Montgomery County sentinel., 1890-08-08

tie Farmers AkttGi!Se EcpectS 10 40.
Mr.. Hugh Mitchell, of Charles county,
president of the Maryland State Farmer
Alliance. His zeal in behalf Of the organ
zation has extended itssinterests throughou
the State. Ir speaking on the subject in an il
terview Mr.. Mitchell said; "The Marylan
Branch of the Farmers Alliance is part {
the vast organization that is making sue
rapid strides all over this country, and what
| ever governs or controls it here exercises tn
same influence on all similar organizations i
the North, South, East and West. The Ali
ance was organized in this country in Lam
pasas county, Texas, in 1876, and the pur
pose OF the organizers al that time was Il
perfect only a local association for the mutua
protection ot farmers The objects as SO
forth were to resist the unlawful depreda
tions of cattle and land thieves and to appre-
hend and bring to punishment all law-break'
ers. The sentiment, however, spread rapidly
and similar associations sprung up in other
counties of the State until finally the good
results OF u closer union were discussed,
which eliminated in the formation OF the
State alliance in Parker county, Texas, in
1879, which convention adopted for the hrst
time the distinctive name by which our asso-
citation is known to-day all over the land. The
organization continued to thrive and grow
in Northern and Central Texas, and at the
meeting held at Clarbourne, johnson coun-
ty, on August 6, 1886, eighty-tour counties
were represented. AT this meeting the de-
claration of the purposes of the order were
perfected and adopted. They decided to labor
for the education Of the agricultural classes in
the science OF economical government in a
strictly non-pariisan spirit; to develop bet
ter state, mentally, morally and financially /;
10 create better understanding tor sustain
nH ri IL fH ust.t la N N
der; TO constantly strive to secure entire har-
mony and goodwill toward all mankind and
brothery love among ourselves TO suppress
local, personal, sectional and national preJu-
dices, all unhealthy rivalry and all selfish
ambition
THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION.
'From this little band in Texas the feeling
of a stronger and closer union among the ag-
ricultural classes TO disseminate useful aud
beneficial know ledge spread rapidly to the
contiguous States uutil at length the assoei-
alton had gained steady toothold in the great
agricultural States OF the South and South
west. Another farmers association, known
us the agricultural Wheel, was also in exis-
tence in those sectons and in the West, hav-
ing similar objects and purposes in view 1t
was thought that these objects could best be
attained by uniting in one common cause
these two organizations This was at length
accomplished on October l. 1889. The first
meeting of this national body, the ouigrowth
OF the consolidation OF the two ASSOCIATIONS,
was held mt st. Louis December 8, lss9,-
That meeting was attended by delegates from
all sections OF the country, and by men OF
all shades OF political opinion. The pnr-
poses and lntenllons of the alliance aj II body
were then formulated, us follows
1--WE demand the abolition of national
banks and the substitution of lega-lcnder
treasury notes in lieu of national bank notes,
issued in sufficient volume to DO the business
OF the country Gu "a cash system, regulating
the amount needed on II per capita basis rs
the business interests of the country expands,
and that all money issued by the government
shall he legal leader ia payment OF all debts,
both public and private
'We demand that Congress shall pass such
laws as shall eiIectually prevent the dealing
in futures OF all agricultural and mechanical
productions preserving 1t stringent system
OF procedure in trials rs shall procure The
prompt conviction, and imposing such penal
ties us shall secure most perfect compliance
with tho law.
owe demand the free and unlimited coin
age Of silver.
"We demand the passage of laws prOhibil-
Ing the allen ownership OF laud, and that
Congress take early steps TO devise some plan
TO obtain all lands now owned by aliens and
foreign syndicates, and that all lands now
held by railroad and other corporations in
excess OF such as is actually used and needed
by them be reclaimed by the govern
ment aud held for actual settlers.
believing in the doctrine OF equal rights
TO all aud special privileges 10 none, we de-
mand that taxation, national or State, shall
not be used TO build up one interest or class
at the expense OF another We believe that
the money OF Tie country should be kept AS
much AS possible ia the hands of the people,
aud hence we demand that all revenues, ma
tlonal, State or county, shall be limited to
the necessary expenses of the government,
economically and honestly administered.
"We demand that Congress issue suili-
cent amount OF fractional paper currency to
facilitate exchange through the medium of
the United States mail
ave demand that the means of communi-
cation and transportation shall be owned by
and operated in the interest Of the people, as
is the United States postal system
The order now exists in 2S States and Ter
ritores, with national membership OF about
2,5U0, 600. The sub-alliance, the county al
lance, the State alliance, and the nation
al alliance has each its separate officers,
THE ALLIANCE IN MARYLAND.
The first organization OF an alliance in
Maryland took place in the spring of 1889, in
Prince George county. The State AssOcia-
ton was formed at Upper Marlboro, Prince
Georges county, in September of the same
year. Prince Georges, Charles, Calvert, ST,
Mary's, Anne Arundel and Caroline counties
being represen ed ut the meeting, having been
delegated by l23 membcrs, who composed the
alliance in the State at that time.
'From this small beginning" continued
Mr.. Mitchell, 'Ihe alliance has grown rap
idly IN strength and numbers, the last quar-
tery report, made in April, showing II total
membership OF over 2, 900, aud the roll con
tains the names of many leading and innucn-
lia farmers throughout the State. Besides
the counties mentioned as having been repre-
sented at the first State meeting, organiZa-
tions have since been formed in AlIegany,
Baltimore, Howard, Dorchester, Talbot and
Queen Aune's, and we have every reason-+4
believe that so sTJff its the press Of farm work,
which at this season of the year keeps farmers
close ut home, is over, our membership will
be largely and rapidly increased, and That
every county in the State will he organized
That the movement is popular and gains ad-
herents whenever properly understood is de-
monstrated by the growth already made in
this State In the ten months that have
elapsed since the first organization here we
have grown from "a members 10 upwards Of
1000 This growth, in my opinion, would
have been even greater had the alliance pos
sessed the means to disseminate their views
and objects among the farmers. But the dues
of the order are Ouly ) per auuum, and AS
this is used to support the four organizations
comprising the whole, little means have nc
cumulated rs yet 10 defray the expenses Of
lecturers, through whom the alliance reaches
the agricultural classes for the formation Of
lew branches.
ITS EDUCATIONAL WORK.
THE work of the alliance is one mainly of
education-to bring 10 the masses Il proper
understanding of the theories OF our govern
ment and to enable them to see clearer and
to apply the best methods of correcting abuses
that from time to time encroach upon their
liberties. The alliance movement is an ar
raignment of the managers of both political
parties for their failure to perform their duty
to the people, and ii has done more in the last
two years TO educate the masses and the farmer
on political and economic questions than has
heen accumulated by both political parties