The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-10-01
have not calculated the effect OF its


break every corporation: grass would
grow knee high in Wall street, and
Chicago would be calf pasture.
The first thirty days We would have
one-half of the currency, and in four
months all would be driven into bank
ruptcy; but you can't get it fer they
won't let it go. If the farmers could
get the money they would take it
home. They do not nse the banks
So you see all the money would be out
of the banks and they would cry for
more of the circulating medium.
There is at least forty per cent. dis
elimination against the farmer under
under the present financial policy. If
we had more liberal monetary system,
towns and cities would spring up all
along the line of your railroads, and
manufactures would be built which
would consume your products. If our
money was based on the actual wealth
of this country it would always be on
parity with gold, and you need have
no fears of fiat money, and We would
not have our products priced by En-
glish gold.
The cry is raised "class legislation :"
Why, we have had nothing but class
legislation, and that for a very small
class, the English bondholders. If
this is justice and constitutional, then
let us have some legislation that will,
at least, give the farmers an equal
chance in life-the bill that will take
us practically out of the hands of the
legislator. The reason you never had
any Legislation is because you never
tried TO get it. You would elect men
and think they would look after your
interest, when, in fact, the other fell
low would 60 before them and he
would forget you and your interest
until about election time. then he was
ready to abuse the ''other party" and
appeal to your prejudice until he was
elected. Then away he goes to con-
tract the currency and demonetize ell
Yer and pile up the tariff
Under the sub-treasnry plan you de-
post $50 and get $40; and by putting
this in circulation, you help bring up
the price to standard, and then you
sell the other 20 per cent. The de-
mands Of the alliance are not partisan,
and am glad they are not; for the al
!
party, but wants relief through any
party. am not here to defend or de-
nounce any party. I have always
voted the democratic ticket, except
once, but when joined the alliance
determined to work for principles and
not for parties. The alliance is a place
where We can all take our wives, our
sons and our daughters and discuss in
a non partisan spirit the great eco
nomic questions that SO vitality con-
cern our welfare in the future. l in
tend to cast my vote for the man who
gets on the Ocaia platform with both
feet (loud applause. l don't believe
in the political machine. The old par
ties had, in the last campaign, more
than $S,0O0,0O0 What they did with
it l don't know. How they got it do
not care: but there are men who sub
scribe literally to both parties, or
their campaign fund, as business in
vestment. Then it don't make anv
difference which party is in power,
they virtually own both and dictate
what shall be law and what shall not
be law.
The alliance now has more than
1000, 900 members, and by reasoning
and showing to others the condition of
affairs, each one can control one more
voter, making 5000. 900: and there is
no reason why we should obey the
dictates of the machine politician, Or
surrender one of our demands. 1t is a
fact that the large banking and trust
companies are controlled by the ma
chine politicians. They control the
smaller banks all over the county
they, in turn, control the merchants,
and they have been telling us how to
vote for long time. Now we propose
to be freenen, assert our rights, and
to have some say in the matter, and
for this reason we are called cranks,
lunatics, and other names equally as
appropriate Now the merchant who
opposes our demands is aware of the
tact that whenever you become free,
and he no longer has a mortgage on
your property, that soon will he cease
to vote you as he has been doing. II
the merchants of the country would
only stop to think that their prosper
) ity depends upon the prosperity Of
their customers, instead of listening tc
politicians, they would be with us and
help us rid this country of the present
} financial policy.
We have had clear demonstration
of the power of the political machine
} in the last congress. Under the pres
sure it dared not extend the Al pei
cent. bonds that would mature in Sep
, tember, about $50, 100000. The first
, of July the secretary Of the treasury
gave legal notice that the banks woult
} be called upon for some of the surplu.
, that was deposited with them to pay
= off these bonds at maturity. The
: bankers called him over to New Yorl
and had him to do the very thing thai
congress was afraid to do: and now, ir
obedience to the machine, he is extend
3 ing the bonds without law or author
ity. called on him for his authority
and he said under the law of 1873 h,
: could do it. Now the truth of the
3 matter is the banks have tho bond
q and also have the money that belong
l to the government; that is the reason
. they are wanting the bonds extended
4 at 2 per cent. The fact is the politica
= machine dictates and the secretar,
! obeys. Self-adjusting to suit tn
j "bosses." This is very clear case 0
t the power of the machine politicians
v fused to vote as the machine in
structed and did not have sense enough
y to know it. Just 30 long as the east
t ern politicians dictate who shall fiji
t the Offices so long will they dictate tn
!, policy to be pursued, no matter whic
r party is in power. The great north
# west aud south have interests identj
d cal, and when once awake to their dut
l. will have some voice in the law maxim
}: power OF this government.
o There is not whits difference in a
e eastern democrat and republican
We need men from the south and ives
IS who will look to the interest of thei
}. constituency, it matters not what part
d they belong to, so they are honest an
It will study the financial situation an