diction the farmers have stuck together
the past year. They have done more
they have acted cOncertedly, con-
servatively, intelligently. True, re-
suits are short of what they might have
been; but they have been directly pro-
portional to the prevalence of concert
ed action-and am persuaded, are far
short of what 1890 will show. The
farmers ability to stick" is demon
strated fact.
2. The farmers ability to control his
product, and command fair price for it
in the markets of the world, even under
the unfavorable conditions of last year,
is settled question. There is no wiping
out the fact that notwithstanding the
large crop, and the manipulation of a
shrinking volume of currency in the in
terest of speculation, the cotton crop
Just harvested has sold for an average
of S. moro per bale than that of any
year since 1881. This, too, in the face
OF existing disproportions- g., the
crop of 1881 aggregated only five and a
half million bales as against near seven
and a half millions for last year. To
purchase the crop of 1881 there was cur
rency in circulation to the amount of
| Sill S per capita; to purchase the last
crop there was only S6.10 per capita, or
I less.
1t is generally admitted now by can
| did observers in Wall street and out of
| it that the Farmers movement was the
principal factor in making up this re-
suit. If such results can be wrought
out of such crude material, with an en-
vironment so inauspicious, what may
not the farmer reasonably hope for the
present year? The possibilities contin-
gent alone upon concerted action flor
wise leadership is assured) are inspiring
in the highest degree.
| 8. The mercantile and manufacturing
world has changed its attitude toward
the farmer. Every line of goods in
every line of business has been sub
jected to the closest scrutiny; and what
are the farmers going to do?' figures in
every business calculation. The con-
temptation well-nigh takes ones breath.
Is this not worth all the labor, all the
| trouble?
General inquiry into the first cost OF
commodities has been stimulated, and
the people at large instructed as to the
wide hiatus between cash and time
prices. There will be no steps back
ward from this point.
The cohesive force does exist, then,
among the farmers: and the stupendous
momentum of the coherent body of farm
ers against any and all combinations
devised for the farmers hurt has been
startlingly illustrated. But let the
| farmer not forget that his case is still
| res ddjudicdta mont is continued upon
! the dockets of go; it is still pending.
Its decision or progress towards final
adjudication this year will depend upon
the fidelity of the farmer throughout
/ the year, of course; but will depend par
| ticularly, and, more than all else, upon
three things:
l. Upon the business engagements
/ IL 1-o, no
months. If he fall into the old rut and
make contracts for advances payable
| November l, as heretofore, the move
ment will be shorn of half its power. II
| is the universal sense of State and Ma
tional Alliance that no contract should
be made that will compel the producer
to sell his products before December
or rs.
Complete victory for the farmer in
1890 will be achieved, if at all, during
| the first months of the year." writes j.
w. Stokes in the Orangeburg Is. c.
Times and Democrat. He continues:
Let him economic at every point
make this crop, if possible, without in
! curing debt. If one must have ad-
vances, make no contracts to masure be-
| fore January 1 or December %. The
merchant must help us at this point,
and he will if it is properly presented.
| Paw him interest for the additional
time, of course, but by all means hold
that point, demand that time"
2. 1t depends upon strictest fidelity to
the plans and instructions emanating
! from farmers headquarters. Seeds OF
/ dissension will be industriously and in
sidiously sown by disaffected parties
| within and without the camps. Every
effort will be made to undermine the
| confidence of the farmer in those men
! who are stationed upon the watch
! towers. Their motives will be in
s'diously assailed. and the temptation
Ill be to repudiate their rulings when
! Individual or local interest seem to con-
! fiict with them; but have patience,
brother, till you can see all around the
matter from their standpoint This
| D Ease of the fight is already ION, as
was clearly shown a few days ago. The
president of the State Exchange of
| Georgia resigned on the ground
of ill-health and pressing private
business. An enemy flashed all
over the country the insinuation that
| he was a defaulter. The dailies. with
their usual enterprise, announced in
startling headlines, "A scandal in ALI
ance circlesr'' followed by quarter OF
a column of conjectures and surmises
as to effects upon the Order. At the
conclusion was a single line in small
type, beginning Later" (also in small
type), announcing that in all probable
ity the scandal was a false allegation.
Let the farmer keep weather eye on