The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-19

RlCHMoSD, va, aug. To- SpeClaiI-
The fourth annual session of the Farm
ers' Alliance met here to-day at noon.
and was called to order by President
Mann Page, OF Prince George county,
after which the doors were closed.
There were nincty-odd delegates pres
ent. President Page delivered his an
nual address, in which he says:
''Whilc we are staunch advocates of
individual liberty, we have been forced
to band ourselves together as an organi-
zation of otfonse and defense against
combines and trusts, which, under the
sanction of the law, have sprung up in
tho last twenty-five years, forcibly alb
sorbing individuals and depraving pro-
ducing classes of tho market for the sale
of their produce except at prices below
cost of production.
1--WE arc told when we complain of
prices being under cost of production
that the cause is over production, yet
ex-senator Ingalls,. who by the chaston-
ing hand of the Kansas Alliance, now
p )Ses as statesman without lob,
and who for many years assisted in tho
enactment OF laws which now Cypress
us, says that from 1860 to 1890 wealth
has been accumulated to tho amount
of one hun ired billions of dollars, yet
there arc ten millions of people who
have never enough to live from one
years end to the other.
II pause to ask why it is that this
accumulation of billions of wealth and
with in case of 80, 000 900 OF people there
should now be S5O2, 900, 600 less money in
circulation? Tho chief cause in nv
opinion is attribu table to the act passed
by Congress establishing national
banks, for through the influence of these
banks the act for demonetizing silver
was so adroitly passed that Senators
and Representatives have since do
clared that they were ignorant of the
provisions of this act and President
Grant was not aware of it when he
signed the bill"
He then cited Chief Justice Chase as
having acknowledged when secretary of
the treasury, that he made mistake in
advocating the national banking law,
ana President Lincoln as forshadowing
the evils that are alleged to confront
the farmers to-day. lie then alluded to
the sub-treasury plan submitted at st.
Louis, which received no consideration
by Congress, but at the instigation of
Wall street, has called forth storm of
abuse and ridicule.'
'If the incoming Congress will not
grant financial relief let us see that
their places he filled in 1892 by those
who will enact laws for tho protection
Of the agricultural producer and
la3orcrs. again appeal to you to stand
shoulder to shoulder in sustaining the
demands OF the supreme council as
adopted. If We arc to win this fight for
our rights as free and equal citizens it
must be accomplished by closer ranks
and determination that with the help
Of God we will do and endure until we
can again make this Government of the
people, By the people and for them.
The question is asked with seeming
anxiety by politicians and the press as
to what party the Farmers Alliance be-
longs. The answer is, we are not a
political party. We have a platform of
principles, to which we invite the aid
and cooperation of ALL and the time
has arrived when our interest demands
that we should do our best to induce the
political parties, of which we are NOM
bers, to assist us.
II now invite your attention to tho
elections soon to he hold in this State
for members of the legislature. To
leave the selection of candidates to our
party bosses and wire pullers will
prove unsafe. We should attend the
local meetings of our parties and sec
that the delegates of the nominating
conventions are instructed to require of
candidates pledge to aid and assist in
creating a railroad commission to act in
conjunction with the interstate com.
mission and clothed with the
full power of state to protect
her citizens from unjust discrim-
nations in freight and passenger
rates on lines of transportation, includ-
ing the steamboat lines Of our rivers
and bays. Railroad corporations have
for years controlled the legislation, I'M
Til the acts passed through tho influence
of their representa- have robbed the
State of millions OF stock, thereby de-
priving her of her voice in the board OF
directors of railroad companies char
tered by her. These roads are removed
beyond the confidence of the State, thus
depriVing her of thousands of dollars
which would otherwise be expended
among our people.
III would recommend that inquiry be
made in the report that at the late meet
ing between the representatives OF the
State and of the foreign bondholders,
there was only a difference of sixty
thousand dollars preventing final set
Element of the State debt; for If it can
be shown that the finances of this state
will justify cost OF this difference
without increasing the taxes or inter
fering with the appropriations necess-
airy to administer our State government,
believe we would be benefited by
the establishment OF her credit and tho