The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-18

speeches by Colonel Whitehead, Major Page
and Others.

by the Farmers Alliance and the farmers
generally for their first basket picnic. which
took place on the beautiful grounds Of the
University OF Virginia, preceded, however,
by speeches from number Of prominent
Alliance men, citizens OF this State.
About 1880 o'clock the spacious public hall
of the University was well filed with farmers
from all parts of the county, and puite a
number Of ladies were present.
H. J.. Lyman. Esq.. presided, and at the
. hour named Rev. DR.. Kinloch Nelson of
Alexandria. opened the exercises with prayer.
The chairman then introduced Professor Viii
liam NJ. Thornton. chairman of the faculty Of
the University, who III few well-chosen
words heartily welcomed the Alliance mem
bers and their friends to tho institution and
rendered them the free use Of the buildings
and grounds. Agriculture said be, lis tho
basis of the welfare of us affirming being
the basis of civilization. Everything that az
fects farming affects the whole country" He
regretted he did not know fully the plans Of
the organization. but in behalf of the Iniver-
sity he would be glad TO render all aid in it's
power by the scientific work ana teaching.
COLONEL wHrTEHEAD's SPEECH.
Hon. Thomas Whitehead State Commits
siOner of Agriculture, responded TO Professor
ThOrnton's remarks. thanking him for the
courtesy shown the farmers by the University
authorities on this as well as on former occa-
Jons. IL looked 10 him as IL new era was
about TO dawn upon Virginia. long ago inau-
gursted by the founder of this great instltu-
ton which now takes great interest in scien-
tine farming, Higher education and farm
| ing said MIR. Whitehead are now shaking
| hands. He was gratifed at the courtesy
often extended 10 the farmers Of the State by
the University in inviting them to make use
OF its grounds and buildings at which to hold
their Institutes. The Alliance is an educa-
tional organization. and in these latter days
II was getting TO be something, and its
| power was being felt He emphasized
| the fact that 1t had always been a non-politi-
cal body. The main fight was against the i'm
proper use of money in the hands of few.
Education can help us out Of oil our Difficult
ties and in the University would be found a
strong ally which will stand shoulder to
shoulder with the farmer in the effort to get
education, and it would be well TO form an
alliance with this institution. We
have no enemies TO punish and we will take
care Of our friends. This fall members to the
Legislature are to be elected and we expect to
take considerable hand in the battle" [Ap- |
plauSe.
ADDRESS OF MAJOR PAGE.
Major Mann Page, president of the State |
Farmers Alliance was the next speaker, who |
began by saying that he had travelled night
and day for two DAYS TO he present at the
meeting, and during that time had met with |
an accident which caused him to limp. but
he would not allow physical suffering to keep
him away. He had once before NEARLY thirty |
years ago. travelled great deal then mostly
on foot and on short ratons. He was glad to
be here, and congratulated the farmers on the
spot chosen for their first picnic as being
peculiarly ht for the purpose. the Alliance
being an educational bureau" Why is it,
said the speaker that farming does not
pay! The tilers of the soil work hard md
produce largely then why does it not payfp
Many reasons for this state Of things were as
signed, the principal one. IL the opinion of the
speaker, being the chief. talent Of the farmer
his mind lies buried, and had not been
properly accounted for. Ma CO was not all
that was needed-if that was so mules would
have been substituted for men. He thought
it was visitation of Providence for failure
to use the gifts God intends us to use. He
was here TO talk plainly, and he proposed 10
do so.
He touched on the fpancial questions of
the DAY, and the contraction Of our currency.
What must We do with our wheat? |
II would not pay to sell it now, since in tho
last few days IL had dropped CSC. on a bushe,
and this IN the face of the fact that the Eu-
ropean market WAS bare. and that deficiency '
OF a million bushels existed in that coun- {
"oyer-productiOn;' be said it WAS oVer-buying
and the oppressive laws. He felt like
using IN this connection that part Of the Eps-
copal service which reads. From all such de-
liver us" Il am not here TO talk on political
subjects. | knew Harrison simply as the Pres t
|
Secretary. Agriculturlsts pay eighty per
cont, of the taxes. and did you do your duty L
there would be no need for me 10 stand here t
to-day and give you advice" He was q
staunch friend of the agricultural press.
which had worked diligently to show the |
farmer his duty. To all those who were Op-
posed TO the Alliance and its methods, he chal- 7
enged 20 meeti its champions in debate There
was nothing unconstitutional in its plans. He I
was not welded to any plan, however, and
II wrong was willing 20 be convinced if he
srred. The day has come when neither ridi- !
'ule nor laughter can down US. and We are de ,
-ermlned 10 meet the issue like mon IL is the
luty Of US ''clodhoppers." with the aid of A
iod. TO think and work out our own regener-
'tlon. lie tried TO do his duty and was a
lard student and willing to learn. Abraham j
lincoln foresaw the great evil of this country,
Who, near the close of the war in answer 10 ,
he letter OF friend In Illinois predicted the
wi of all the wealth being aggregated in a T
ew hands. He also quoted from Chief JUS
Ice Chase on the money question
twenty-five years ago, and about the
monetary system he was instrument p
al III establishing. as follows MY
sency IN procuring the passage Of the Ma
lonal Banking act was the greatest financial
mistake Of my life. 1t has built up mo- ~
opoly that affects every interest in the coun- r
~. 1t should be repealed But before this r
an be accomplished the people will be ar m
aged on one side and the banks on the other "
contest such as we nave never seen IL m
bis country -,
Does IL not seem strange, said Mr. Page 10
that he should have seen then what it has I'll
,ken us so long 10 seer The banks are now az
n one side and the people arrayed against -;
lem on the other. You are the people. " ~
After correcting some errors that exist ut on
10 North and touching on tho negro and 49,
ieir separate Alliances he paid his respects
the newspapers and reporters.
Why only lust about year ago the papers Ne
the state learned to spell Alliance, and ~,
arcely ever printed anything about the g.
-gsnzation Now they were glad t. print an
lything about it. They had just learned TO Mi
,el its name correctly and had all immense
lantity Of adyiceto give and suggestions to r
AXE TO the farmer. The papers wanted the Y
rmer 10 make the hog and hominy' and
ey could do the engineering, which upset
IN.
Il was born and baptized in the Demo- ha
attic party Now some of the leaders and dis
lgsters want TO kick me out 1t is not in car
cir power u do so. and propose to stav in 70 70
as long as 1t does Its duty" x w,
He here gave history OF the Alliance move mo
ent from rs beginning in Texas to the pre- yea
Mt time stating that 1t was started on the 81,
inciples rs laid down by the founder of this bot
eat institution (the University, who favor ~. IL.
government by the people aud for the SN'
4