The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-04-10
THE FARMERS ALLIANCE.
Its History, Its Present Status and
Its Aims,

Reviewed in April Cosmopolitan by
By w. A. PETER, United States
Senator From Kansas.
Senator Peffer, from Kansas, has con-
trbuted lengthy article upon the topic
of "The Farmers Alliance to the Cos
mopolitan Magazine of New York, and
which appears in their April number.
Following are some of the points covered:
''At the city of St. Louis, early in De-
cember, 1889, meeting of the Farmers
and Laborers' Union of America was
called for the purpose Si 5SjRgipg Ija ttSs-
different bodies of organized farmers in
the country. Invitations had been sent
out in advance to the officers of all these
different bodies, and also to the officials
of the Knights of Labor, and they were
all represented at this meeting. Con
ference committees were appointed. and
II union for political purposes effected.
They were not all merged into one, but
virtually that was done. The object of
this consolidation was to influence lcgis-
lation in the interests of farmers and la
borers generally. The new body was
to be called the Farmers Alliance and
Industrial Union That is the name by
which it is now known
| ''The Alliance is not partisan. but it is
intensely political. Primarily it is social,
out there is political feature, and this,
after all, is its most powerful force, that
which moves i'm public affairs and though
:hcre was no disposition to go into poll.
tics Independently, it was understood
1pon all sides that every possible effort
which could legitimatcly serve the inter
| ests of agriculture and labor should DO
put forth. The st. Louis convention
adopted q political platform which has
since been known as the st. Louis dc.
mands. In time it became very serious
question with members of the Alliaucc
whether they should operate through the
machinery of their old parties, or whether
they should join with other workers in
new and distinct movement for Il redress
of grievances which were universally con
| ceded to exist"
"What, then, does the Farmers 4 lliancc
demand as matter of political lcgisla,ions
let us first understandable conditions out of
which this formidable power Of the
;armers has grown. Agriculture is de-
pressed, labor is protitlcss, discomfort
broods like a cloud over the land. The
homes of the people are encumbcrcu by
an indebtedness which it is impossible to
pay under existing conditions; they are
being sold by the thousand every year
4 yEt Hiis e SlKsHs 81 ioans IN moss
.ases, are out of the question, because
with falling prices security weaKens; and
while property values go lower and low
cr. dollar values go higher and higher,
and taxes, salaries and interest absorb all
the peoples ccrnings, leaving nothing to
pay on the principal of debts. Briefly,
nearly if not quite one-half of American
homes are mortgaged; wealth is fast
passing into the hands of few persons;
money has become power in politics rs
,t has always been in social life, and the
same influence which is draining away
the substance of the workers is under
mining the church. Look what way we
will. cncroachments of the money power
are plainly visible. 1t pullutes our cleo
tions. it controls our legislation, 1t dc
bouches our trade, it owns our homes 1t
rulcs the forum, the school and the church.
1t is king.
"Thc great oycrshadowing problem OF
The time, then is money. Farmers are
not repudiators They want to pay every
dollar of debt they owe, and that ac
, | cording TO the letter and spirit OF tn
contract; but they arc powcriess To hc'
themselves They have no money AN
can get none at rates which VIII rcileV
them. When Wall street needs MOI
money the President and Secretary OF tn
l. Treasury supply it out of the p"b'i
treasury; but the farmers appeal Is nc
heard. Give us money ut rates OF ihte!
est we can afford to pay, take our iano
1; as security and our debts will be paia
Il fast us the money can be counted. Bt
L l,,
tyront's grin is t9htcncd. Farmc
d must have money with which to pay lhc
K debts or many Of them must lose the
G. homes And this applies to all "wnc
ld of land. in town rs we'll rs IN co"nt'
d, for the influence which has brought on
in half of us to the verge OF ruin will, II II
checked. soon bring the other half there
u ."Thc Farmers Alliance, then. mea
VI VI to dethronc the money power ana ih'
70 cmancipatc the people. This does n
VI mean anarchy, it does not mean rcpud
y" ton, 1t does not mean way; 1T means on
,r,, ~, the rule of the people The people "
Try take charge of their own affairs; IL
N'' will make and issue their own mon
and charge borrowers only what
handling of, it costs, just as they now
with hostage stamps, with court hou
me and highways. That is the FIRST ana 81
ur. work to be done. WIN tiat VIII CO
all many other reforms, for every device
cen yillainy which is supported by the
of proper use of money Will iail whcn
of props arc taken away"
the "And there is great social prob
'ple which is left for the Alliance to solve.
the Is known in politics as the "South
rch question" 1t has been mace foot-'
So by politicians for party purposes,
hcii that will settle nothing. 1t requ
,old broad and brothcrly treatment, and
that is stranger in party politics. The ia
rth ers will soon oblitcrate sectional Ii
and local prejudiccs will give way as
ven- az the national sentiment grows