The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-08-25
ALLIANCE BATTLE CRY.
VIRGINIA FARMERS WANT MORE MON
EY FOR THE PEOPLE.

Address, In which no states tho ariev-
anney OF the Farmers.
RICHMOND, VA, August 1S.-The
fourth annual session of the Farmers
Alliance met here to-day ut noon, and
was called to order by President Mann
Page, of Prince Gtorge County, aft, r
| which the doors were closed There
were ninety odd delegates present.
| President Page delivered his annual
address, in which he says:
while we are a Stanch advocate of
individual liberty we have been forced
to band ourselves together as an organt
| ization of offence against combines and
trusts, which, under the sanction of law
have sprung up in the last twenty-five
yeais, forclbly absorbing individual en-
terprises and depriving the producing
| classes OF market for the sale of their
produce except at prices below the cost
| of production.
'We are told, when we complain of
prices being under the cost of produc-
| l10n, that the cause is Over-production,
yet Ex-senator Ingalls,, who, by the
Christening hand of the Kansas ALI
| ance now poses as Il statesman with
out job and who, for many years, as
| sisted in the enactment of laws which
now oppre ises us, says that from 1860
to 1890 wealth has been accumulated to
the amount of $1OO,0OO,OOO,OOO Yet
there are 10, 100000 Of people who never
have enough to eat from one years end
to the other.
81 pause to ask why it is that, with
this accumulation of b.lli )ns of wealth
and with an increase of thirty weight
millions OF people, there should now be
$oO2,OOO,OOO less money in circulation
The chief cause, in my opinion, is at
tributable to an Act passed by Congress
establishing national banks, for
through the influence of these banks,
an Act demonetizing silver was so
adroitly passed that Senators and Rep
resentatives have since declared that
they were ignorant of the provisions
OF this Act. and President Grant was
not aware Of it when he signed the
bill"
lie then cited Chief Justice Chase as
having acknowledged when Secretary
OF the Treasury that he made mis-
take in advocating the national bank
ing law and President Lincoln as fore
shadowing the evils that are al
Legged to confront the farmers to-day.
plan submitted at st. Louis, which
received no consideration by the
last Congress, but at the instigation of
Wall street has called forth storm OF
abuse, rldicule and Misrepresentation
"lf the incoming Congress will not
grant financial relief let us see that
their places be filed in 1892 by those
who will enact laws for the protection
OF the agricultural producer and labor
er. l hgain appeal to you to stand
shoulder TO shoulder in sustaining the
demands OF the Supreme Council as
| adopted at Ocala. If we are to win
this fight for our rights as free and
equal citizens 1t must be accomplished
| by closer ranks and "a determination
that, with the help of God, we will do
and endure until We can again make
this Il Government of the people, by
the people and for the people.
"Io the question now asked with
seeming anxiety by the politicians and
the press as to what party the Farm
ers' Alliance belongs, | answer we are
not political party. We have plat
form of principles to which we invite
the aid and CO. operation of all, and the
time has arrived when our intereste de-
mand that we should do our best to in
duce the political parties OF which we
are members to assist us. Yet we ought
not to subordina-H the obligations we
have assumed to the dictates of those
who prefer party to principle.
| " now Invite your attention to the
elections soon to be held in this State
for members of the Legislature. To
leave the selection of candidates to our
party bosses and wire-pullers would
prove unsafe. We should attend the
local meetings Of our parties and see
that the delegates to all nominating
conventions are instructed to require
| nf a no n ,l.,l,, Il 4
In creating Railroad commission to act
in conjunction with the Interstate
commerce commission and clothed
with the full power of the State to pro-
tect her citizens from unjust discrimi-
nations in freight and passenger rates
on the palt OF the railroads and other
lines OF transportation, including the
steamboat lines of our rivers and bays
RAILROAD corporations have for years
controlled legislation until the Acts
passed through the influence of their
representatives have robbed the State
OF millions of stock, thereby depriving
her OF her voice in the board of direc-
tors OF railroad companies chartered
by her, with the result that the offices
OF these roads are removed beyond the
confines OF the State, thus dcpriying
her OF thousands of dollars which
would otherwise be expended among
our people.
L would recommend that inquiry he
made into the report that at The late
meeting between representatives Of the
State and of foreign hondholders there
was only difference of 100000 pre-
venting a final settlement OF the state
debt. tor if it can be shown that the
finances OF this Stato will justify the
acceptance of this difference without
increasing taxation or interfering with
the appropriation necessary to admins
ter our State Government and provide
for our asyiums, schools and colleges,
l believe we would be benefited by the
establishment of her credit and the
State would be saved thousands of dol
lars annually now expended in the pay
ment of attorneys fees and costs in de-
de Tending coupon suits"
He suggests that the State Secretary
be located in Richmond, refers TO the
expense OF the present lecture system,
compliments the Alliance press and
closes with an admonition for the ALI.
ance to stand together.
At the conclusion Of the presidents
address, which was heartily applauded,
the various committees were appointed
Col. Polk was present and delivered a
brief address, after which the Conven-
tion adjourned until tomorrow.
| Tonight public Alliance meeting
| was held at the Mozart Acpdemy