The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-09-16
THE BILL.

Mr.. EDIToR:--The organization of
the Farmers Alliance is altogether
unprecedented. Col. Polk, President
of the National organization, declared
that it is the grandest voluntary asso-
citation upon the earth. This coming
together was not without a cause.
That cause existed before the move
ment began, and it exists to-day.
What is it ? The farmers saw that
they were fast drifting to the condi-
ton of serfs and slaves, and that they
had no control over tn J causes of their
depression and downward tendency
Hence the demand for organization.
Their object was to find out the causes
of their depression and to remedy
them.
The first and most potent cause
they found to be In the financial man
agement of the government. Silver
had been demonetized. The United
States government bonds, which had
been bought with a deprecated cur,
rency, were made payable in gold.
The Treasury notes we're called in and
the national banks chartered. The
farmers could get money to make and
handle their crops only at usuriOus
and extortionate rates. To meet
this condition, to remedy this evil,
the Alliance and Knights of Labor
devised the Sub. Treasury bill as a
means by which the people might get
money directly from the government
without the Intervention of Spectators,
usurers and extortioners. It would
at once destroy the occupations of
those who devour the profits of labor
by their wits and without the sweat
of the brow. 1t would cut off trusts,
combines and monopolies and bring
the government in direct contact with
the people who would feel its presence
only by the blessings which it would
bring.
1t is the duty of the government to
coin money, which includes the right
and the duty of furnishing a sound
currency to the people. 1t should do
this without the intervention of Wall
street. The government should fur
nish money direct to the farmers and
laborers and not dole it out to them
through the hands of spectators.
This is all the Sub-Treasury bill pro
poses to do, and the claim that it is
unconstitutional is the pretext of Wall
street and its friends. The claim that
it is paternal is no better. It is no
more paternal than the Postofice De,
partment. The government is simply
requested to do that which it ought to
dO-furnish a sound currency to the
people. No State has or ought to
have the right to do this. No corpo-
ration or bank ought to have the right
to Cypress the people. The claim that
it is class Legislation is no more ten
able. The farmer produces material
for the food and clothing of all classes
and conditions of the people. What
ever benefits him benefits all. Like
the early and the latter rains that fall
upon the earth and cause it to bring
forth it's fruit in due season, this bill
would bless all alike.
This bill is the product of the best
thought of the representatives of three
millions of farmers and laborers, it is
eminently wise and far reaching. Let
us support it. 1t is too late to retreat.
We have checked our baggage
through. Sink or swim, live or die,
survive or perish, we have given our
hearts and our hands to the great
movement and we cannot afford to
abandon it now.
ALEX. MOWER.