Los Angeles herald., 1891-07-08
Good Addresses and an Appre-
ciative Audience.
National Banks Denounced and Gov
ernment Railroads Favored.
The Sub-Treasury Plan and It's Prob
able Effects Discussed-The
Strength of the Move-
ment, Etc.

After some preliminary remarks by
several of the gentlemen upon the plat
form, the first speaker of the evening.
Mr.. ]. F. Gilbert of Fresno, was intro
duced, and made quite lengthy ad-
dress. He explained that the object of
the Farmers Alliance and Industrial
Union was not to overthrow either the
government or the usages and customs
of society, but to correct abuses that are
sapping the life-blood of the nation.
He denounced the mortgage system
as one which made it possible for hun
dreds of men to live in luxury who had
never earned meal by honest
labor in their lives. Then he denounced
the money system of the country, ma
tional banks, government bonds and
other things which enabled men not
producers to make vast sums of money.
The national banks were declared to
rest upon the perjured and purchased
decisions OF what should be courts of
justice, and that the Farmers Alliance
demanded their abolition, at which
declaration the audience applauded
vigorously.
People ask ''why, ii you producers
and laborers are so greatly in the ma
jority, don't you vote, in your parties or
elsewhere, for men who will give you
what you want?" That is Just what
the organization intends to do. ZAP
plause.] We want justice and Justice
we'll have. More applause We ewant
sub-treasuries established, where the
government can deal directly with the
people. Some say that this will make a
vast pawnshop of the government The
government already has established
bonded warehouses for the luxuries-
brandy and so forth-and if we want
them to add little board addition to
one end of these warehouses for the
storage OF the imperishable product
of the farm and the laborer,
we are making pawnshop of the gov
ernment. This is all bosh, and man
with three grains OF brains knows that
it is bosh. (Applause.)
After some further explanations of
the evils of the present money system,
the speaker proceeded to demonstrate
the ideas of the Alliance regarding wo-
men, stating that he believed the eleva-
ton of women meant the elevation of
the race, and that they should have
equal rights with men, sentiments that
were vigorously applauded by the entire
audience. He then. stated that the AL
lance had not figured much yet in poll
tics, but in 1892 the 5000, 900 present
membership would march up to the
polls with twice 100000 companions to
vote for God and home and native land.
The Alliance has not declared vet for
absolute prohibition of the liquor traffic,
but he believed the Alliance would ex-
ert healthy influence upon all national
evils.
Mr.. Bailey, a representative of the
knights OF Labor, was introduced. He
stated that the organization he repre-
sented was over twenty-one years of age,
and its members were foremost in all re-
forms. The members of the old parties
were all in the same boat-a rotten,
leaky craft-but new, third party boat
was at hand.
He explained the principles of the
Knights of Labor, reading the declara-
tion of principles, various sections, such
as the ones favoring graduated income
tax government ownership of the rail-
roads, telegraph and telephone lines,
and abolition of national banks. being
applauded by the entire audi
ence. His plans for the government
purchase of the railroads at their
assessed value, deducting the amounts
the railroads owe the government, were
with applause and approving
laughter. He concluded that when all
reasonable deductions were made the
government would not have to
pay the railroads much ready cash. He
no relief measure would be ef-
fectual until the great monopolies were
abolished. The old parties had failed
to afford relief to the laboring and pro-
ducing classes, and new party was abb
necessity.
Judge Dillon, in the interests of the
party spoke few minutes show
ing how the citizens alliance and far.
mers' alliance were kindred organiza-
tions, with kindred aims, sympa-
thies and interests. Both the old
parties are owned and governed
by Wall street. But, under God,
democracy is to have a new birth, anu
instead of Greek word we will call the
new party the peoples party. A food
tide of reform is rising, which will
sweep over the land. Can you swim?
Applause long prolonged and enthusi-
astic.]
The closing address of the evening
was made by Mr.. Cannon, state presi-
dent of the Farmers Alliance. He
reaffirmed the statements of the former
speakers, that the sub-treasury project,
where money could be loaned on farm
products at 2 per cent. per annum, was
one of the main aims of the alli-
ance, if not the main aim. Under the
sub-treasury system panic would be
impossible, and run upon the govern
ment banks or sub-treasuries would
positively enrich the banks. A suffi-
cheney OF money makes good times.
Southern California had what it called
boom few years ago. 1t was not a
boom; but great quantity of money
was thrown into the country, and the
result was what the normal condition of
the country would be under the sub.
treasury plan. When the people once
understand the sub-treasury plan
death and hell will not prevail to pre-
vent its adoption by the people. Labor
is the wealth of the nation. There are
100000 idle men in the United States
today, and their idle days are a dead
loss that can never be regained. At 81
per day this is $3.50, 100000 lost to the
country in a year by reason of lack of
money. This is what is stolen from us
by the politicians who have lied to and
befuddled US. We propose to 60 to the
ballot box and claim what belongs to us.
This money scheme is the key to the
whole situation.
Mr.. Porter says that there are 9 100000