The Brookhaven leader., 1891-01-22
Can't. Bmrkitt,s Speech.

Agreeable 10 appointment, Hon.
Frank BuIkitt, Lecturer of the State
farmers Alliance, spoke at Brookha-
ven Last Friday 10 q GOodly assem-
blaEc of Alliance men and others.
CUpt. Bmkitt spoke with that can
dor ard force that have always char
actrfizcd him MS writer and DICTATOR.
lie explained that the Alliance had
not been organized to make war on
merchants nr any other legitimate
calling, as many had enormously sup
posed, but for self-prOtection of the
farmers. just as the lawyers and doe
tors have their associations, the mcr-
chants their boards of trade, ex-
changes, etc. He frankly declared it
to br grave mistake for Alliance
men. who are inexperienced in such
matters and lacking in the necessary
business training, to go into the mer-
camille business for themselves las
was tried in this county with such
disappointing results). He advised
them rather to live economically, re-
ducc their business to cash basis, and
give their trade to honest and expe
rienccd merchants, who are always
glad enough to get it at reasonable
profit. Home merchants are cOnve-
nicnce and necessity, and competition
may be safely relied upon to always
bring prices down to the lowest pos
sible margin when business is done on
il cash basis. Under the ruinous old
credit system the merchants, to save
themselves, try to make the reliable
farmers pay for the losses on the bad
ones, and the result is it slowly but
surely pulls farmers and merchants all
down together.
Capt. Burkitt made strong argu-
ment in favor of the Sub-Treasury
scheme. lie said he wouldn't say that
he was in favor of the bill introduced
in Congress, but he is emphatically in
favor of the scheme. He argued that
it WAS both constitutional and just,
and cited the extraordinary privileges
accorded Ivy the government to the
distillcrs and national banks. A cap
italst, he said, could invest 100000
in non taxable Government bonds,
deposit them in the national treasury,
and on these receive back $4,000 in
national bank notes endorsed by the
government and Oh which he operates
and realizes an interest of $40, 900 per
annum. The distillers place their
whisky in bonded ware houses, pro-
vided by the Government, without
being required to pay the tax. draw
certificates of deposit on which they
operate as so much capital until the
whisky (Which increases in value as it
increases in age) is drawn ont and
yet, when the farmers, who are the
bone and sinew of the country and
the foundation on which rests all COM
mercial and financial prosperity, ask
for an equal showing, they are met by
the politicians and spectators with
the cry that the relief measure they
ask is unconstitutional
He declared that the Alliance is
emphatically Il political organization,
but not in the sense of being partisan.
and that it is in politics to stay until
the politicians and political parties
begin to see things through different
glasses, as Mr.. ingalls, of Kansas has
lately been doing. Those that can't
be brought to "see," will have to give
place to those who can, for that is the
word going forth all along the line.
Capt. Burkitt certainly made a
most favorable impression on all who
heard him, and we have heard but one
expression as to the temper and sub
ject matter of his speech and that the
most complimentary.