Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-08-16
The Farmers Gather in Force
and Duly Celebrate
Farmers Day
Farmer Knox, of Seattle, Ar
raigns the Institutions
of the Country
There Was Only a Small At
tendance and but Little
Enthusiasm

cSIcTudy WAS FARMERS udy, anu
numbers OF agriculturalists from DIFF
ferent parts Of the county assembled
in New Whatcom TO celebrate the day
set apart by the Farmers Alliance as
one on which their grievances could
be aired and the people become ac-
quainted with one another
The attendance was not large,
neither did it seem TO be bubbling over
with enthusiasm. 1t seemed to be
more Of a holiday than political
gathering, at which all ills, real or
imaginary, could be set straight by
silver-tOngued orators.
These same orators yesterday, or at
least some Of them, left themselves
open TO the very palpable suspicion
that they we're working the demagogue
string for all il was worth.
But they had the opportunity TO do
so, and il must be conceded that they
went at IL with zeal born Of despair,
gall, or something Of like nature.
The farmers had a holiday, however,
and if no very apparent good resulted,
they had relaxation from tOll for one
day at least.
The appointed place Of meeting was
at the corner Of Fourteenth street
and Broadway, and at II O'Clock Mar
shal Gwinnup got the procession into
| line and the parade began. First, the
marshal Of the day; then the band,
with a standard-bearer, bearing alOft
the stars and stripes; then came the
! procession proper, long line OF wag-
Ons containing farmers, their wives,
daughters, sons and swcethearts,
llanked by four young ladies-M isses
Lizzie SChrimscher, Ollie Schrimscher,
Ida May PrOuty and Mrs. Edna Logs
don. The procession moved along
Broadway TO Thirteenth street, down
Thirteenth street 10 Holly, where they
were joined by delegation Of the
Knights Of Labor, and on up Holly TO
Garden; along Garden to Maple, and
down Maple 20 Elk; along Elk to Mag
nolia, and down Magnolia TO the cor
ncr Of Champion.
Here the real trouble began; plat
form had been erected, and after the
band had played several sweet bucOliC
strains Mr.. Harper, Of the Alliance
SOurnal, congratulated the farmers on
the establishment Of Farmers day
in WhatcOm county. lie then called
upon Mayor viii ID. jenkins TO deliver
the address Of welcome, butthc mayor
said he did not wish TO speak on polit-
ical issues, but he would welcome the
farmers 70 the city and extend its hos
pitality % them. lie was gratilied
that the farmers had met In New
WhatcOm, and while the asScmblagc
was not large, next year he hoped
would witness an increase, Of not only
farmers, but Of citizens TO welcome
them.
At the conclusion OF Mayor jenkins
address, an adjournment was had
until 1880, at which time W. =. G..
Adams delivered speech, in which he
outlined the reforms advocated by the
Farmers Alliance IN the government
Of the country, and succeeded, per-
haps, to his own satisfaction, In show
ing that the whole system Of govern
ment was putrid TO the core.
Farmer Knox, Of Seattle, followed
Mr.. Adams, and from the time hi
mouth was opened until he exhausted
himself, he INDUCED in a TRADE Of
abuse; he found fault with the city for
| its parsimoniOusncss in the matter Of
flags. which, in his opinion, on such a
day as that, should be flung 10 every
breeze that blows, also from every
| hOuse-also Mount Schome.
But this had been an oversight and
the apostle of PlIerism and Jcrryism,
| rayed to his hearts content at the
general unfitness OF things in this
oddly made world. Mr.. Knox is a
panaceaist and his little oppOdcldOc
compounded in Alliance fields, would,
| in measure-a great measure-curc
all their ills lie scored the banks
and the national banking system, and
impaired the information that any Of
them had more debts than they could
pay. Bonding cities for municipal
purposes was his bette nOir, and he
told his audience that they were al
ready taxed TO death and that iniqui-
tous rulers had placed a 81 600 mort
gage on every child born, while those
yet TO be, would have 20 pay interest
at 25 per cent. There were no honest
men In the country but farmers
everyone else were thieves, vagabOnds
robbers and rayenous wolves. Far
mer Knox finished after a time anC
short speeches were made by othel
speakers.
The total attendance Of farmeri
was not more than fifty and New
WhatcOm citizens we're rather back
ward In turning out TO hear the re
| formers.