Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-06-04
YALKTOFARMERS.
Hon. Josiah Patterson ON the
Sub-Treasury Bill.
A Clear, Careful Analysis of Its
Provisions.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Which Should BE
Studied by the Democrats of Tennessee
Before 1t is Too Late.
Recently there have appeared in many
Tennessee papers urgent appeals to Dem
ocratic leaders of the state TO define
their positions relative to the sub-treas-
rry scheme. The Allinace journals and
President John H. Mcdowell, of the or
der, have been accusing the Democratic
leaders of timidity and lack of courage
to speak out. A Memphis Appeal-Ava-
lanche reporter called upon Congress
man-elect Josiah Patterson for the pur-
pose of securing an expression of his
views.
"In view of the discussion now going
on over the sub-treasury scheme, have
you any objection to giving the public
your views on the sub ject?"
mot in the least. / AIN one OF the
servants of the people, and they have the
right to know my views on public ques-
tions in which they feel an interest. 1t
is we'll known that | am one of those
who believe that agriculture, the great
est of all interests and the one on which
the prosperity of all others is based, has
grievously suffered at the hands of the
general government. | am in full sym
pathy with the farmers in their efforts to
secure redress of the grievances, and
stand ready to cooperate with them in
effecting such legislation as will bring
to them relief and better their condition.
have at all times congratulated them
on the interest they are taking in public
affairs, and have frequently expressed
the opinion that the Alliance, prop
erly directed by intelligent and patriotic
men, would accomplish great good for
the country. l am disposed in the dis
cussion of any measure advanced by the
farmers to treat it only fairly, but with a
disposition to support it if / can do so
with consciousness Of doing my duty
to them and to others.
'In what | may say in answer to your
inquiry, shall not attempt to confuse
the subject with an argument ON the
constitutionality of the law, or by any
resort to technical or legal reasoning,
shall deal with it from the standpoint of
the farmer himself, and shall determine
whether the general veal will be pro-
NOTED by the passage of such meas
ure."
''Is the Vance bill not the one pre-
ferred by the friends of the measure"
81 think not. The Picker bill is the
one with which the public is most ia
miliar. However, l have here copy of
the Vance bill, and if you will compare
the two yoSwill find that they are in all
respects the same, except that under the
Piclder bill the people in the respective
counties in which the sub b-treasuries are
established elect the managers, whereas
under the Vance bill they are appointed
by the secretary of the treasury at
Washington. The Vance bill has re-
Gently become the favorite because this
feature of the Picker bill is thought to
be unconstitutional.
"In the outset l will say in general
terms that cannot see my way to sup
port the measure. My reasons are
several, and / will give them in their
order:
"First--I see no practical good to the
farmers, or rather the class of farmers it
is intended to benefit. Let us look at it
from their standpoint. The measure is
only intended for the relief of the farm
ers engaged in the production of FIVE ag-
ricultural staples, to wit: Cotton, wheat,
corn, oats and tobacco. No county is to
have a subtreasury unless it shall ap-
pear from evidence, supported by the
oath of the county court clerk and
sheriff, showing the average gross
amount per annum of cotton, wheat,
corn, oats and tobacco produced and
sold in that county for the last twoyears
exceeds the sum of 100000 at current
prices Now, it does seem to me that
our farmers will know that this, the vital
and pivotal provision of the bill, has no
practical application to them. 1t was
evidently conceived in the brain of men
who have monopolized the lands of the
west and who are engaged in the pro-
duction of grain on large scale. Sen
ator George, for whose talents and pa
triotism | have the highest respect, is
now engaged in the discussion of this
measure before the farmers of his state,
and / will venture the assertion, and
refer to the statistics for its verifica-
ton, that there is scarcely a county
in Mississippi having a majority
of white population which under
the act would be entitled to a sub
treasury. The act would only apply to
the black counties engaged in the pro-
duction of cotton, and it is well known
that the planters in these counties, in
nine cases out of ten, make their crops
on a credit and on shares. How the
merchant, who advances the money, the
planter who owns the land, and the
cropper who furnishes the labor, are to
adjust their accounts so as to avail
themselves of the blessings of a sub
treasury will not undertake to solve. l
have studied this question as far as Ten
nessee is concerned and can speak with
more accuracy in respect to my own
state. AS the census of 1890 has not
been published, l have taken my data
from the census of 1880. Those ac-
quainted with agriculture in Tennessee
will concur with me in saying that the
products of the farm in 1880 and 1890 are
not materially different from the statis-
tical point of view. There are ninety
six counties in Tennessee. have made
the examination, and the census of 1880
shows that tine estimated value of all