The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-07-17
a GALL
For a National Conference of the
Friends OF the Farmers Alliance
Who Believe in Prohibition,

| chiefly in its agricultural interests. An
injury to those interests is an injury that
affects all interests and all classes. On the
other hand ii is fact patent to all observ-
ers, and asseverated with solemn force time
aud again by the Supreme Court of the U.
S., that the liquor traffic is an enemy not
less TO the material than to the moral and
and there should be no fraternity between
the agricultural interests and the liquor
traffic. There is no State in the Union
where the Ubiquitous class legislation that
has wrought such disaster to the farmers
has not found in the legalized saloon a
potent political ally. The saloons have, by
their power in politics, filled our legislatures
with men open to the corrupt influences Of
unprincipled monopolIes, soul]ess corpora
lions, aud self-seeking jobbers of all kinds,
until an appeal to mere justice, however
strong, Mess backed by a bribe, has had
little chance even 10 be heard. The liquor
traffic is itself the greatest monopoly in the
land and is the tool of all other corrupt
monopolies.
j We believe that the time has come when
the power Of money in politics should be
rebuked and destroyed; when the Govern
ment should become again in fact as it is in
theory Government of the people, for
the people, and by the people," But we
believe that one of the first steps to be taken
to insure this end is to destroy the legalized
liquor traffic.
Il The undersigned, therefore, being identi-
fed with the farmers organizations of the
land, or otherwise deeply interested in them,
herein unite in this Cell for a Conference
of all who agree in the main with the senti.
ments above set forth, to meet at Prohibit
ton Park, Staten Island, New York,
August 10, 1891. This Conference to be for
simply an exchange of views. 1t will be
non-partisan. No action will be taken, no
resolutions adopted.
i Every one who is friendly to the interests
of the American farmers and who believes
that the liquor traffic should be opposed
politically, will be welcomed as member
of the Conference.
i All communications should be sent to Col.
R. S. Cheyes, Prohibition Park, West New
Brighton, Staten Island, New York.
4 CHARLES F. DEEMS, President,
{, r. s. CHEvEs, Secretary,
i. /. K. FUNK, Treasurer,
/ ofPark Association.
II Trustees, together with numerous others
sign the above call.
u 1t is to be hoped that wise counsels will
prevail at this conference and the prohibi-
ton party be advised to take new tack and
fall in line with the other reform associations
in order that all may act together and in
concert against the common enemy. While
the prohibition party maintains its present
attitude as distinct political party, it
is clear that il cannot be ee.worker with
other non.partisan associations If they join
hands, their separate organizations at once
become subject TO the one party control, and
there is nothing visible but The prohibition
party. Many convincing proofs are before
us that The mass of voters will not accept it
as their political party. There is no use
either arguing or kicking against facts. The
prohibition party as at present organized is
a dead failure and no mistake. Something
better must be found or the cause will lag.
We believe it is safe 10 claim that nine.
tenths of the Alliance members are opposed
to the saloon, but they will continue to OPP
pose any utilization with the political party
known as the prohibition party, and Tor
two very distinct reasons:
i. The financial policy which The Voice
has committed the party to is nothing more
or less, with few additional inconsequential
conditions, than the New York gold ring
policy. The Voice has not only argued in
favor of that policy but has ridiculed, in COM
mon with the plutocratic monopoly papers,
the financial plans of the Alliance. IF you
take from the Alliance its financial plank,
the order will dissolve as quickly as the
prohibition party would by taking from il
its prohibition plank. With this antagoism
the Alliance can have no utilization with the
prohibition party while the sub-alliances
may and often do declare in favor of the
total prohibition of the liquor traffic.
Everything within the atmosphere of New
York appears 10 become completely
hypnotized by the gold ring influence, and
as long as the prohibition party or any
other party has lis headquarters in New
York it is bound to be antagonized by the
masses. There is but one god in New York
and that is gold When the shareholders
rebellion broke out, New York was ready
to JOIN hands with il on account OF the cot
ton trade, and there was talk of declaring it
"free city" and if the gold ring which
now rules its destinies could have had its
say that policy would have been adopted,
there is no doubt.
2. The prohibition party has directed all
lis efforts against the saloon. The saloon is
aot the prime factor of the liquor trade, but
merely result, and the shutting up Of
every saloon to-day would be followed TO-
morrow by their opening again. The
saloon is the fruit of the liquor monopoly
which is entrenched behind the capitol at
Washington. The government maintains a