davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-01-06
MEMOIR Al ADOPTED BY THE
Colored Farmers National Alliance and
COOPERATIVE Union, In Convention
Assembled at Ocala, Florida,
les ~ az L 1
J. II. TURNER, Sec'y.

FRIDAY, December 4, 100.
To the Senate and House Of Representatives
Of the Congress Of the United States:
WHEREAS, 1t is a we'll established prin-
.ciple of free, representative government
that the power vested in Congress by the
Constitution to tax the peopl- can only be
rig fully and constitutioually used for
t e purpose # raising a suficiency of
revenue to meet the expenses of govern
ment, honestly and economically admin
istered; and
Whereas, The exercise Of the taxing
power of the go vernment for the purpose
of discOuraging or placing burdens on any
one busine ) or industry, or for the pur-
pose Of fostering or building up any one
business or industry, is class Legislation of
the most vicious and unjust character; is
in direct and fragrant violation of sound
constitutional principles and a usurpation
of power that is unWarrantable and dan
gerOus; and
Whereas, The bill now pending in the
Senate of the United States, known as
The Conger Bill" which provides for
the taxation Of compound lard" a prep
aration made largely from cotton seed oil,
proposes class legi 1stion of the most OBJ
~noxious> and Objectionable kind, in that
it proposes to tax a legitimate in( ustry,
the effect of which would be to seriously
cripple and impair, if not to absolutely
destroy that industry, and deprive thou
sands # colored laboring men and women
of employment and the means of support
ing their families, besides destroying the
market which has been established for
A. GOD 0e &1a oO@40~ vlonf 1opco1u OprnWn
by the colOred farmers in the Southern
States; therefore
ReS0Lved, That we, the delegates to the
National Colored Farmers Alliance, from
the STATES of Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Flor
ida, Texas, Tenne Ssee. Louisiana and Mis-
sissippi, do most earnestly protest against
the passage Of House Bill No. 1858,
known as the Conger Bill.
But while opposing the passage of the
Conger Bill, we do most respectfully
petition your honorable bodies to enact
into a law, as Don as possible, Senate
Bill No. 1891, known as the Paddock
Pure Food>Bill, which was introduced into
the Senate of the United States by Sena-
tor Paddock of Nebraska, at the instance
of the Farmers Alliance of that State, for
the reasons that we believe that if said
bill becomes a law it will prevent the
adulteration and misbranding of food
preparations and drugs which are so
largely and generally practieed, to the
great injury of the agricultural interests
of the country, the health of the people
and the morals of the business public.
When your honorable bodies take into
consideration the alarming extent to
which the adulteration and misbrand ng
of food prod lets is practiced by unscru-
puIous and dishonest manufacturers and
dealers, it would seem that we, your con-
stituents, are not asking too much when
we urge you to pass, without unnecessary
delay, such legislation as will afford the
! millions Of farmers Of the United States
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-01-06

Alliance and Industrial Union, at Little
Rock, Arkansas, March Is, 1890; Memo
rial of 10000 farmers, visitors at st. Louis
Fair, citizens of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa. Missouri,
Kansas, Colorado, October IL, 1890.
Ia the language of the Memorial of the
Farmers Mutual Benefit Association of
the State of Illinois, the further reasons
of our opposition to the passage of the
Conger Lard Bill are as follows:
l. 1t singles out only one article, which
it alleges is adulterated, and provides no
remedy for the 255 other articles as set
forth and provided for in the Paddock
Bill.
2. 1t increases the number of revenue
officials in the country. We have already
over 10000 oficeholders, who are eating
up the substance of the tax payers.
3. The Conger Lard Bill was intro
duced at the request of a Boston pork
packer; the Paddock Bill at the instance
of the Farmers Alliance of Nebraska
The Conger Bill is supported by all the
the pork packers Of the country and by
the Big Four of Chicago. It will create
a monopoly and will enable the large
packers to form a lard trust. The Pad
dock Bill has the united support of the
farmers of the entire country.
4. The Farmers and Laborers' Union,
at their National convention held in st.
Louis, Mo-, in December, 1889, adopted
the following plank in their declaration Of
principles:
believing in the doctrine of equal
rights to all and special privileges to
none" we demand that taxation, Nation
al or State, shall not be used to build Up
n interest or class at the expense of the
other. We believe that the money Of the
country should be kept as much as posi-
bic in the hands of the people, and hence,
we demand that all revenues, National,
State or county, shall be limited to the
necessary expenses of the government,
economically and honestly administered.
And that the Farmers Congress held in
August of this year $500 at Couucil
Bluffs, Iowa, re affirmed this plank in the
following language: believing in the
doctrine of equal rights to all and special
privileges to none, we demand that our
National Legislation shall be so framed as
lot in the future 20 foster and build up
n industry at the expense of another"
Then, in the interest of public health
and morals, and to SECURE pure food and
pure drugs, we favor and pray for the
passage of the Paddock Pure Food Bill,
and being opposed to the abuse and pros
titution Of the taxing power of the gov
eminent, and the enactmentNof class legis-
lstion by which one industry is fostered
and built up at the expense of another,
we protest against the passage of the
CoDger Lard Bill.
The above memorial was read before
the Supreme Council of the Farmers
Alliance at Ocals, Fla, on the 8th day of
December, 1890, and after its adoption,
the following resolution was a s5ed:
ReSo7ved, That we are unalterably op
posed to the passage of the Conger Lard
Bill and that we favor the passage of a
pure food bill.
lSigned) L. L. Polk,
Pres't Natl E. A. & l. U.
J.. II. TURNER, Sec'y.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-01-06
TO SUB-ALLIANCES WISHING
TO TRADE DIRECT WITH
THE STATE AGEN T.

The State Executive Committee recon-
mends that each Sub Alliance who wishes
to trade direct with the State Business
Agent, make a deposit of a sum of money
with the State Business Agent, the money
to be used for such Sub Alliance only,
and to be Withdrawn by the Sub-Allisnce
at any time. This will enable each ALI
ance at all times to do business with State
Business Agent without inconvenience to
either. Each Alliance will be entitled to
trade to the full amount of the deposit.
S. B. ALEXANDER,
J. M. MEWBoRNE,
Executive Committee.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-01-06

FLORIDA.

ru-;ttpn for the F A. and I. U. Excursion.l
l"L By John P. STEELE, of l linois
:une-B6ulah Land,
r,orids. so rich and rare,
ln,str0ps kind and maidens fair;
my Ives and sons, with social arts,
my Won the love of all our hearts.
cuo-Bright Orange Land! Sweet Orange
A. in thy pleasant groves we stand,
We realize thy greatness rare,
md breathe for thee al earnest prayer.
,ud when upon our Kansas PLAIN,
j broad DakOta's fields of grain,
u " IN rich ~COlOradO's mines,
u u shII will love this land of thine.
Tho Smoker sings his golden corn,
nh Z HoOsier empties plenty's horn;
zach Northern Sta e its treasures find,
prf Florida hath all combined.
Then when we reach u Northern land,
nv mid our SHOWS n ices stand,
Or mr. hearts. with loves most thrilling rhyme,
vii ting Of Florida's sunny cline,
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-01-06
sec'y Patterson's Springs Alliance
PLEASANT Hill, Nov. 20, 189I

PLEASANT HILL, Nov. 20, 1890.
On October 7t'l, 1890, at her home on.
Mud ere *, Nancy N. Rhodes, in the 18th
year of her age.
Hill Alliance, and although all of her days
were spent in the humber walks of life,
she possessed in an eminent degree and
exemplifed in her laily life those noble
traits Of character that live and ele-
va e all their surroundings that made hel
life a blessing to her immediate neighbors
and friends and a precious and priceless
boon to her own family. She leaves a
hus band and FIVE children to mourn their
untimely loss.
E. R. NELSON,
w. @. CORNELL,
Committee.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-01-06

Ruskin's F0rs UavigerG and Stones Of
Venice.
Taine's History of Art
Chsucer's Canterbury. Tales.
Wordsworth's Goldsmith's, SCOTS, and
Tennyson's Poems.
Swift's Gulliver's Travels and Tale of a
Tub.
Thaddeus of Warsaw, Children of the
Abbey, Vic Ar of Wakefield, "Tom Jones"
Emma" "Jane Eyre Vanity Fair,
Plckwick Papers, and Christmas Book,
by Chas. Dickens. Last Days of Pomeii,
Adam Bede, Corrinne, Les Miserables,
Ben Hur, Robert EIsmere, Looking Back
ward, Rasselas, Utopia.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-01-06
NOTICE TO ALLIANCE BRETH-
rem.

In the future any brethren coming to
the Office of the State Business Agent to
get Alliance prices, or to make an order
for goods, will please bring their Trade
Cards with them, as it is annoying to
have to examine the brethren in order to
ascertain whether they are members of
the Alliance. You can secure Trade
Cards at this Office.
The manufacturer of our F. A. Official
Guano requests all to bring their Trade
Cards when they come for guano.
Fraternally,
W. II. WORTH, s. B A.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-01-06

WHEREAS, On the 31st day of October,
1890, God, in His great province saw fit
to take from us our beloved bIoth~r, J
NJ. Stafford; and whereas, The Bakereyi.Ie
Sub-Alliance, No. 712 of Mitchell. coil y,
in the death of brother J. N. Stafford, has
lost a worthy member and the church
an humbl- Christian.
Reso2vsd, That we cherish the memory
Of brother Stafford, and tina we spread
his resolution on our minute-bOOk and a
COPY be sent to the bereaved family, as
we are in great sympathy with them, as
we believe th7y have lost an afectionste
husband, and tina = copy of this be sent
to THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER for publica-
ton. NJ. D. WILSON,
H z. WILSON,
J.H II. JAMES,
HoUpniffaa
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-01-06
Committee.

WHEREAS, 1t pleased Almighty God on
the 10Th day of November, 1890, to send
the angel of death into our midst and
call to his eternal home our loved and re-
spected brother, NJ. A. Griffin, one OF the
charter members of Newport Alliance,
No. 504; q devoted Christian, q kind and
generous neighbor. Therefore be 1t
RESOLVED, That We bow submissively to
Gods will, feeling assured that while to
our short-sighted vision the death Of our
beloved brother seems y great misfor-
tune, being cut down in the prime Of q
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-01-06
OBITUARY..

SwANas, N. c., Dc. %, 1890,
We have received a severe loss in our
Alliance by the death of brother B +.
Logan, a good citizen and true Alliance
man. Brother Logan was a public bust
ness man; served as sheriff for twelve
years, served as postmaster in Shelby four
years and was sec 'etary of Cleveland
county Alliance two years. Brother
Logan leaves a wife. and seven children
and many friends to mourn the loss of a
good father and husband.
J. M. ROBERTS,
Sec'v Patterson's Springs Alliance
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-01-06
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SEN-
ATE.
SATURDAY. Dec. 6; 1890,
PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS.

SATURDAY. Dec. 6: 1890,
PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS.
Mr.. PADDooK-I present a Geographic
petition, officially signed, from the Ma
tional Colored Farmers Alliance, now in
session at Ocala, Fla. As the telegram
is short, and as it comes from a large and
influential association of farmers in ses
sion at the present time to consider
policies and measures for the betterment
Of the great interest they represent, l will
ask to be INDUCED by the Senate in read
ing it in full:
OoALA, FLA, Dec. 5, 1890.
Hon. a. S. Paddock, Chairman Senate
Committee on Agriculture, Washington,
D. c.:
The National Colored Farmers ALI
ance, representing twelve States and two
million of 2olored farmers, in Supreme
Council assembled at DC ia, Fla, enter
their protest against the passage of what
is commonly known as the Conger Lard
Bill, which proposes to tax compound
lard and depress the price Of cotton seed
and cotton seed oil. No legislation ever
introduced into Congress, with the excep-
ton Of laws fastening slavery upon us,
has been 20 injurious to the colored race
as the so, called Conger bill.
At the beginning of the regular session
of the Fifty-frst Congress, n year ago,
cotton seed, the colored mans crop, sold
at from twelve to fourteen dollars per
ton; now it brings only six to nine dol
lars per ton, the de rease in price com.
mercing with the introduction of the
Conger bill. Please state tor IS and in
u behalf to your committee that with
the new tariff law raising the price on our
blankets, clothes, boots, shoes, hats, farm
ing utensils, and all other necessary ar
ticles used by the colored people, and
with the Conger bill depressing the price
o: the only articles they have to sell, their
condition is not far removed from actual
abject slavery. Our people believe, how
ever, that when the situation is properly
understood their appeal to the party of
Garrison, Phillips, Lincoln and Grant will
not be in vain. J. S. JACKSON,
Pres't Colored Farmers National Alliance
and Co. operative Union.
move that the petition be referred to
the Committe on Agriculture and Forestry.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-01-06
For Tobacco Growers!

GREAT INDUCEMENTS OFFERED IN VIRGINIA,
NEAR PETERSBURG.
A Pressing Demand for Experienced Mel
who know how 10 Cultivate Bright Tobacco
Land Very Cheap and on Easy Terms-n
You Cannot Purchase You Can Work Oh
Sharesl
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
Petersburg, Va, Oct. 8, $780,
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-01-06
HOME EDUCATION OF THE
FARMER.

BY PROF. GERALD MCCARTHY, N. c.,
EXPERIMENT STATION.
Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-02-26
The Charm Of tho Cuckoo.

The habits and mannerisms of the
cuckoo have been moro acutely OBJ
served than perhaps those of any other
bird. For thousands of years natural
lists have been trying to understand and
explain its mysterious ways. but have
not fully succeeded There yet remain
many impcnetrable and seemingly new
er to be understood mysteries connect
ed with it. Enough about II has. how
ever, been found out to prove that it is
the bird of the strangest habits known.
A native OF this continent can hardly
realize the charm of the notes of the
cuckoo. From a musical point Of view
there is not much in them. but the name
of the bird is evidently onomatopoetic
that Is, formed from the sounds emit
ted hy It. and this name Is the same. OF
nearly the same, in tho languages of al
the countries It frequents.-The Cont.
pent
Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-02-26

In curious old work entitled 1.-THE
Curiosities OF London" we find the fol-
lowing particulars concerning a minute
paddock: in tho twentieth year of the
reign Of Queer Elizabeth, Mark scarliot,
= blacksmith. made lock consisting al
eleven pieces of iron. steel and brass
all of which. together with the key,
weighed but half grain. lie also made
chain Of gold. consisting of forty-three
links. which after fastening IL to the
lock and key above mentioned. he pu.
about The neck Ct common flea, the
whole being 90 minute that the little
inacet coulj draw them over q silver
plate with perfect ease. All Of these
together, lock and KEY. chain and fea,
weighed slight fraction less than one
grain sad hslf~--Chicaeo Journal
Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-02-26
ECHOES OF LONG AGO.
A Ssction Where sns O3d A,Q
Sssnzs Axs SUI Heard
fh. Dsskassf ~s.aasxtsxs% Ga Dessls1s
Rl.etsssos The 0ia lssaa NIL "a
NsFk fha sosx ssst Es~sFr
81 slsssxf ksss.



May are TIE sarloas relies II ths
I'D regime - bs foaha Ia The "bl4eA
districts ~ South carolina Whsrevsr
the whites are .l shs A4iefity. progress
bl-a nia..s rulxe1 tas easfsaiss new ideas
4sat aesT discoveries a4Ys be<n adeptsss.
al las good el1 fashions are memories
oaig. Bat "a Hlang Il ia cd eotton
a-ad riee Plantations IA tbs .-biaek d2s~
*riefS ~loag siaee deserted 81 their
FORMER a1nsrs. bas stlls osscepied by .
gray -heaaed remnant Il sx-slayes. their
eA-hiren and taeir ehildrsas Children
tale eondition u Affairs - very different.
Here there has been 40 progress -qaits
tls opposite. iaae.sd aud here many 90
ths prtcalclve usazes II tAirty years ago
ara still Ia vogue
Bar bef'1Fs speaking further Of the
roliess a word Tor tas old plantations on
which they may 30 fouud Ihe old
plantations are Interesting enough. be-
cause II their former beauty and the
luxury q Their f5Fner appointments
because II their present dtlapidation
and the wdd pietaresQaeness that sur
rounGs them To begin fttingly here
i tho big gate az the entrance OF the
loAg avenue, b0rdered bg mossman-
tied century eazs here ,azs the gate
to-day il Is gone Ike the fencing, FOR
ONLY = zig rag ridge % rotten plank and
post winds through the ri0tOes thiclSet
and marks the line Of the Oh fence.
The avenue Is knee deep in dead leaves,
the oaks are fettered by grape vines.
droopiug under tons % moss. and from
long neglect look like a company OF
buAAy headed giants drawn mp in battle
erray against The geali 81 the EeLEd sol
ita,ies about them. The once handsome
dwelling 90 the end OF the avenue is
lettering b the fall, shorn Of steps.
shutters. window pxnes; pillaged of
every portable ORR ament, rottlng and
ruined. The smoke-h0use. with its
hundred diano1t-shaped eyes. through
which elCllls OF snowy smoke were
wont % ooze, after enveloping the fresh
addressed hams hanging from the cell
ing inside, and thus helping 10 cure"
them; the kitchen. wherein three hun
,dred and sixty five feasts per annum
Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-02-26

were prepared In ''the good old days"
the stables that once harbored many o
bioosied courser; the barns, tho dwell
ings OF the house servants-all leaning,
falling or fallen.
Say that q stranger IS approaching
che quarters" (which IA slavery days
meant that long row OF negro cabins
Jar a-aeld in which the field hands
dwelt). He would SEQ u quaint little
settlement. OF dirninutive, dilapidated
houses patched and proPped in every
conceivable fashion, and surrounded by
little patches of turnips. cabbages and
potatoes, few fowls and pigs, q host
OF gaunt ours, piles of oyster shells,
stacks Of fodder, potato banks fenced
"a with rails, an occasional peach or
pear treo-au these. with the inhabi-
tants, he would see at glance and
while approaching
Not long since the writer. accompa-
nicd by photographer and two burly
blocks 20 carry the camera aud pull the
oars, journeyed far into the country,
over water and over land. for tho pur-
pose Of obtaining a picture OK the only
s-sebSllss stone mill within many miles
of the city that diigent inquiry could
locate
Let us examine is In detail.
First. the largo square frame over
which the two men ere standing sup
ports two heavy circular stones. Their
surfaces are rough. like coarse sand
paper: the bottom stone IA stationary,
the top stone movable. In the center Of
the lower surface of the upper stone
there IS SCOOP like The impression Of
a cannon bail on The soft earth. chiseled
there - st loosely over an Iron cone.
This coae IS attached or Cts loosely over
The top Of an iron rod. vi iah runs loose
IL through the center % the lower stone.
and on downward through the heavy
wooden crosshar beneath. The iron
rod il 'sthreadeti' aui ''nut.ed" both
ADORE aud beneath The wooden bar.
making il possible e lower or raise the
core. Tor n purpose which viii soon ap-
pear. The sides e the cone are groovcd
- facilitats the grinding process. In tho
center of the upper stone there il a
round hole which. after passing half
way through tac entire thickness Of
the stone. wis.srs into t,se scoop be-
fore mentioned. 20 ft loosely ever the
oo-,s. Through this hole the corn Ia
'sfed- 20 the miu. q handful 81 a tine,
thc grain passing through sie grooves
in The sides e the cone, and on between
che two stones. u Be Ground into grist
or sour. ard huss. The two stones are
separated ~ perhaps the thirty second
par. OF al inch Il SPACE. the two rou~h
surfaces almost touching. Rat this
SPACE may - Increased or diminished
~ manipulating The nuts already de-
g. hs.ti
Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-02-26

Near he eas~T sdg. q tks uzp~x
.toas thsre = asseeh Al a2eh deep ssasa
az inen "a Enors IA alszaessF. iaso IA.
neEch "a tas uPxizhs pols ~ka.A =
CRASHED ey tae haa&s 81 the gFfnaxrs.
TIE 40 II this p.3lS FuRs through = hs3ls
Ia = asarsx0ntzl plsak supported ky two
uprlxhns Al a dzst2nes II sb-oas four
fest absss the stone. The hote throagh
tie plznk - a1eA TO largs for tie pole.
seavinz pleBty = soosn for Tie play
sh1ch Is required
As<s rsos. shea ali Is ready. lst IL he
rsnasaa beEed th4t the oone H. loosely
over tie 10 Il The irua rod. the upper
miil- ssofe ats iS.lssly over the cone, aaa
ths or raEs Loosely through the lower
stone.
The rest Is plain. The uaeu as they
stand exert their strength -one pushing.
the other palllng. the upper stone re-
wolves. slowly al first, for II weighs
several hundred poandss then faster AMI
faster. until II PUSHES around with a
speed that woUld take il acFoss the
country a. twenty miies an hour. DID Il
suliisniy 1amp from is position snd
strike terra 6rma a. the proper angle.
No ''preutieo hand" can feed the
'-mi4-" Duly those who are adopts
evsr venture 10 try il, for the speed OF
the rushing stone Is never slackeaed IN
the least while the miil Is being fed.
With the utmost ease and grace the ae-
eastomed hand drops the grain into the
''mouth" hole In the center Of the
upper stone-withoet allowing the rap
idly revolving pole 20 strike his arm-a
catastrophe - DO dreaded as one would
dread the blow Of a sledge hammer.
And the feeder does his work with one
hand. be il remembered. while be helps
- turn the stone with the other.
Tho better To comprehend what be.
comes Of the corn after being fed" 20
the mill. let Us imagine the upper mill
stone wheel, the mouth" then,
would DO Ct the hub, and the tire,
around the rim Of the stone. The corn
disappears az tho hub and flies out, in
the shape OF grist, AZ the tire, from be-
tween the stones, being showered
against the four sides OF the mill-frame
"a sand flies from rapidly moving
wheel.
Bat what Of the mill songs?
From the long, long ago, there comes
70 me even AZ | write, that rushing
sound which nothing can initiate, and
It's energetic accompaniment. With the
eye Of memory | see again the old quar-
tiers and the old mill. and Minda. Nina,
Pompey and Peter grouped around IT,
As usual, they ar singing; as usual
Minda leads, and this is what they sing: