The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-07-17
THEFARMERS' ALLIANCE
What 1t Aims to Ac-
cOr11pliSh.
By Il. R. CHAMBERLAIN.
copyright, 1891, by the Minerva Publishing
Company. New York;
VII.
THE CINCINNATI CONFERENCE.

AAASoAJs @o W0o AAAAIOoAAAS5 4AAOoU Va ttAA AL
the spirit which animated the men and
women who composed it. 1t was demon.
strated there first of all that patriotism
still lives in the hearts of the American
people. It was inspiring and refreshing
to listen to the splendid response which
came from that convention every time
an appeal was made to true and loyal
love of common country and COM
mon flag. There were no politicians
there-not one 1t was convention of
enthusiasts if you will, but patriots all.
The delegates had assembled for the
sole purpose of organizing new politi-
cal party, and nothing could turn them
from that purpose. It was strongly
urged on behalf of the south that the
time was not quite ripe for such radical
action and that nothing definite should
be done until February, 1892 Many Of
the leaders were convinced of the wis
dom of delay, but the mass of delegates
would not hear of it. There were 1,41s
delegates present from thirty states and
territories. They represented not only
the Alliance but the Citizens Alliance,
the Knights of Labor, the Nationalists
and other reform organizations. United
States Senator PETER, of Kansas, who
presided, had hard work to repress the
enthusiasm of the delegates to the point
necessary for the transaction of bust
ness. The whole third party question
was gone over by the committee on reso.
lutions in two sessions, lasting more than
twelve hours. When the report came it
was unanimous. Chairman Ignatius Dom
nelly, Of Minnesota, said in making it:
''The committee has concluded its la
bors with practical unanimity. On the
question of organizing new and dis
tinct party in the United States this
committee is a unit. The only differ
ence of opinion has been over unimpor-
tant matters. The committee has per-
formed great work. Two alternatives
were presented to it-one to proceed,
without regard to any previous move
ments, in the same direction; the other
was that we should not divide the
friends of reform, that we should place
this gathering in harmony with this vast
movement Of the people, which is to find
expression in February, 1892; that we
should say to those who have called that
convention that we are heartily with
them; that if there is any failure of that
convention to place national ticket in
the field, the national committee of this
convention should take steps toward
that result. We apologize because we
have not been able to cover all the inter-
ests in the minds of men here today. /
believe that a few planks in one invul-
nerable platform will avail more than to
try to include many issues, some of them
doubtful. The shorter our platform the
longer will be our muster roll. When
we have taken possession of both houses
OF congress and of the White House, as
we shall do, then it will be time enough
to decide on the details of legislation.
We are here not SO much to proclaim a
creed as to erect banner under which
the marching hosts of reform can rally
Therefore we proceeded to include the
st. Louis platform of 1889, the Ocala
platform of 1890 and the Omaha plat
form of the northwestern Alliance Of
1891"
This is the report:
1. That in vicw of the great social Industrial
and economical revolution now dawning upon
the civilized world, and the new and living is
sues confronting the American people, we be-
heve that the time has arrived for a crystal
hzation of the political reform forces of our
country and the formation of what should be
known as the Peoples party Of the United
States Of America
z. That we most heartily indorse the demands
OF the platform as adopted at st. Louis, No., in
1889; Ocala, Fla, in 1890 and Omaha, Neb In
q nrO aixaf{ f{rrc Nhor.o
sented, summarized IS follows:
A-The right to make and issue money Is q
sovereign power TO be maintained by the people
for the common benefit; hence we demand the
abolition Of national banks as banks Of issue;
and as q substitute for national bank notes we
demand that legal tender treasury notes be is
sued in sufficient volume to transact the busi-
ness OF the country on cash basis, without
damage or especial advantage to any class or
calling, such notes TO be legal tender in pay
ment of all debts, public ana private, and such
notes, when demanded by the people. shall bv
loaned to them at not more than 2 per cent. per
annum upon non-perishakia products, as indi
Gated in the sub-treasury plan, and also upon
real estate, with proper limitation upon tie
quantity Of land and amount of money.
B-We demand the free and unlimited coin
age of silver
Give demand the passage of laws prohibit
ing alien ownership of land, and that congress
take prompt action to devise some plan to OBJ
tain all lands now owned by alien and foreign
syndicates, and that all land held by railroads
and other corporations in excess of such as Is
actually used and needed by them be reclaimed
by the government and held for actual settlers
only.
D-Believing the doctrine of equal rights to
all and special privileges to none, we demand
that taxation-national, state or municipal
shall not be used to build up one interest or
class at the expense of another.
Eve demand that all revenues-national
state or county-shall be limited to the neces-
sary expenses Of the government, economically
and honestly administered.
FIVE demand q just and equitable system
Of graduated tax on income.
GIVE demand the most rigid, honest and
Just national control and supervision Of the
means Of public communication and transpor-
tation, and II this control and supervision does
not remove the abuses now existing we de-
mand the government ownership Of such means
OF communication and transportation.
HIVE demand the election Of president,
vice president and United States senators by q
direct vote Of the people.
3. That we urge united action Of all progress
sive organizations in attending the conference
called for Feb. q, 1892 by six of the leading re-
form organizations.
T. That national central committee be ap-
pointed by this conference. to be composed OF a
chairman to be elected by this body and of
three members from each state represented to
be named By each state delegation.
D That this central committee shall repre-