Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1891-08-06
MANY FARMERS PICNIC.
Big Crowds in Barnes and La
MOure Counties Meet on
the GreensWard.
The First House i'm the Red
River Metropolis, and u
Sketch Of its History.
How the Active Railroad Com
petition for Freight Helped
out for q NIOrtgagee.
Two Thousand Plcnicers.


Barnes county is strong in its Farmers
alliances, and one cheerful feature of the
organization appears to be the numerous
basket picnlcs held, at which there is
speaking. singing and general good fell
lowship. Last Tuesday the farmers
from all parts of the county assembled
in the grove at Valley City, and the day
beng fine, the occasion was one of un-
usual qualification. The Oriska band
was present and discoursed good music
to the 1900 people from the farms who
were in attendance. The rostrum from
which the speakers were allowed short
time in which to present views, was dec
GRATED with wheat, oats, rye and other
grains, with corn and pumpkins inter-
woven. The speakers were of both re-
publican and democratic affiliations.
President Shortridge of the alliance, F.
B. Fancher, Representative McCulloch
of Griggs county and J. w. Harden of
South Dakota, addressed the gathering.
The needs of organization and education.
the opposition of the city press, the hos.
tllity OF many congressman, the inaction
of both parties in the interest of the
farmers together with the hail business
OF the association, were the subjects Of
the speakers. The president spoke of
the aims OF the movement and it's pros
poets which he declared were never
brighter in this state, and MIR. Fancher's
remarks on hail insurance matters and
other topics were specially interesting.
There was great enthusiasm manifested
throughout the meeting.
IN 1AMoURE COUNTY, TOO.
Grand Rapids was the scene of another
farmers celebration last Saturday. The
picnic was held in Capt. Elliott's fine
grove, the Pomona brass band was in at.
tendance, and nearly all parts of the
county were represented. The west end
OF the county came out strong, and the
various banners and badges bore evidence
OF the strength of the organization and
the enthusiasm Of it's members. The
meeting was addressed by State Lecturer
Lampman who spoke on topics usually
discussed. As reported by the LaMoure
Chronicle he advocated the banding to-
gether of the farmers, because in ''union
there is strength" Every trade, he said,
has therefore its organization. The coal
dealers combine compels the farmer to
pay for coal from 81 to g per ton more
than he otherwise would; the agricul-
tural combine raises the cost of machln-
cry two or three Zines above it's value,
&C., &c. On the other hand, when the
farmer takes load Of produce to market
he has no voice as to its value-a COM
bine, outside of him, attends to that, and
for the past 6 or years he has had to
take 10, Is or 25 cents less per bushel for
wheat than was his just due. A Chicago
combine OF 3 or men compel ue to take
from one.half to two-thirds Of what the
consumer pays, If We ship our beef.
Farmers and their wives labor hard all
thu sprlng and summer and in the fall
fold thier arms and let the speculators
take their produce at their own price.
Therefore the farmer should combine
and no one disputes the right. The cen.
sus Of 184O showed that farmers owned
Is per cent. of the wealth of the United
States. In 1850 they owned only five-
eighths; in 1860 about three-elehths; in
1850 only one-quarter and IN 1880 only
about Is per cent. The property o. the
FARMER ls last passing into the hands OF
monopollsts.
The speaker discussed the sub. treas
ury scheme by request and defended the
secret work of the alliance, which inter-
ferred with neither politics nor religion.
He did not advise his hearers to espouse
any political party, but to organize and
consider the questions at issue. He
claimed that every farmer and his family
could we'll afford to spend little time
in these social gatherings where music,
defamation and the discussion OF inter-
esting topics that directly affect home
life and material welfare would result in
better understanding OF the rights and
relations Of all parties, and would benefit
those participating, in many ways.
A Red River CuriO
The city council Of FARGO has been