The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-03-22
A FARMERS CRY.
Tho Kansas Alliance Issues q
Startling Document-Their Farms
Slipping Away.

Tho Kansas Alliance Issues a
Startling pocument-TheirF Farms
Slipping Away.
The Kansas Farmers Alliance,
which has within six months become
the most powerful organization Kan.
sas has ever known, has through it's
president, addressed an open letter
to the Kansas delegation in congress,
calling attention to the alarming con-
dltion OF the agricultural interests oi
that state and demanding legislation
for their relief. The letter says:
1--WE call attention to the fact that
q single law firm in one city in South.
ern Kansas now has the contract for
the foreclosure OF 1900 mortgages.
This means 800 homesteads trans
ferred from the hands OF SO many IN
dustrious families to the hands OF
capitalists, either domestic or foreign.
The foreclosure OF these mortgages is
in accordance with preconcelved
purpose to gain possession Of these
farms and people them with q more
servile tenantry imported from for
eign lands for this especial purpose.
Foreclosure evictions are taking
place in very many parts OF our state,
and We need not 90 all the way to
Europe to witness scenes OF cruelty in
matters OF this kind. Ali over the
state the homes OF our people are i'm.
periled. They are struggling against
adverse circumstances and almost
against hope to sustain themselves
until relief shall come.
The people believe that these con.
ditions are largely due to vicious leg.
islation. They have been promised
by each OF the great political parties
that something would be done for
thor relief; both parties have been
tried. and both have thus far failed
even to attempt any measure con.
templating a bstterment Of the con-
dition OF the industrial masses. They
have seen that while they have been
compelled to sacrifice their products
in many instances absolutely below
cost OF production in order to pro-
cure the common necessities OF lie
and in the effort, in many cases un-
successful, to keep the sheriff from in.
vading their homes, their representa-
tives in congress aie engaged in the
consideration OF every imaginable
question except such questions as
contemplate relief to the distress OF
their constituents. There are meas.
ures which the farmers demand shall
have veimmed,ste econsideration. These
relate to questions OF money, Of
transportation, and OF their owner
chip Of American lands.
THE distress OF the people is crying
aloud for relief. ThsY believe that
very many OF the questions that are
receiving the attention Of congress are
far less urgent than this, upon which
the safety of their homes and the we'll.
tare OF their families depend. They
believe that the white citizens OF Kan
sas have some rights as we'll as color
ed citizens Of the South. They beleiye
that fallen heroes, both white and
black, in past struggles for liberty, and
the psrpetulty OF our institutions, can
afford to wait one moment until the
rights OF living heroes in the present
struggle for American homes receive
Dome recognition by the men who
have been chosen to represent them
in congress. Behind these demands
are more than 100, 10 ballots In the
state OF Kansas, and the time is com.
ing and il not far distant when lsgis.
lators will heed the voice OF their con :.
Stitufnts."