The record-union., 1891-12-17
CITIZENS ALLIANCE.
Its Objects and Aims Explained at
Pythian Hall.
Reforms in the Government That Are
Demanded-Ruin and Desola-
tion Predicted.

Ihere was very poor attendance at
the Citizens Alliance meeting at Pythian
hall last evening, not more than hand
1uI OF persons being present. and they
were nearly all Farmers Alliance men.
1t had been announced that J. w
Hines of San Francisco, State President
OF the Citizens Alliance, would be the
principal speaker of the evening, but a
telegram announced that that gentleman
had missed the train from the bay and
would be late. Professor Henri Fair
weather, the alliance vocalist, who ac-
companies Mr.. Hines on his speech
making excursions, was there, however,
and undertook to keep the audience in
terested until the arrival of the President.
He succeeded quite well. He knew ali
about the aims and objects of the new
alliance, and spoke quite eloquently.
The new Alliance, said Mr. Fair
weather, was virtually the same thing as
the Farmers Alliance, with the excep-
Ion that 1t proposed TO include among It's
membership citizens and laborers as well
as farmers. The objects Of the Citizens
A1nance We're similar TO those of the
farmers organization. It demanded the
abolition of national banks, because it
DelIeVed that these concerns were help
ing TO ruin the country. In 1850 the
farmers controlled 20 per cent OF the
country's wealth, but now they could
DoaSt OF but 70 per cent. and soon would
boast of none. This, he declared, was
due greatly to the national bank system,
by which the people were made to pay
eXorbltant rates OF interest for the use of
their own money. The rich people live
on the producers credit, but if the pro-
Queer wants to use any of that credit
5T,tn
goes into the rich mans pocket.
What the Alliance demanded, in lieu
OF the notional banks, was the establish
ment OF sub-treasuries, or money de-
posltorleS, where people could borrow
money at low rates of interest mot more
than per cent? on reasonable security;
also, that the circulating medium be in
creased TO at least $50 per capita. But the
only remedy was at the polls.
Before proceeding further with his
speech Mr.; Fairweather stopped and sang
song. He has a powerful baritone
voice, and sings with fine effect.
Resuming his address, he said that the
Alliance demanded the stoppage of deal
ing in futures. The millionaires had
2 brought the price of wheat down to a
minimum figure by their practices
Then the speaker sang another song,
and the audience applauded.
After the song he denounced, in be-
half OF the new Alliance, the recent silver
bill. What was wanted was a free and
unlimited coinage of silver. If gold and
silver were to be used at all, the people
should have all they can get of it. He
declared that slavery existed in the
United. States, and by way of illustra-
ton, asserted that $4,000 girls were labor
ing for less than % cents a day-not be-
cause they did not earn more, but be-
cause they had to keep the rich people in
luxury and idleness.
Another song was rendered by the
speaker to liven the audience up, and
then he resumed his talk The Alliance
demanded that the Government have
control OF the railroads and telegraph. If
all OF these demands were not acceded to
the country would fall with a crash He
predicted all sorts Of ruin and deSolation
and gave the reasons on which he based
his predictions. Rome, Babylon, Egypt
and every other great country that had
gone to pieces fell over the same preci-
i)ice that the American Government was
rushing headlong toward.
Mir. talrWeather gave one more song
and then introduced his wife. who is also
reform talker. She followed the same
theme on which her husband argued.
and pictured more misery that awaited
the American people if they did not wake
up and shake Oft their shackIes.
While the lady was speaking Mr..
Hines arrived and mounted the rostrum
1t was then quite late and of course he
had to speak briefly. He went over
much of the ground traversed by his pre-
decesSor, Mr.. FairWeather but he did
not sing. He devoted most of his time to
answering the question, ''Why are the
producers of this country's wealth not it's
possessors ?''
After Mr.. Hines address Mr.. and Mrs.
fairweather rendered some pleasing
duets and then the meeting adjourned.