davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-02-07
All Along the Line.

The watchword is to organize-and
organize with the spirit OF freemen-
freemen from the despotism OF party
and the seduction of party button
holers. Everything is cheering.
There are practically no divisions in
the ranks. There will always be
local and state differences as to men
and policies. There will come up
questions calling for active discus
sion at the State Alliance, and some
one is bound to be in the minority.
But within this, all indicates activ-
ity; without, it indicates that the
lines between patriotism and party
ism have become visible. A man
may yet be good alliance man and
differ with his neighbors-but he
must not be on the outside and shout
party or nothing"
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-02-07
The American Farmers Lot.

On a Pennsylvania Central train a
few weeks since, says Henry George
in the Standard of Jan. 8, l heard
a story which illustrates how the
American farmer is being crowded
out. A friend of my informant's wife
some fifteen or twenty years ago
married young, intelligent and
well educated farmer who felt himself
comparatively rich, having inherited
from his father 24O acres of land
on the Illinois Central railroad,
about 100 miles from Chicago. The
two women had kept up a cores
pondence, and it had been the inten-
ton of the Pennsylvania people to
make a long deferred visit to the ILL.,
nois people this year. But the ILL
nois woman had recently written to
say that her husband had lost his
farm. Some eight years ago he
bought eighty acres of adjoining
land and put q mortgage on the
whole 800 acres in order to get the
purchase money. With the low
prices for products, he has been
steadily running behind on his inter-
est payments and at last he has been
forced to give it up, surrendering the
whole place to the mortgage. His
stock and implements only brought
81 $50 at auction, although one
item was a carriage for which, in bet
ter days, he had paid $500. and had
recently had put in good order. TIE
man and his wife are about to re-
move to Rockford, ILL.,, where he has
a relative in the coopering business,
and where he expects, after working
for nothing for a sufficient time, to
get knowledge of the trade, to get
50 a week.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-02-07
The Union of the Alliances.

There evidently is going to be a
question raised at the State Alliance
as to our union with the great In
dustrial Union-and the question is
a political difficulty which has been
injected.
The president of the Mimi. State
Alliance gave the cue to his antagon-
ism when he said 1.-The Southern Al
lance was all democrats Then a
question has been raised on the score
OF the colored people. The colored
people of the south have their separ-
ate alliances, and the Southern
Farmers Alliance" with it's ten
thousand organizations, and the
agricultural Wheel" had never af-
filiated with them. The Colored AL
lance requested that the two be kept
separate.
When great bodies of men unite for
work in one line they must hedge
on lines of differences. There must
be an exclusion ofpolitical differences
to create a commercial Union. Ma
sonic, religious, mutual insurance.
commercial and hundred other as
sociations do this-and the Alliance
OF MINES Ota must decide whether it
will unite with the nation on Alliance
work-or whether it will force the
color question into the issue, and
remain outside the organization.
The editor of this paper aided es-
Gaping black-men across the river to
Canada and freedom when but eight
or ten years of age, was seriously
crippled (sight) in campaigning for
John c. Fremont when schoolboy,
and three times enlisted in the war
and his sympathies for the man who
is unfortunately born black are as
great as any mans. He will 90
far in criticising his own party for
twenty years of power, without Civ
ing the black man his rights.
But We say-and say it kindly
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-02-07

that when we 60 into this alliance
work the many-colored-coat Of poll
tics is shed at the outer door. The
southern alliance has done more than
we in this work a hundred fold, and
we shall not attempt to dictate their
policy in the alliance. The basis of
Union left the colored man at liberty
to unite with any alliance where the
State chose to SO order. Inasmuch
as the southern colored people had
their own Alliance aud asked to be
separate, the Southern Alliance and
Wheel asked that white men be sent
to National meetings as delegates.
We wish this matter had never
come up. It was brought up-and
brought up by politicians. Men went
down to St. Louis to create just such
difficulties. Men went there purpose
ly to create a row on the democracy
issue-hired by politicians! Men
went there from at least two states
to have q row with Mr.. Wardall, the
National Executive of the Insurance
interest. Men succeeded in having
that row who had violated their own
compact in Alliance work, a compact
made in writing on which they
had received money from Mr.. War
oakland did this in the interest Of q
selfish personal combination with
politicians by which they were to
have salaries by the year and official
relations in the combine!
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-02-07
Miss Eva Mcdonald,

This well-known literary lady, and
eloquent champion Of labor will 60
out in the state to lecture for the
FARMERS ALLIANCE
Under the auspices of the GREAT
WEST. The expense will be provided
for by this paper excepting railroad
fare and hotel or private-house en-
tertainment. Miss Mcdonald is the
eva Gay" who went through the
factories of the great cities few
years ago, and made revelations
which aroused much Indignation.
She is an eloquent lecturer, and bril-
liant writer. Address the GREAT
WEST for dates-naming your own
preference.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-02-07

An Indictment Against the Farmers.
We publish the following letter
written by Joseph Medill, Editor of
the Chicago Tribune, a republican
paper, and one of the strongest in
the West. The language is the most
bitter invective against the farmers
that we have ever seen-and we are
inclined to protest against it. But
let every farmer who reads Judge for
himself:
Where, then, is the remedy from
THE HEAVY BURDEN OF 4 30
PER CENT. TAX ON THE NECES-
SARIES OF LIFE, BOTH IMPORT
ED AND DOMESTIC? There is only
one element or class able to remove
it, and that Samson is sleeping in
the lap of Delilah and will not
awaken. l, OF course, mean the
farmers, THE PLUNDERED, UN-
PROTECTED. TWENTY-FIVE MIL
LION OF GEESE-LIKE FARM.
Frs WHO PERMIT THEMSELVES
TO BE PLUCKED OF ALMOST
EVERY FEATHER BY A HIN
DRIED THOUSAND "PROTECTED''
MONOPOL1STS. So long as the
simple-minded bucolic class do not
"kick' off the burdens laid mon
them. Congress will not disturb the
war taxes and the manufacturers
corresponding bounties. While the
ploughmen act like Issacher's ass
and crouch between the burdens.
both will be kept on their backs.
The lubricants live localized in the
cities, and plot and scheme for pro-
motion of their selfish interest and
bring their united lobby influence to
bear on members of Congress. where
as the farmers live isolated and
scattered and can't or don't combine
in defense of their interests. Hence
they are unprotected, unrepresented
and unconscious Of what keeps them
poor. They are captivated by the
specious cry of projection to Ameri-
can industry" THO THEY GET
NONE OF IT; and the value Of the
"protected' home market to them
as if protected monopolists eat any
more than other men. Not until the
verdant, imposed-upon agriculturists
wake to a realization OF the conf
dence game being played upon them
will the war tariff be reduced or re-
formed; but when will they get their
eyes open and act? In your lifetimeo
Samson (the farmers) is under tho
spell OF Delilah (the manufacturersl
and his locks are shorn and he feels
no strength to resist. Until the nro-
tected manufacturers themselves ask
congress to reduce their protection
bounties in order to enable them to
cneapen the process of fabrication
with a view to finding foreign mar
ke1s Tor their surplus wares. there
will be no reduction of the high tariff
and no relief from THE HEAVY
BURDEN 1T IMPOSES ON THE
fOOL FARMERS AND OPPRESSED
CoNSUMERS. But when will that
be? Yours truly, J. MEDrLL
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-02-07

The Hector Mirror states the GREAT
WEsTis startinga bonding scheme in
organizing ajoint stock company. 1t
allows that we have a plant here
worth from $500 to 81, OOO." Gen.
erous indeed. It says we want the
farmers to put up cash to the
amount of $25 a share to take this
81 900 worth of material, and car
ry out the debt we owe to supply
~ 900 subscribers" with a paper
for a year.
This office has never asked the
farmers to put one cent into our
business-Wehave simply stated that
every 25 subscribers in any alliance
would entitle that alliance to a share
of stock, or a Joint ownership in the
plant and paper. We wished to have
200 or 800 shares taken in this way.
Of the 1000 shares of stock the pres
ent company will take 700, $17, 500.
$40, 900 of this is already in.
AS to there being 5000 or 81 900
invested here, the callow gutter-stub
of the Mirror shows his ignorance.
The type and other material and
fixtures cost but little over 81, 1000.
Ut stands $4,000 on the books. J
But the large presses, engine, folder,
etc., are not yet in. The expense of
this office for November were over
81 100; and since they run from & to
$500 a month. Our issues are some
weeks as high as Ii, 900 copies. Be-
sides this we wish to publish alliance
works, blanks, pamphlets, etc., and
provide for circulation of $4,000
which is surely coming. However,
the Mirror need not worry-the
''stock jobbing' will be confined to
the Company now owning the GREAT
WEsT-except the stock we are glad
to turn over to the alliances.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-02-07

Wadena Tribune:
Farmers How Is This?
In looking over the market re-
ports the past week we noticed an
item stating that No. 2 Northern
wheat was bringing 81 % per bushel
in Liverpool, England. Over twice
the amount that is paid for the same
wheat in this city. Well, you say i;
what does it cost to ship this wheat !?
On careful inquiry and from a reliable
source, we find that from this point
to Duluth, the first primary market,
the freight averages about 9A cents
per bushel. From Duluth, via the
Great Lakes and the Erie canal to
New York City, the freight is 6A cents
per bushel, and from New York City
to Liverpool, if sent first class, the
freight is ~ cents per bushel when
shipped as ballast. Adding these we
find the freight rate throughout the
whole distance to amount to only
18A cents. With 5 cents per bushel
more for handling, storage, etc., we
find the whole expense to be- 23A
cents per bushel. and this is placing
it at a high estimate. No. 2 North
ern wheat brings so cents in our
home market. This, with the ex-
pense OF 23K cents still leaves clear
profit somewhere, on Liverpool
wheat of 34X cents per bushel. OF
course this amount is divided among
a number of different parties but
even then the profit is enormous.
With a view to finding where the
greater bulk of this 34X cents goes
to, the market reports were perused
further and they showed conclusively
that with each succeeding market on
the way east the rate continues to
increase. Take for instance, as our
starting point the market here st
grain from thefarmers at a fair price
and by shipping to Duluth, or some
other primary market, are able to
make a profit OF say from one to
three CENTS, according to the market.
This same wheat shipped from Du-
luth, probably to Buffalo, brings in
it's owners a possible 4 to 6 cents per
bushel and SO On to the time it
reaches it's destination at Liverpool.
It will be seen by these figures that it
is not the home companies or the
buyers ina our midst that are carrying
on this wholesale robbery but on the
other hand it is the monopolist or
final buyers. Forty-four and three
fourths cents, net gain on one bushel
of wheat. What else can it be but
robbery?
The above is a just conclusion ex-
cept the last clause. Practically, the
local buyer is made the unconscious
agent of over one-half of this robbery.
He buys on telegraphic market quo
tations, and grades to protect him
self. In doing this he is putting, by
species OF eompulsion, an enormous
profit into the hands of the Mime
apolis dealer. This dealer is at times
the miller, and at times the eastern
shipper At all events the "a to A
cents difference, over and above
legitimate traffic, disappears.
Wheat is now quoted, (Jany. 3Oth,
at $1.1S for what would be our No.
l hard.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-02-07

We have stated several times that
the Wheat Inspection may be all
right at the Minneapolis end-there-
fore Mr.. Clausen may not be in the
slightest derelict. We say this may
be the case. The difficulty to which
we refer pertains to the "shortness'
OF the law and it's "system." 1t has
nothing to do with the farmer who
sells at the country end of the line.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-02-07

it, and sent messenger to us asking
us not to expose the matter. That
twice this has been done. That he is
still clinging to the affair, and has
coaxed politicians into the state to
aid him in capturing the State
Alliance.
That he had no part or parcel in
the great Alliance movement of the
state, until at last the reproaches of
others and even direct accusations
and danger OF condemnation at the
State meeting-indasced him to enter
the field with great vigor within the
past month.
To this could be added q score of
accusations of broken promises, of
political affiliations, OF alliances elect
ing him which had no existence, of
fostering local interests in the south
part of the state ETC., etc.
The GREAT WEST makes these &C.
cusations in defense of the Minnesota
Farmers Alliance-and in defense of
the National organizations.
But let the record stand but half
revealed. What is said is broug ht
forth by appeals and demands from
Alliance men all over the state. We
have borne repr0aches for not giving
the facts.
The future of the alliance is in it's
own hands. 1t should work intelli-
gently, and If there is 81 shadow of
truth to one tenth of the complaints
which come to this office, there
ought to be a complete revolution in
the official make up of the organiza-
ton. We have herein done our duty
land with profound uegret.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-02-07

view the step would not have been
taken. It is case where a majority
acted, and left an able-bodied minor
ity opposed. We belong to that min
ority-but who would put stop to
the wheels OF progress because every
thing is not our way?
Fourth-The question of salaries
did not come up in the National Al
lance meeting. That society has
not been paying it's officers salaries.
There is much to be said on both
sides Of that question. In some d.
rections salaried officers can perhaps
do better work. But as rule work
from love ola good cause is the most
effective When large salaries are
paid some men will accept an Office
for the sake of the salary who will be
an injury to the cause.
If any man can be found to saw
wood for love of it let him saw. If
any man will work so hard at Al
lance work that he can do no other
business he should be paid. These
men who work for love of it are apt
to have a political bank account in
his pocket. Every society in the
world pays it's working men.
The Northern Alliance is handi-
capped because it has no national
dues. The Southern Alliance has
marched on to a membership of 16O,-
600 in Texas (The Wheel and 3d.
600 in North Carolina, and 1,OOO,-
600 in the south, by having a Ma
tional tax Of but five cents men,
Der. It pays all it's salaries out of
this. And when the Southern AL
lance "boycotts'' the boycotted is a
goner!
The statement that there was a
debt of SIS, 900 on the Southern Al
lance, arising from it's exchange op-
eratiOns, and the fact that Texas
had refused to ratify the union, had
much influence in inducing delegates
to the National Alliance to hesitate
before forming an organic union.
That was the statement made by
Mr.. Sprague, we are informed by sew
eral, when he returned, but it is not
true. Mr.. Burrows says "the state
ment"-not the fact-for it is not a
fact. The Southern Alliance has no
debt Of any kind. This is on a par
with "the statement that the Da-
kota Alliance Purchasing Depart
ment was bankrupt!
Texas did not refuse to ratify the
Union. There is an evident attempt
to mislead and deceive here.
Let the GREAT WEST explain itself.
This question of Union with other
organizations will come up at the
State meeting. This paper will make
no effort from now until the meeting
to urge this matter-the sole effort
as an Alliance Journal, is to give the
matter fair hearing. Our delega-
ton there lies under the shadow of
having purposely created a quarrel
with Dakota to prevent a union.
This may not be true. The quarrel
did occur. These same officials had
already broken faith on a written
agreement with the Dakota Alliance
Insurance Co., (now the NationaD
and after receiving money at their
hands-and a quarrel was a very con-
venient matter. Let the Minnesota
Alliance get all the light it can on the
matter, and whatever action it takes
the GREAT WEST will abide it's YER
dict. In closing We wish to observe
that the Officials mentioned in the
first line of this article, are Mr..
Sprague.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-02-07

Next Week the GREAT WEST will
be given over to financial matters.
The Report of the Treasurer of the
United States will make the basis of
several articles-and we urge our
farmer friends to read them.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-02-07

When the alliance gets $4,000
members here there will be a change
in the bossism of this country.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-02-07

There is going to be a racket soon
between the farmers and the rail-
ways on the matter of sidetracks to
greenhouses.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-02-07

If there are any digger liars, y
on this earthly tabernacle Of strife,
than the Daily Plutocrats that furn-
ish the Associated Press an outlet,
we wish we could find them The
railway shrinkage'' rs a lie from eel
lar to garnet. It is a pure fraud,
simple, silly and sinister. Any man
can ascertain the fraud by the
same daily papers-by referring
to the bond and stock report, in the
same commercial column a year ago
and today. Railroad properties
have. increased in value during the
past two years.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-02-07

and the latter made the same request
to that committee. In view of this
the action of the Industrial Union is
clearly understood. 1t was all done
to keep the political issue out OF the
way. The word REFUSED in the
above is not a generous way to
speak of it. 1t awakens fear that
Mr.. Burrows is q politician.
Third-The eligibility clause in the
southern constitution was amended
by leaving out the word country"
before mechanics" thus opening
that organization to all occupations
instead of combining it to farmers.
as heretofore. This amendment ef-
fectually destroys that society as a
distinctively farmers association.
The National Alliance is not prepared
to do this. Mechanics and labOring
men of our cities and towns cannot
be profitably united in the same So
ciety. The Knights are in one field
of work and the farmers in another.
and they will accomplish much more
good by cooperative on a general
line than by joining each others So
cieties.
Almost all Alliance workers will
agree with Mr.. Burrows on that
point. The move to unite mechanics
with farmers was made in contempla-
ton and preparation to, the union
of all laborers in one body at St..
Louis. Had not that object been in
Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1890-12-28

SEVERAL FUNERALS WILL NlIc
A eassinassi pspss H=sas-a oorn0r
tsrssssa 90 sas sAss ksx~f -,
rsrass kelifssa nssss Caam-
safsns tsT raeSf fey.

l4uAREEros. Miss. Dec. s7.--no1
ton, snasli tewn 0ae aud ono-
miles below Iaese. Was the soons u(1@
fatal shooting sffrAs. shcEi 5 o.
this atternoos, Ia which foar men urr1I
shot. one beng tiliod innnou q
snd i've others fatally waun1c
The sfpuble originated from g
iigni at party ca fhrletmo1
evening, near Red Top. between 1o6n
men, r. I, losrs. ". r Parker, HunD2
Sgrspan and J. Hickman. when to<uof
AIRED into the crowd, killing fsrker 60
dangerously wonnding the otnef - s
foyfe Was arrested aud sslacoc an Enc
vile laal for safekoeplng bs j.
Cooke. Justice of ihe peace of- Bis4<111 ]
No. 4. Justice Of the Peace J AZ. nuz<1hz
Of District No. >. dispatched Doom1v
sheriff W. W. Sgockssd, with the 1co11p
sAry papers 10 OBTAIN foVre's feIe16c q
an $500 bond. Sheriff shisers, upuo
hearing of las release, summoned ~
deputies and came 90 fiasiston x5e To-
cal freight Ia fcaFrssI iosrt. Jutf q,
the tram 0aIae 10 a halt the ftr10R
began. foyrc MAS instantly killed Ard
sheriff ] Nj. SHINES vac shot fbfouKI
the ieft lung with q, Winchester l,ol1: {
aud Deputy sheriff r A. White Un6 =
shot IN the left lung with pistol hail,
Il passing through aud coming oot %
the right sioe. Both of the latter afp
pronounced mortaiiY wounded. TIE
two wounded sheriff were brought 70
ihis place where they are rencsnx Tn
bcst of attention.
Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1890-12-28
DESPERATE woRKMssn.
A Thousand Men ssst af Work &c
siamoarinF for Their Pas.

A Thousand Men stat af work oo6
ciamoaring for fh<sr Pay.
poKTl.Asp, ore, Dec. 2s.--ossr GO
Of discharged laborsrs from tlss fnioo
Pacific railroad a.ong Puget sound are
in the city and their situation is depiof.
able. Most OF them are destitute and
are unable 70 get their money from the
contractors. Smith 4 Ce., which wa6
due December 16. The contrkctars
have been unable 80 get money from
tl.e railroad company, hence their in
ability 20 pay the men. Smith !, DOW n
Omaha endesvorine 10 secure money
from the Union Pacific. lie laak tel
egraphed that the company has PROM
ised nim $500 900 tine week. and on tlsis
assurance the cianlors OF The men lave
for the time been qaieied. Many
iaborers are IN such desperate straits
that they are cssaing their time checks
at SO per cent
Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1890-12-28
SPANISH WEDDING CUSTOMS.
A Frequent Sight in California In Days
Gone by.

eouc
Nothing was more attractive than the
wedding cavalcade on its way from the
brides house to the mission church.
The horses were more richly capari-
soned than for any other ceremony,
and the brides nearest relative or fami-
ly representative carried her before him,
she sitting on the saddle with her white
satin shoe in 4 loop of golden or silver
braid, while he sat on the bearslSin-
covered anquera behind. The groom
and his friends mingled with the brides
party, all on the best horses that could
be obtained. and they rode gayly from
the ranch house TO the mission, some
times fifteen or twenty miles away. In
April and May, when the land was
hearted troop rode along the edge of the
uplands, between hill and valley, cross
ing the streams. and some of the young
horemen, anxious to show their skill,
would perform all the fsats for which
the Spanish Californians were famous.
After the wedding, when they returned
TO lead in the feasting, the bride was
carried on the horse ef the groomsman-
one OF the customs which was always
observed at the wedding was 10 wind a
sill0cn tasseled string or a silken sash
fringed with gold about the necks OF
the bride and groom. binding chem to-
gether as they kneit before the altar
fer the blessing of the priest. A charm
ing custom among the middle and
lower classes was the making Of the
satin shoes by the groein for the bride.
: few weeks before the wedding he
asked his betroshed for the measure
illent Of her foot, and made the shoes
with his own hands. the proornsmsn
brought them 10 her on the wedding
6Av-CentuTv.