The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-01-15
WOULD NOT PROVE BENEFICIAL.

| VoOHD NOI IhOFE DENEr lC1AU.
The platform adopted by the State
Farmers Alliance, while containing
propositions that would undoubtedly
prove beneficial to farmers, demands
several things that would prove greatly
to their detriment. In the first place
it pronounces in favor of the sub
Treasury scheme, which was denounc-
ed by the Alliance of this county at
its meeting last Saturday as in the
direct line of class legislation, which
has been denounced so much by farm
ers at their gatherings of late years,
as one Of the great evils of the repub-
lie. More than this it is particular
piece of dangerous legislation, and if
once attempted would involve the IA
tion in financial ruin.
1t farther demands that the gov
eminent abolish the national bank
ang system and issue as substitute
for the national bank notes. treasury
notes in sufficient volume to transact
the business of the country, on cash
basis, and that the same shall be
loaned to the people when demanded
upon real estate security. An infla-
tion of the currency to point where
it would be sufficient to transact the
business of the country on cash ba-
sis, would give us currency so de-
preciated as to be of but little value.
When one reflects that less than ten
per cent. of the business of the cOun-
try is done with money, the rest be-
ing by checks and drafts, he will have
slight idea of the vast volume of
currency it would take, besides being
more inconyenient.
Again the Alliance demanded the
free and unlimited coinage of silver
There are not many measures that
would work greater injury to the
farmer than this. 1t simply gives the
speculator and the rich mine owner a
dollar for about Is cents worth Of
silver. Surely the farmer will reap
no advantage from, this. 1t will not
add dollar to his pocket, but rather
| by disturbing our monetary system, it
will cause manipulation of prices in
a way that will rob the farmer of
many dollars.
The platform also contains plank
which Virtually endorses the Peoples
party. OF course the Alliance has a
| perfect right to do this if it sees fit,
and to this the FREE PRESS has no
particular objection. But to the
voters whom the leaders would like
to so lead off, we would like to ask
what they expect to gain thereby.
What more can be secured for them
by legislation than has already been
accomplished. The Republican par.
ty by it's wise legislation has given
them one Of the best markets in the
world, and by inserting the reciprocity
clause in the Mckinley law, it is open
ing for them other markets, while re
tanning all the advantages hitherto
attained. 1t has forced Germany anC
other foreign nations to remove theil
prohibition measures as regards
American pork. Through the Agri
cultural department it has been YER
successful in Introducing American
corn into Europe, all of which work
to the advantage of the farmer. n,
party ia the history of the nation ha
done more for the farmer, than ha
the Republican party, nor stands NOR
willing today to advance any practi
cal measure that will further thei
interests.
More than half of the trouble tina
many of the leaders of the People
party have declared could only b
solved by legislation, has disappear
ed With the advent of the bountifu
crop, only growing what the Republi
can party has persistently maintain
ed that every little i'll did not neet
legislation to cure it. Before follow
ing along the pathway that the Don
nelly's Fishes, Jerry Simpsons an(
others of like stamp are marking out
the farmers should thoroughly in
veStigate and see if the benefits to bt
derived will equal the disasters tha-
will be sure to follow should any O
theirimpractical schemes be shaped
into legislative enactments.
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