Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-11-21


| fror, IseO In 1870 the increase was only per
cent AT the same time the aggregate wealth
/ of the country increased from 1870 TO 1850
over 4, per cent The ten staple crops Of
the country brought in the year 1884 less
than eer cent. more than the crops In 1856
The crops of 1867, though less than half as
| large as those of 1857. brought the farmer
| so III 600 more. During the last decade
Agricultural lands have decreased in value
| from 20 to 40 per cent Two: thirds OF the
| country's wealth is not assessed for taxa.
ton, vet the farmer. possessing only "a per
| cent of it, pays 80 per cent of the taxes.
| With all the modern facilities of transporta-
.tion and improved machinery. the farmer
| finds himself compelled to sell his produce
at prices barely covering the cost
Again, the farm mortgages in the agricult.
| ural states are frightfuliy large In Iowa
the nortgaged Indebtedness is $1oa per
capita in Kansas s1S5 in Illinois 500. and
everywhere the farmer IL overburdened
with debt The gross inequalities and dis
ordinations against the farmer have caused
| q rapid decline of agriculture, shat art of
| all arts, that science of all. Sciences" and
that, too. in period of wonderful develop
ment. 1t is therefore that the farmer Is now
| appealing to the supreme tribunal of public
| opinion and asks a just decision through the
| ballot box.
President Polk then took up the de-
| mands of the farmers, on which he
spoke at great length He first. gave
the history of the reform bill intro
| duced into the last congress by the
members of the alliance, and con-
| tinued:
This received no consideration by the
billion dollar congress except in the way of
denuncation. In the light of history 1t 10
the imperative uuty of the people to arrest
the evident and alarming tendency to GEN.
tralize the money power OF the country.
This was one of the great purposes of that
bill. It would have supplanted the iniQut.
ously unjust and oppressive national bank
system by securing 10 the people an ado.
quate amount of money direct from the gov
eminent at a low r:,te of interest to meet the
legitimate demands Of the country. But in
justification of the silent contempt which
characterized the reception of the measure,
assaults, vehement and persistent. have
been made on its minutest details instead Of
giving manly arguments on the underlying
principle Despite these assaults the sub.
treasury idea has grown until it is the sentt.
ment of the order in thirty -four states.
The constitution declares that congress
shall have power to regulate commerce
among the states. Money, transportation
and transmission of intelligence are the es
sential elements in commerce Does con-
gress regulate these? Organized capital has
demanded of con gress and obtained con troll
of the volume of currency. This has re-
suited In fearfrl augmentation of central.
lied money power to the impoverishment
and robbery of honest Industries. In 1865
the amount of currency was $4,000. 001 900,
with 81, 90, 600 population. To-day with e3;-
OOo,0 0 of people the volume Of currency has
been reduced to 5000, 000, 0O1, resulting in high
priced money and low priced articles, en-
failing distress, poverty, suffering and ruin.
Government control of railroads Is one of
the essential de mands of the alliance; also
the retent on of the public domain for our
own people; also the prohibition of gam
bling In futures; also the free coinage of sill
yer; also that no class legislation be en-
acted, also that the United States senators
be elected by the popular vote; also that
graduated tax on incomes be levied; but the
greatest demand of all is that the national
banking system be abolished and the peo-
pies money be issued direct by the govern
ment to the people
The supreme question before the people is
that of financial reform. The two great par.
ties have evidently sounded a truce and, as
in the past, this question of financial reform
shall continue to be regarded as neutral
ground" between them. In this crisis 1t Ia
the duty of everv true member of the ALI.
ance to stand firmly by our principles and to
demand of all aspirant5 for our suffrages an
unequivocai definition of their position on
these great principles.
President Polk next took up the sub
ject of the organization, its progress
and condition. He said that it had
steadily enlarged its territory and was
thoroughly harmonious. Since the last
meeting of the council the states of
New York, Ohio, Iowa. Wisconsin,
Delaware, Oregon, Washington and
New Jersey had been added to the rolls.
1t was the duty of the alliance to con-
tinue its work of educating the
people and no more potent agency
existed for the purpose than. the dis
semination of literature. The recon-
mendation was made that conference
be had with the reform press associa-
ton to discuss the most available means
of thus preaching the doctrines. It
was also recommended that fund be
instituted to aid in the work. The
most powerful auxiliary force to the
service of the reform literature was to
found in well regulated lecture sys-
tenn. The demand for speakers was so
great that it was impossible to supply
it
The speaker closed with remarks
upon the duty politically of the alli-
ance. He said the organization must
be kept free from ENHANCEMENT with
any party, declaring: 1T would ut
terly fail in its high purposes if it
should be degraded into a mere party
machine to be manipulated by design
ing men. When it shall fail to elevate
its membership above the arrogant
domination of party mandate, the hour
for its decay, dissolution and death will q.
have come"
Pennsylvania's Omcial Figures.
HARRISBURG. Pa, Nov. 14-The Of
fetal returns of the late election were
computed at the state department yes
terday and the totals are as follows:
For auditor-general-Gregg, Ala, 5s3;
Wright $50, 4S1; Hague, 1851; scatter
ing, 936 For state Observation-Disclosures
412. 994; Tilden, 35s, GIT; Drayton, Is, 429;
scattering. ESQ. Constitutional conven-
tion-For, 173,s13: against 420, 59a
NUGGETS OF NEWS.
kl~