The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-09
lows as reDOrte
The Farmer Movement.


-
The Farmers Movement
w. A. PETER, the United States sena-
tor elect from Kansas, has an interest
ing article in the Cosmopolitan for
April entitled 1.-The Farmers Al.
lance" The senator writes clearly
and from the inside. He traces the
growth Of this movement Fl ON the be-
ginning and brings clearly to the
front these significant facts:
/. That the present Farmers Al
lance is the legitimate outgrowth OF
various organizing efforts and tend
encies that have been at work ever
since the war.
2. That some of the most potent
and formative tributaries to this pres
ent stream have come from the south.
Consequently it is less exposed to
sectional antagonism and to the ami
mcsities that arise from bitter mem
cries than almost any general, social
or political organization in the coun-
try.
8. That while it has escaped much
of the boisterousness, swagger and
intemperance characterizing the So
called labor organizations in our
large cities, it still is q part of that
cooperative movement among the
toiling that surely makes for the new
age which Herbert Spencer has nam.
ed the ''industrial' age as distin-
guished from the military" or even
the commercial.
4. That the present condition OF
the farmers Of this country is deplor-
able, bordering ever upon the path
etc. Their lands are motgaged to
who extort rate Of inter
est quite out Of proportion with the
power of the money, when
applied to agriculture. At present
the farmer works the longest hours,
with the fewest privileges aud the
most uncertain income. of any of the
sober, diligent and Intelligent toilers
to be found in America.
Does this article and kindred lit
erature point to another fact, that its
egress into politics is perhaps the
Handwriting on the wall" which
the days Of the old parties,
which will compel a readjustment of
political problems and redistribu-
ton OF voters along other lines than
those represented by the historic
questions which in the past have di-
vided the Republicans and the Demo-
eratss It is hard to read Mr.. PETERS
essay and see how his questions can
be decided by any party vote. They
are questions about which Repub)i-
cans among themselves, and Demo-
Gratis among themselves, must inevita-
bly, divide. II the farmers can force
these questions upon the American
people, irrespective and independent
of party lines, they will do a great
and needed work. It is not an un-
common thing to hear in these days
just preceding local elections, q can-
didate, as we are bound to believe,
declare himself, in good faith, in
favor of all tho good things in the
way, of righteous government, civil
service reform, low taxes, etc., and
then wind up with the assurance.
Lastly, my friends, / am first, last
and always y Republican, or, as
case may be, 20 Democrat" Il
cast my fortunes in with the party
and pledge myself to its support and
interests" How long 1t will be be-
fore the inconsistency of the two
parts Of this typical speech become
apparent to ''the intelligent voter
remains to be seen. But that it will
some day become apparent we have
faith to believe, and SO, ~ new ele-
ment in politics, a redistributing
force, we welcome the Farmers AL.
lance. We urge upon the farmers
to study well its claims, and we trust
they may be able to escape the par.
tisanship and violent distemper
which has sometimes characterized
other labor organizations. They
must remember that the lines of Ia
Dor are ever shifting, and that it il
not toll alone but intelligent toll that
calls for praise.
A more modest but none the less
significant sign OF the times, and one
peahaps more important to the farm
er, is the prize essay In the same
magazine, entitled Farm Life" b,
Jennie f. Hooker, a Hoosier girl, q
farmers daughter, in which she
pleads earnestly for good books
good music and the good manner
that go with culture in the farm and
home.
She would teach girls that there
is place on the farm for them.
She says further that IAN hour each
day spent in reading some of the
standard works will lift the toiline
creatures thought out Of tho rut in
to WHICH she has gradually but stead
lily drifted.'
The two articles taken together
must lead to more thoughtful con
sideration OF the questions Involved
and we trust will increase a Cheerful
hona in the near coming of q better