Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-06-12
THE FARMERS ALLIANCE
MEMBERS LISTENING TO STATE LECTUR-
Err ROBERT SNAyELY.

MEMBERS LISTENING TO STATE LECTUR-
Err ROBERT sNAvELY.
Notwithstanding the farmers are busily
taking advantage OF the sunshine in farm
operations at home, about a hundred and
fifty of them came to town yesterday to
hear lecture from MI. Robert Snavely,
State Lecturer of the State Alliance, at
the Court House. Mr.. Snavely is young
man apparently about thirty-ive years of
age, with a pleasant. quiet manner and ex-
cellent diction. His lecture is a lecture
and not speech, is imfOrmatorY In its
character, and he gives it an acceptable
sprinkling of clean anecdotes very humor-
GUS in their character. The proceedings
opened with prayer by Rev. J. NJ. Taylor,
the Chaplain, during which the audience
rose and stood with bowed heads. The
petitioner devoutiy asked "That Thou
wilt be with thy servant who shall speak to
us this day In all That he shall say.' Among
the audience was Hon. H. st. Geo. Tucker.
Col. III. J. Williams introduced the
speaker in a few brief remarks. He said
it was not the object of the Alliance to
break down either Of the political parties
but to see if it could not bring them into
the service of the people. The farmers had
for long time been misled by the politi-
cal leaders who had gotten so far away
from them they did not understand their
| wants. It is the object of the Alliance to
inform them Of these wants and also to in
form it's own members. 1t was for the
latter purpose th1 Lecture Bureau had
been formed in thirty-siX States. The AL
| lance was in politics bu5 not as partizans
! and it's members intended to seek through
| the party primaries to influence the action
! of the parties. 1t did not intend to sup
port Grover Cleveland OF anybody else fol
Office, who did not represent it's pr inciples
Mr.. Snavely began his lecture by speak
ing of the value of these meetings in an ed
vocational point of view for the farmer. He
| was here with malice towards none, with
| charity for all, but with firmness in the
| right as God gives me to see the right" He,
the lecturer, was o farmer and owned a
farm.
He then read the Platform of Principles
of the Farmers Al iance, commenting on
each declaration as he read it, and making
| it clear by some illustration. He said the
farmers ought to zqsov politics and know
| their interest therein and fight together in
enforcing that interest and not fight
against each other. The time ought to be
passed away when two men owning adjoining
farms with identically the same interests,
should abuse each other at every election and
| then walk up to the ballot box one with a low
| tariff ticket and the other with a high tar
if ticket. He made a striking point when
he showed that in 1885 the farmers owned
IS per cent. of the wealth of the country
and it had steadily dwindled down until
now in 1890, with half the population of
| the United States, they only owned 20 per
| cent. of it's wealth and etpaid 81 per cent.
| of the taxes.
| In 1917 there were few millionaires and nc
| tramps, in 1890 there were hundreds of
millionaires and m lions Of tramps. In1S41
| there was not millionaire in the U. S.
Senate; in 1890 there were Al millionaires
in the Senate. Such facts as these show
| that there is something wrong. Nobody
disputes that. But they will dispute that
the Alliances way is the right remedy
| Very well; if that IS not the right way sug
gest some other. The Alliance only wants
| to get at the best way; it will hear anybod.
who will tell it, whether they are Alliance
men OF not.
Lack of currency is one cause of this de
preston. That brings low prices for tn
farmers products and these prices fix TIN
price of his labor, and whoever can fix tn
price of the laborer is the master Of til
laborer. 1t is white slavery that is starin.
the farmer in the face. 1t is cheaper t.
to hold negro. The owner had to pay TIN
negro s doctor S and clothing bill, but TIN
| white farmer if he is sick he can die, and
it he has no coat he can go without it.
They say that when dollars are scare
one Of them pays more and buys more. Die
anybody ever hear of a scarce dollar payin!
more than a dollar Of taxes? Does the dol
ar of this scarce time pay more doctor
bills or lawyers fees? Do any of them
give you more service for the scarce dollart
Mr.. Snavely here discussed and favore
the sub-treasury plan.
His address, to which we have given al
> the space we can spare in the heavy pres
) sure of news this morning, greatly interes
, ted his hearers, and though it was nearl
two hours long it was listened to with in
terest from the beginning to the end.