The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-11-07
THE Farm.
The Alliance and its Power for
Good,


ing and periecting the organization of
the Farmers Alliance cannot be too
frequently or too persistently urged,
says the Homestead. Since the days
when the dying father called his sons
to his bedside, and by means of the
object lesson of the bundle of sticks,
taught them how important it was that
those having like interests should stand
together, the principle that GIN union
there is strength" has been universally
recognized, at least in theory. In prac.
tice, farmers have been among the last
to accept it. The isolation of the farm
and of the farmers daily life and en-
ployment, in measure accounts for
this, because concert of action neces-
sarily implies and is preceded by fire.
quent opportunities for consultation
relative to wants and interests that are
felt in common, and these opportunities
farmers have enjoyed to less degree
than men engaged in almost any other
calling. But il they are last in the
field of organization and self.helpful
cooperation, comparatively brief
experience has shown that it is easily
within their power to be first in effec-
tive and substantial influence, and that
no just demand which they make in an
organized way can long be denied, SO
soon as it becomes apparent that they
are intelligently in earnest about it.
For they, too. have had their object
lesson, intoxicating in the most striking
and satisfactory manner the effective
ness of united effort. In Iowa the law
authorizing an elective railway COM
mission, the abolition of the free pass,
the law requiring the fixing of freight
rates and that establishing joint rates,
the law reducing interest, some valuable
though not yet perfect school book leg
islation, the antitrust law, and numer.
Gus other euactments of practical benefit
to our agricultural interests, are an
earnest of what can be done by the
farmers in the way of self help when
they organize and think and give voice
to their wishes. In the nation the
inter State commerce law has been
passed, pooling and determinations by
railroads have been made unlawful the
importance Of agriculture has been rec.
ognized by erecting new department
In the cabinet to have charge of the
interest," valuable experiment stations
have been established, half million
dollars has been appropriated as start.
er for the Hennepin canal which, when
completed, will afford western products
cheap water transportation to Chicago.
as the Welland and Erie canals have
done frou Chicago eastward; an anti
trust law has been passed, and also the
original package law. which is distinct
ly deferring to the wishes of the rural
population rather than to the cities
which were Indifferent or opposed to it;
handsome appropriation has been
made in favor of the agricultural col
leges in the several States, the meat
inspection bill has passed. coupled with
authority to place an embargo upon the
products of other countries which refuse
admission to our meats upon the false
pretense that they are unsound. and 10
many other ways the wishes and inter-
ests of the farming class have been
promoted to an extent which was for
merly unthought of.
Some of the things accomplished
merely indicate growing recognition
O. the dignity and Importance of agri-
culture. and of how large factor iu
the national economy the farmer is.
aid exhibit disposition to advance his
convenience and welfare. Others were
attained in the face Of the obstinate
resistance by entrenched wrong which
had long maintained and fattened upon
the abuses that have been abolished
In either case the end thus gained is an
argument in favor of still more perfect
organization by the farmer and of fur
Their study on his part of his own needs
There has also been great moral gain
in the achievements that owe their
existence to the farmers organized
efforts. When the propositions for
many of the reforms were first pro-
pounded, they were derided as the wild
speculations of an ignorant and cause
less discomfort, and the farmers favor
ing them we're stigmatizsd as "disturb-
ers of repose." Now every one of the
propositions is admitted to be right
and no one of the enactments could be