davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-07-14

if the Alliance influence defeats his
candidacy in 1892, he will still have in
fuence sufficient to nutralize the
Democratic effort for free coinage.
We will have free coinage, but it will
be effected by Alliance effort. But will
free coinage give us the financial relief
we demand? We ask for a per capita
circulation of $50. Now let IS see how
rapidly free coinage would lead to that
end. The coinage capacity of u out
put of silver is about $65, 600, 900. We
coin under existing law $51, 600, 900.
Now grant that we would, under the
proposed change, coin the entire out
put, it would give us an annual in
crease of IA cents. But as the United
States has exported, since 1886, 1856, OOO,-
900 in silver in excess of imports, or
over $13, 900, 600 annually, it follows
that free coinage could only give us an
increase of 81, 600, 900 yearly or only a
little over one-half of one cent per
capita. But Democratic and Republl-
can opponents of free coinage say the
world will dump their silver on us in
case the free coinage bill becomes a
law. Such a statement is absurd when
we reflect that 772 millions Of the
worlds population use silver only as a
legal-tender, whilst 1SS millions more
use it in connection with gold. The
absurdity Of such a statement appears
in the further fact that the chief source
of supply for the silver nations in the
past has been the American mines. If
contraction was for the common good,
and the farmers efforts for an expan-
sion of the currency are chimerical, if
trusts are public blessings if railroads,
by charging US rates four times greater
than in Empired Russia and five times
greater than in Republican France,
are conserving the public veal, then
we should disband the Alliance and
follow Mr.. Cade's advice. Otherwise
we should struggle for "demands."
The way and the only way for the ac-
cOmplishment OF such reforms as we
need is for the farmers to vote for men
to represent US in the halls of Congress
who have the courage and manhood to
vote their convictions, in spite of party
caucus, and regardless of former party
affiliations. Such an me VIC have in
our honorel Representative from this
district, s. B. Alexander.
W G. STEELE.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-07-14

FINANCE H KEY.

The great questions of the day are
now recognized by a large majority Of
the thinking people of the United
States as the questions Of Finance,
Land and Transportation. Of these
the greatest is Finance, because it is
the key to the others.
In all the history Of the world, when
the money power has sought to destroy
a nation, the first step necessary was
to control it's currency.
This plan of the money power has
been contaminated in the United
States and in the whole civilized
world.
The first successful attack was made
on the United States in 1862, when the
Treasury was empty and the whole
nation Frustrated by a bloody war
A series of laws, seven in number,
were enacted which, besides adding
hundreds of millions of dollars to the
wealth Of the Shylock, gave him con
troll of the currency Of the nation.
With the control Of the currency in
his hands and a few favorable laws.
which have always been Forthcoming
at his command, he has gotten control
of every branch Of industry that is
worth controlling. 1t controls our oil
wells; it controls our railroads; it con
trolls manufactures; it controls
our import trade; it controls our iron
industries; it controls our cotton trade;
it controls our wheat and grain trade;
it is controlling u cattle ranches, it
is controlling u coal mines; it is con
trolling all other mines; it is controlling
our lumber trade; it is getting control
of our lands. It nOw has nine millions
of mortgages on real estate, which IS
about one mortgage for every seven
people in the United States. When it
~forecloses it's mortgage it will have our
lands and we will be tenants. ShyIock
destroyed Egypt; he destroyed Baby
lon; he destroyed Persia; he destroyed
Rome; he iSnow destroying the United
States and the whole civilized world.
The key to this power is the control
Of the currency. No wonder that
thinking men everywhere admit that
the currency question is the great all
absorbing question.-The Peoples
Press, arkansas.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-07-14

longer send men to conventions 10
formulate plans and allow themlgnored
simply for party success. We have
tried to have u demands carried into
effect by the old parties and been re-
fused. Now what is the next step Tor
us to take? Our demands are for re
form, but how are we to get it? we
have Republican form and Democratic
reform enough, such as it is. Now we
want tariff reform, financial reform,
political reform, moral reform, legisla-
tive reform and administrative reform.
All these are absolutely necessary for
the we'll being of the people of the
State and Nation, and can be secured
by the combined unity of the F. A. and
I. U. Remember, Gin union there is
strength; - "united we stand, divided
we fall" So AIliancemen, if you ever
expect to accomplish anything in the
way of reform, you must not yield or
drop a single demand. If you do, all
is lost. Contend for all; probably you
may get some of them. know the
party bosses will say "class legislation, "
and "your demands are impractical
and unconstitutional, " and every other
hard thing they can think of, but let
us be steadfast. They plainly tell us
that they are not gong to help us ac-
complish anything, by saying we are
going to break UP the Democratic
party. That is one thing that we don't
aim to do, but we want a party that is
a great deal more democratic than the
one we have, let it go by whatever
name if NAV. x. J. p.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-07-14

VIII the mass of the people stand bv
these ~destrOyer5 of the State and ",
ton and throw up their hats for tbo,..
as the political press is doing now aa
will they drop their little battorina
rains in the other box? liant tired an33
sick of 81 much gush over the riab
men who have made their fortrns or
the poor men, women and children Of
our State and then have combined tbor
wealth to make the poor poorer and
the rich richer.
Why don't somebody tell about tRo
rich farmers, his fine crops, his JIsf..
ness methods and very fine prizes far
his products and his net profits in the
transaction? Will you?
Yours very truly,
II. T. FREEMAN
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-07-14
WOODLAND ALLIANCE, No. 992,
NOrthamptOn Co.. N. c.


Mr.. EDTTOR:-Last Saturday evening
was a time to be remembered by the
members of Woodland Alliance. We
had with us two splendid speakers,
Rev. L. J. Holden and our District
Lecturer, Bro. F. S Blair Bro. Holden
is a thoroughly wide-awake man, and
among other important things he urged
the AlIionce to live at home and as
economically as possible. He held the
audience without a move or sign Of
WEAKNESS about one hour. Bro. Blair
next came forward and gave us a good,
earnest and instructive speech. He
spoke mainly on the Importance of
educating ourselves on the fundamental
principles of the Alliance and thus to
fortify ourselves for the all-important
work which is before us.
After the public speaking was over
there was a private meeting in which
some other important speeches were
made.
Thus ended the work of the evening,
feeling that we were greatly benefited
by having these brethren with us. We
are a small but a united and earnest
band of workers to help in the great
upheaval for the improvement Of the
laboring classes, never intending to
relax our efforts until the last foe is put
to flight.
We are glad to say a large number
of the4members of this Alliance take
The PROGRESSIVE FARMER, which has
so educated the people to a higher and
nearer a perfect knowledge of the aims,
objects and demands of the Alliance.
Fraternally,
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-07-14

Fertilizer Company; they need no CON
tradiction. We consider the source
from whence they came. We know
the character of these gentlemen is too
great to shun or avoid the payment OF
any tax or ad~ulterate their goods. We
have used their guano, and if any one
wishes to see the analyses of it, come
and see u cotton and tobacco where
we used it and it will speak for itself.
We have never been able to top tobacco
before in juno. We hope all the
brethren will stand firm and pass all
these criticisms unnOticed.
Our people endorse the reform party
movement and stand ready to support
any party that advocates u princi-
pies and promises US freedom. We
would not like for the new party to be
favored with Democratic and Repub-
lican spiece; we couldn't stand the
favors, and somebody would be ready
to say it was the same old sour pie.
Our Alliance is composed Of both Re
puOIIctu anu D~6IIIOCIdU9, 011u VIC dl0
proud to say that we are going to join
the church 1892 when we will receive
the hand of fellowship extended us and
have one of the biggest revivals you
ever heard Of.
The groupe picture was received and
it pleases all who see it. Subscribe for
THE Progressive FARMER and receive
the picture and we are sure you will
be we'll pleased. Success to THE PRO
GREssIvE FARMER, Col. Polk and the
brotherhood.
F~raternallV. G.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-07-14

~ IL1LL; ~ ~ OOly y. lCJi.
Mr.. EDTTOR:-Our Alliance, Nc. 1874,
is located in the dark corner of Wake,
better known as backwOods. By re-
quest of our Alliance we will attempt
to write you a letter, but not a spicy
one, as we are not accustomed to
writing. We may not interest you,
but while we can't write we can do
the most alfred thinking you ever
heard of; so we think all of these criti-
cisms against our National President,
Col. Polk, come too late, the dye is al
ready set and the critics can never ac-
cOmplish anything. When we read a
paper that has these criticisms against
our officers and the brotherhood. we
put them into shot bags and hunt
something to shoot as long as our wad-
ding lasts. We don't like n such
literature even for cunning; we + in
clined to think it would make shot
scatter too much for close shooting,
and to read them they would have the
same effect on the brain. So, Colonel.
go ahead and say what you please and
to whom you please, for we have got
our thinkso in spite of all the critics.
We are solid in the true principles of
the Alliance and can never be fright
ened at anything we see or hear. We
don't read after these pop gun editors
when we a spot them. Mr.. Editor,
you ought not to notice these reports
that r floating about the Durham
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-07-14
Yours fraternally,
R. G. HOLTON, Cor. Sec'y.


OL1ACLOI1E, n. \.
Mr.. EDrTOR:-Your predecessor, Mr..
Baylus Cade, gives us the parting ad-
vice, that we concentrate II efforts
for the attainment Of the two posi-
bic" measures, the tariff and free
coinage" instead of the unwritten and
unspOken risks of the doubtful. Why
did Mr.. Cade not advise us to disband
the Alliance? If we may only contend
for such measures as the anti-Alliance
wing Of the Democracy may choose to
grant us, why bother with our Alliance
organization. Mr.. Cade's advice is the
advice Of expediency. I know that
party ex~pediency has been the rule, as
it has been the curse, of American poll
tics. But there is such a thing as prin-
ciple in politics, and the Alliance has
embodied its principles in a platform
and men of principle will support that
platform. We favor tariff reform and
are conscious that we may attain that
end through the Democratic party.
and we should labor for that end if it
can be attained-as we believe it can
be-without reducing the revenue of
the government. If it cannot be
done without such reduction, then no
rational man should desire it. The
revenue from the tariff is about $3.50
600, 900. The expenses Of government
is-for this year-$52O, 600, 900. The
difference is derived from the tax on
whiskey and tobacco. Now if you re
duce the revenue from the tariff,
whence will come the deficit? Shall
we resort to direct taxation? How
about Nh Cade's other possible issue,
free coinage2 May we hope for it by
Democratic efforts? The acknowledged
leader Of the party is a monometalist
of the most pronounced type, and even
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-07-14
AN APPEAL.

Mill Creek Alliance, No. 742. John
ston county, hereby appeals to each
Sub-Alliance in North Carolina for
help for Bro. w. \. Rose, a worthy
member Of this Alliance. He had the
misfortune to lose his horse a short
time ago. At a regular meeting Of our
Alliance the undersigned were ap-
pointed a committee to investigate his
loss, which we find at fifty dollars.
Though small asi it would seem to manv.
this was indeed a heavy loss to Bro.
Rose, just at this time, as he is a poor
man and was dependent upon this
horse to complete his crop which was
only about half finished. We there,
fore respectfully ask the Sub-ALiances
throughout the State to help a worthy
brother. No matter how small, the
same will be gratefully received by
Bro. Rose. All donations should be
sent to our Secretary, Bro. J. \. Bar
Der, Harpers, N. c..
Respectfully submitted,
T. j. Lassiter, w. n. Rose, Jr.. !. c.
Williams. Committee.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-07-14
COCKRELLs, Nash Co., n. c.,
n. w. BRITTON.

June 81, 1891.
Mr.. EDITOR:-It has been some time
since there was anything said about
our Alliance at Sandy Cross, Nash
county, No. 2,149, so | will try to let
the readers of your valuable paper
know that there is such an Alliance
and she is in good standing. Her mem
bers all feel proud of the Alliance and
its movements. so we are we'll up with
the times.
On Saturday last was our regular
meeting and annual election came
off ssand Office were all filled by good,
live workers. I think the best and
surest plan for having good meetings
is to keep a good team in the lead al
ways. Do not excuse a good brother
from office because he says he cannot
attend regular; give him something to
do and then he will attend and very
often be glad to do so. If you want a
heavy train of cars pulled, put a good
engine in front to pull them and they
move off in good style.
Our very efficient Secretary, Bro. J..
J.. Lindsey, showed me a picture a few
days ago that contains all the Presi-
dents and national officers. [ think
they are the nOblest looking set Of men
I ever saw, all through. 1t shows that
we have good men and good brain in
the lead Of this grand Alliance move
ment. They can do the engineering
and the greasing of the big wheel of
this vast machine and we little fellows
can do the pushing, which I hope the
brotherhood throughout the whole of
these United States will with a settled
determination-push enough before the
end.
[ think THE Pro fREssIvE FARMER
should be in every household in North
Carolina, especially all Alliance homes.
F~raternally yours,
r. G.. DIXON, Pres,t.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-07-14
RAND'S MILLS, July /, 1891.

MR.. EDITOR:-I see some so called
Alliancemen have the effrontery to
oppose the Sub-Treasury. I am not
afflicted with cdc9ther lOquendi or
cdcUtber Scrj6endi, but the Alliance
has a mugnUm opus to perform which
will require much to be said and done
to accomplish the task, and the Ali
ance must use plain talk and act indie
~pendently. The old party leaders and
partisan papers have much sacred adj
vice that is being distributed among
the people which I wish to warn the
Alliance against. Such is nOt intended
for the good of the Alliance, but for the
purpose of confusing and creating
divisions in the Alliance. They are
continually attacking the SubITreas-
ury, and you may mark it as a solemn
fact that all who oppose the Sub-Treas-
ury, whether in or out of the Alliance,
are enemies to u cause, and should
be sent to the rear, closely watched
and treated as enemies of right and
J4SUlCG. LNCIy Al1ldl1NC1IlCI1 H4IOulu
stand firm upon the Ocala platform,
and those who will not must be looked
upon with suspicion. We need no
such; we can't trust them; we can't be
led by them; they + at all times
ready to drop any of the Alliance de-
mands at the bidding Of their old party
leaders. Not so with true Alliancemen.
They will not drop a single demand for
Democratic or Republican success.
The party leaders in the Democratic
party say ooh, the Alliance is going to
split the party; they 7 going into
politics!' This plainly shows that
they are not going to help the Alliance
to carry out their demands; and as for
themselves, they have no demands
but to stay in office and rob the
people of the products Of hon
est toll. Once in a while you may
hear one say the Alliance has swal-
lowed up the Democratic party in the
South. This may be true in some Sec
tions, but when we come to consider
the situation in North Carolina, it
looks quite different, and reminds me
Of a yarn l once heard a man tell about
two snakes that commenced swallow
ing each other tail foremost, and kept
swallowing till both were consumed,
and there was nothing left Of either.
And I think this will be the fate. of the
Alliance if they don't mind how they
swallow. AS yet we have only been
able to swallow a very short piece,
while the party snake has done most
of the swallowing; and there is one
thing certain: the Alliance will not be
able to swallow this old party snake
till his head-the present bosses-is cut
off. They must stand aside, and the
old rusty, deceiving party snake can
not swallow the Alliance till it greases
us with the Ocala demands, Sub Treas
ury and all, none excepted. Twill here
ask all Alliancemen to stop and think
how important it is that we should be
| a unit on these demands. Wemust no
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-07-14
FAIRMoNr. N. c.. July 2, 1891.

Mr.. EDTTOR:-Fairmont Alliance,
No, 768, met on Saturday, June 9th,
and elected the following officers: J..
4. Fink, President; J. F. Carrick, Sec
rotary; J. D. Lookabil, Business
Agent. Fairmont Alliance is wide
awake on all of the Alliance work.
Some Of our members are slack in at
tendance, but others are true as steel.
I find those who read THE PROGRESS
sIvE FARMER the most active members.
received the groupe picture some
time ago and think it the best I ever
saw, for which please accept many
thanks. j. D. LOOKABILL.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-07-14
Fraternally,
OLYMPIA, Pamlico Co., n. c.,

July 3, 1891.
Mr.. EDITOR Please allow me space
in your valuable paper for a word from
Providence Alliance, No. 1868, to let
the brethren know that we are still
living and in good working order. We
are few in number but jealous work
ers. We have traded a considerable
amount through the Business Agent
and saved a good per cent. Some have
predicted the death of our Alliance,
but with the help of Him who is able
to help every one, our death has not
been nor will it be till after the death
Of the trusts, etc.
We received an appeal from La
Grange Alliance, No. 72O, Lenoir
county, stating that Bro. Jno. w.
Rice had lost between 81, 200 and 81, 400
worth Of property by fire. We sym
pathize with him very much and are
willing to help in every time of need,
and contributed 81. This is quite a
small amount but if every Sub-Alliance
in the State would do as much it would
help Bro. Rice very much.
We need and must have more educa-
ton; our people have been in darkness
long enough, they must have light and
nothing but education can give it. Our
State and National organs are great
educators, but enough of our people do
not read them. Every male member
of the Alliance should read especially
their State organ.
I am a true Alliance boy, "warp,
wool and grain" only II, and [ appeal
to my native boys to come out and let
us help to fight the battle hat shall be
won without a sword! Let us be edu-
Gated; there is work for us all to do.
There is a contest that is coming and
let us be united, for in union there is
strength. I am a constant reader of
your paper; it is the best I have ever
read. Long live THE PROGRESSIVE
FARMER.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-07-14

Mr.. EDITOR Thistle Alliance at
Newport now numbers some one hum
dred and thirty members and every
man to a man stands fat-fOOted with
heel and toe touching every plank en-
bodied in the principles of the Alliance
platform. We are a unit. We do not
intend to desert the principles, let fall
who may. There is one thing we can't
understand and that is, why the Demo-
cratic journals do not accept the ALI
ance platform. 1t is democratic in
every sense of the word, full of Chris
tan teachings and blessings that the
world can endorse; truth enough to
upset worlds. With such Christian
leaders. as Polk, Watson and others,
such pure stars are bound to shine;
they cannot fall in the land where
truth is bound to predominant. My
friends, it is not my purpose to write
buncomb. We mean business. We
care nothing for the name of the trans
port, whether it be third or fourth,
first or second. Only one question, has
she the capacity? If so, does she sym
pathize with us? Those questions an
swered to our satisfaction we are one
or three. Frankness compels us to talk
plainly let it hurt whom it may, and if
we go down, we are going with flying
colors. We have never witnessed such
enthusiasm among the people. They
are determined to act where they think
best for their interest. Neither issues
nor men can stop this revolution now.
It is q tidal wave. It has spread from
sea to sea-. Its reveille has broken the
rest of the sleepers; like thunder claps
it hasspread onward to tell one another
its tolls, until the country is at an un-
rest. Not only in the South, it has
crossed the Potomac, without a halt
from its head to it's mouth. in onward
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-07-14
WEST BEND ALLIANCE,
Panther Creek, Yadkin Co., N. c.,
July 4, 1891.

Panther Greek, Yadkin Co., N. O.,
July 4, 1891.
An appeal to the Alliances of North
Carolina: Whereas, on the 5th day of
June, 1891, this section was visited by
a violent hailstorm, such as has never
been witnessed by the oldest inhabi-
tants, which totally destroyed the
growing crops, unroofed buildings and
left feds and forests as bare as in mid
winter for a radius Of several miles;
and whereas, several members of
our order are among the sufferers
and are in an almost destitute cOndi-
ton. Therefore we, the West Bend
Alliance call upon our sister Alliances
and members throughout the State to
help us in this time of need. Any con-
tribution, however small, will be thank
fully received by our Secretary or
President, at Panther Creek, Yadkin
county. n. G,
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-07-14
Fraternally
J. R. HUNTER. Pres't.
/. J. STRIPE, Lec'y.

CARRIERS MILL, Forsyth Co, n. G.
Mr.. EDITOR:-I am happy to inform
you that Cedar Grove Alliance, No.
685, is on a boom. Our people are
reading The PROGRESSIVE FARMER and
other Alliance literature; and we find
that those who will read and inform
themselves will come to the Alliance.
We occasionally find a brother who is
cranky. Such men, we presume, do
not read Alliance literature, and hence
do not understand the nature and in
tent of the Order. We would advise
all such to inform themselves or keep
their mouths shut. I am sorry to say
our females do not attend as they
should. The sisters should attend as
regularly as the men. am glad the
Alliance did not oppose the admission
of the fair sex, for there r. none who
deserve more love and respect than a
true woman, and wherever we find a
man who does not think so, there we
find a man who is Of little service to
himself or anybody else.
Mr.. Editor, I want to vote for an
Alliance man for President in 1892. If
I fail to get that opportunity, I shall
not vote at all. Brethren, for Gods
sake give us a ticket that we can vote
for the good of our country. Equal
rights to all; special privileges to none.
Fraterrtally,
G. & THONAS