Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1891-09-08
The sub-Treasury-Its Growth.

pecially since the .Ocala meeting, the
sub treasury plan has been assailed in
cessantly and persistently by all the
methods which Wall street power
could be made TO bear All the great
dailies have been filled with articles
in opposition to the measure. and the
same spirit has shown itself through
different grades of partisan papers,
even to the unimportant country
weekly Whenever partisan politics
have controlled the acts OF men or
newspapers their opposition to the
sub-tre:sury plan has been met. This
is true from the fact that this plan
promises to break down the mOnopo-
ly which now owns the great bulk Of
the money of the country, and
through that power directs its quanti-
ty, and thereby regulates its cost in
exchange. 1t requires money. vast
sums of money to run political machines.
These machines are becoming more eX.
pensive every year, and the money can
only be secured from those who have it.
The sub-treasury plan threatens this
money monopoly with destruction.
What could be more natural in such Il
case than for the owners of money to de-
mand of the political parties that have
shared their bountieS and contributions
for years. protection and defense from
this impending disaster? Nodoubt this
demand for protection was coupled with
the threat that in case OF q refusal no
more money would be contributed for
political purposes. The unanimity with
which the political bosses and partisan
papers have gOne to the defense of the
money owners is absolute proof OF the
fact that something of this nature has
occurred. The defense of the money
power has been made in many
instances with personal and political
sacrifices. Many men and a large
number of newspapers have entered into
the campaign of defending Wall street
methods and monopoly ideas of finance
against their own best interests and
honest convictions. In the near uture
manv political graves will be filled, be-
cause the leaders of the two old parties
demanded defense Of Wall street, and
the politicians dared not disObey, even
though their Judgment and honest con-
yictiOns dictated a different course.
There are thousands of men and hun
dreds of papers attacking the sub-treas-
ury plan to-day through orders from po-
litical bosses, and not through desire or
antaponism to the measure. Such ac-
ton discloses the strength of partisan
politics and the dangerous use to which
# can be converted. The opposition
from these sources is much more diff
cult to contend with than that when
comes from the vicious partisan. But
in the face Of all this, the measure IS
rapidly gaining in strength, and Its ad-
herents have greatly increased IN num-
bers. Many gave their consent to the
measure last year in Difference to the
opinions OF others and through abiding
faith in the ability and integrity of the
men placed at the head of the order.
The present year has been devoted to
education, and now there is hardly a
member who does not indOrse this plan
because of personal investigation and
Individual conclusions. The action of
the different states in regard to this de-
mand is positive proof of its growing
strength and discloses the power OF in
diyidual Investigations In South Caro-
lima. despite the fierce opposition, 1t was
unanimously adopted. In Alabama,
after all the efforts of uncOnscionable
congressman to destroy it, it was
adoDted at the state meeting without a
dissenting vote In Maryland. where
the capital of the nation Is located, and
all the vicious influences OF its corrupt
ing tendency is made effective, the state
body reaffirmed the Ocala demands
unanimously. Thele is not the least
doubt that every one of the thirty-thre
state and territorial meetings will adopt
This measure in its entirety. Will the
two old parties continue to ignore this
rapidly increasing and concentrating
power? Is it not possible that the rank
aana Rla so-called that make up the Ell