Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-08-20
STATE ALLIANCE
Convenes in Twelfth Annual
Session at Dallas.
PRESIDENT JONES' ADDRESS.
One Hundred and fory-nine County Alliances
Are Represented.
All Who Took Part in the Fort Worth
Convention Excluded From the Ses-
sions Which Are Held With
Closed Doors.
PRESIDENT JONES' ADDRESS.

sionS w men are ttefu Win
Closed Doors.
Special to the Gazette.
DALLAS, TEX, Aug. 1s.-The twelfth an
nual session of the Farmers state Alliance
of Texas convened here this morning and
will remain in session during the remain
der of the week. President Evan Jones
called the gathering TO order. One hun
dred and fOrty-nine county Alliances were
represented with one delegate from each.
The morning hour was consumed in the or
ganization of the body. The executive
after which President Jones delivered the
following address:
President Jones' Address.
To the Officers and members OF the Farmers
State Alliance OF Texas, greeting.
DEAR BRETHREN-We have met to-day in
the twelfth annual session of the grandcst,
most noble and powerful labor organization
of the known world, an organization upon
whose principles hangs the destiny of the
various industries of our country; an or
ganization whose principles are the fOunda-
ton rock upon which rests our liberties,
prosperity, and republican institutions, and
while it has met with all the opposition that
organized monopoly, individual advantage
and political preiudceS could bring to bear,
and the bureau Of personal SANDER together
with bitter and remorseless vltuperatiOn,
sophtitry and Intimidation against our Lead
ing characters both state and national, has
been full and complete, yet our organization
being recognized as q creature of necessity,
its growth, development, power and Deneh-
cent influence have been without q parallel
in the history of the world. The unselish
patriotism displayed by the broth
erhood IN sustaining the order and
its leaders amidst all this
TRADE of abuse misrepresentation and
SANDER, deserves the highest commenda-
ton and should prove to the world the earn
estness of her membership and the stability
Of the order. Brethren, YOU compose the
legislative body of our state organization,
the birthplace and principal battle-ground
of the opposition Of Ovr order. It is 10 you
the brotherhood look, not only for such leg
islation IS shall perpetuate o If OrganiZa-
ticn, but for The providing of the ways and
means for the resuscitation, encouragement,
promotion and better protection OF our
suffering industries against cncrOachneEtS
OF corporate monopoly, and which shall
ultimately free our industrial institutions
from their present enSlaVed conditions
With full confidence in your ability earn
eSuneSs and fidelity to the cauSe.I now COM
NIT the organization with the responsible
ties of the hour into your hands with the
following information and recommended
tons:
LAND.
When we consider our vast and rapidly
Increasing tenant population, together with
the mort ga-ed condition of thousands of the
best homes i'll our country: when we con-
slider that the ownership of homes is the
great safeguard of liberty as well as the
strength. prosperity and stability of our
nation. and that it is impossible for a people
long to remain free who do not own their
homes, we conclude that there is no ques-
ton which demands more serious conSidera-
ton than the present condition of the lands
of America. Land monopoly is shown by
history to be the bane of the world. When
Rome went down 9S per cent OF her people
were homeless; when Egypt fell per cent
Of her people owned her lands. The golden
days OF Babylon were crushed by Land mo-
nopoly, Land monopoly, an insufficient
volume of money by class legislation, has
caused the dissolution of the greatest aud
most powerful nations of the world; there
fore,
To establish and maintain strong and
stable government, the full strength of the
law must be thrown around the homes of
the people, and the lands protected against
the encroachment OF monopoly, both for
eicn and domestic. Looking to this end we
find upon our statute books what is known
as the homestead law, and our legislature
at its last session, passed law prohibiting
the alien ownership of lands in Texas; and,
Notwithstanding it is urged by some that
the latter Will be detrimental to the best in
terestS of the people and draw at least $780,
900. 00G from our country, and therefore
should be repealed, we would insist that
such laws are in keeping with the demands
of our order, and instead of being detrimen-
tai to our interests it will save our country
and people in interest alone at 10 per cent
the sum of S5,OOO,C00 annually, which now
goes to enrich the money lords of Europe.
The histories of other states where land
companies flourish do not warrant the con-
clusion that they are in the iu-
speedily lead to bankruptcy and ruin.
We therefore would recommend that you
take such action as shall be necessary for
the maintenance of the alien land law, and
look with disfavor upon anything that
would lead to an insecure hold of our peo-
pie upon our lands for homestead purposes,
and upon the homes they now enjoy.
FINANCE.
It is fact well established by history
that circulating medium-money-is a
very important and necessary factor of civil
liZation. In proportion as the finances are
properly adjusted to the demands and needs
of the people and commerce, do we find a
nation enjoying the highest type of civiliza-
ton and prosperity. Without money civil
with diminishing supply it must languish,
and, unless relieved, finally perish. In
studying the history of the nation and
familiarizing ourselves with the conditions
that now obtain, we find the money of the
nation locked in the Golfers of the rich, and
the produce of the nation below the cost of
production. the wages of labor below a liV-
ing compensation, the commerce of our
country in stagnant condition, 100000
mortgages covering the homes of our peo-
pie, the continued increase of the credi
system, all of which leads to the conclusion
equate to meet the demands of its business.
Therefore, if we would free agriculture
and labor from the death grip of monopoly,
paralyZed industries, lift the mortgages
from the homes of our people, dispel the
dark clouds that hang so low and heavy
the sheriff from the door of the working
the ears of our mercantile men, we must
so adjust it to the business interests of our
country, that few men cannot produce a
financial crisis at any time they wish. In
order TO secure this necessary reform we
would recommend that you take such steps
as may be necessary for carrying into effect
the demands of our national organization
on financial reformation.
TRANSPORTATION.
It is an evident fact that the development
of our natural resources, the Comfort and
prosperity of the people, the spreading and
propagation of our moral and religious in
Bon, i