The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-05-22
The Great Injustice 1t Would Work to
Agriculturists.
Facts Which Should Be Studied by the
Democrats OF Tennessee Before
il is Too Late.

DGn1OcrdIS Ol IcuucSScc DcAOAO |
it is Too Late.
Memphis AppeGL-A VeLGnche: Recent
~ there have appeared III many ZEN
nessee papers urgent appeals to Demo-
cratic leaders o. the State to dehne
their positions relative to the sub-treaS-
ury scheme. The Alliance journals and
President John I'll. Mcdowell, OF the
cratic leaders of timidity and lack OF
courage to speak out. An AppeGL-A ga
Lanche reporter yesterday called upon |
CongreSsmau-electJ Josiah Patterson Tor |
the purpose OF securing an EXPRESSION
of his views.
"In view of the discussion now going
over the sub-treasury scheme, have you
any objection to giving the public your
views on the SubJect?'
"Not in the least. [ am one of the
servants of the people, and they nave
the right to know ny views on pubic
questions in which they feel an inter-
est. 1t is well known that am one OF
those who believe that agriculture, the
greatest of all interests and the one
on which the prosperity of all iothers is
based, has gr.YeOuSly suffered az the
hands of the General Government.
am in full sympathy with the farmers
| in their efforts to secure redress OF their
| grievances, and stand ready to co oper-
ate with them in etfecting such legIsla-
| Jion as will bring to them relief ana Det-
| ter their condition, have at all times
|
| are taking in public affairs, and have
! frequently expressed the opinion that
| the Alliance properly directed Dy III
| telIigent ana patriotic men, would &C
compltSh great good Tor the country.
am disposed in Tho discussion of any
measure advanced by thee farmers to
treat it not only fairly, but with 8 dls-
position to support il il can do so with
= consciousness of doing my duty to
them and to others.
"In what ] may say in answer to your
inquiry. 1 shall not attempt to confuse
the subject with an argument on the
cOnstIJuTIonality of the Jaw, or by any
resort to technical or legal reasoning
shall deal with it from the standpoint
Of the farmer himself, and shall deter
mine whether the general veal Will be
promoted by the passage ofsuch meas
ure."
stIs the Vance bill not the one pre-
, ferred by the friends of the measureF
81 think not. The Picker bill is the
one with which the public is most Ia
miliar. However, l have here a copy
l. of the Vance bill, and if you will com
pare the two you will find that they are
| in all respects the same, except that un
der the Picker bill the people in the re
| spectiVe counties in which the SUP
treasures are established, eIeeI TN
: managers, whereas under the Nahc'
J. bill thew are appointed by the Secretar,
4 Of the treasury at Washington. IN
+ Vance bill has raeentlv become tn
a faVOTiI0 because IulS seEltkEc VI III
!, | Pick Ter bill is thought to be unoonstItu
a tional.
ain the outset 1 will say in genera
; terms that cannot see my way to sup
u | port the measure. My reasons ar
q several, and [ will give them in thel
: order: ,
:, [. ~ sec no practical good to tn
Y farmers, or rather the class of farmer
q it is intended to benefit. let US look a
u 1t from their standpoint, The measur
is only Intended for the relief of tn
1; farmers engaged in the production c
a dive agricultural staples, to wit: Co
Is ton, wheat, corn, oats and tobacco. n
V county, is to have a sub-treasury unles
y it sha | appear from evidence, support
!, | cd by the oath of the County Coul
" Clerk and gheritf showing the averag
~ gross amount per annun OF cottol
y twheat, corn, oats and TOBACCO produce
y and sold in that county for the last tw
r years exceeds the sum of Sc |,CJJ at cul
J. rent price, Now, it does seem to m
10 | that our farmers will know that thl
- the vital and pivotal provision OF tn
y" bill, has no practica. application
T. them. 1t was evidently conceived
D. the brain of men who have monopollze
~ the lands or the West and VINO are 81
s. gagged in the production OF grain on
m arge scale. Senator George, for who's
!, ! talents and Datri Jtism L have the hlgl
70 | est respect Is now engaged in the. oil
- cussiOn o. this measure before IN
SC farmers of his Stats, and / Will Ventul
&c for it's VerificatiOn, that there is scare
3 ly a county in Mississippi having a mi
he iority of white population which, undt
v the act, would be entitled to SUI
u treasury. The act would only apply
~ the black counties engaged in the pre-
Ol duction of OJtou, anC, il is well-knoW
RI that the planters in these counties,
he nine cases out of ten, make their croI
IN on a credit and on shares. How tt
/ merchant, who advances the none.
as the planter who owns the land, and IL
- cropper who furnishes the labor, are
i adjust their accounts so as to ava
III themselves of the blessings of a su
SO treasury l will not undertake to solV
is I have studied this question as far {
lie Tennessee is concerned and can spea
,e with more accuracy in respect to III
a. own State. AS the census of Is } hi
. not been published, l have taken Ill
data FROM the census of 1857. Those a
lie quainted with the agriculture in Ie
e. nessee will concur with me in saylI
in that the sproducts of the farm
ly IG0O and l. 10 are not materially ollie
a.. ent from the statistical point of vleN
,U There are ninety-siX counties in Ie
. nessee. L have made the eXaminatlo
&c and the census OF 1872 shows that Il
PIT estimated value of all farm prOdu
ne tions sold, consumed, or on hand
G. each of the following named countl
| c1O n wit.