Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-14
FARMER AND WORKER
Come Close Together in the Plat
form of the State Alliance.
PAXSON'S CHARGE Is DENOUNCED.
Protective Tariffs Condemned and Free
Coinage Demanded
BIG INCOMES OUGHT TO BE TAXED
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH,

| ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH,
| JoHNsTowN, Oct. 13.-The State Far
mers' Alliance closed very interesting
convention here this evening. Following
is summary Of the platform which wal
adopted unanimously amidst much enthu.
| siasm:
| We, the representatives of the Pennsyl
| vania State Farmers Alliance, in convention
assembled. send fraternal greetings to
all other organizations that have for their
aim the education and uplifting of the labor.
ing and producing classes.
We contend for the absolute inequality OF
all American citizens before the Legisla
tive, the Judicial. and the executive
branches of government. We condemn
all class legislation, so-called. because class
legislation is robbery. We insist upon
equal rights for all and special privileges
for none."
We condemn all protective tariffs, be-
cause thereby all cannot be equally pro-
tected. We know that while special pro-
tectlve tariffs make milliOnaires and protect
trusts in their violations of the natural la VS.
OF legitimate trade, the farmers of America
must sell the surplus of their products to
foreign markets in competition with the
peasant labor of Europe and the cOolie labor
of India: and we know that the retaliatory
duties levied upon our farm products in
European countries still further dimisn the
prices on our products abroad.
All Protective Tariffs Denounced.
We know that protective tariff does
not increase the wages of laboring men in
the face of practically unrestricted imml-
grafton to this country from every quarter
of the globe. We recognize the fact that
the universal law of supply and demand
fixes and regulates the price of the farmers
product, ana the same is true of the price of
labor. We recognize the fact that the
farmer and the workingman are operating
on free trade basis as long as we export
farm products and admit foreign labor free
anu unrestrictedly from every country ex-
cept China. The tariff upon farm products.
established by Congress-. cannot help the
products.
We equally condemn the policy of a
revenue tariff whereby the average farmer
1s made to pay as much as q millionaire to-
ward the support OF the Government We
revenues by tax on incomes.
We condemn the financial policy of the
Government, whereby great national debt
has been perpetuated by an unprecedented
the nation . since 1865; whereby the
homes of 100000 farmers and workingmen
have been confiscated, and their -once
owners doomed to homeless and hopeless
poverty; whereby thousands of honest me-
chanlcs, tradesmen and merchants have
been driven inGo bankruptcy in legitimate
enterprises. We know that the value of
money is determined by the amount in cir
culat1on among the people; that money is
subject to the inexorable law OF supply and
demand; that scarcity of money enhances
It's value, and consequently forces down the
price OF every other commodity.
The National Debt Increased in One Sense,
The amount of money in circulation
a rIln q Ia hQa haav n
creased from $52 per capita in 1866 until to-
day it is actually less than s. per capita, So
successful has been this scheme of con.
scienceless contraction that, notwithstand-
ing our national debt has been nomi-
naly reduced from $3 600 00o 900 to 81, COO, OCO
200, our debt is really greater to-day
than when it was first assumed by the
Government, if measured by our farm prod
ucts and the other products of labor We
realize that this condition Of our country's
finances has caused the depreciation and
decrease in the prices of our farm lands and
farm products. We demand q more liberal
financial policy, and as one measure of
partial relief we favor tho free and unre-
stricted coinage of silver.
We realize that the tax laws of Pennsyl-
of our Common wealth Justly discriminate
against the individual property owner as
compared with the owners of corporate
", wealth; that while the owners Of real estate
In pennsylvania are paying from Is to 20
tions, there is still $4,000, ,ooo, 600 worth
OF corporate property within our State
that pays an average of only two mills on
the dollar. To the end that equalization of
taxation may receive the just attention it
desc rveS at the hands of the next Legis- |
latuTe, we pledge ourselves to support only |
such men for Representatives as are ready
to pledge their votes and influence for an |
equitable revision of our tax laws.
We ask that better protection be afforded |
the sheep husbandry of the State by further |
legislation for the determination of Sheep |
killing dogs.
The Farmer on the Side of Labor.
We heartily sympathize with the various
of labor throughout the whole |
and in the exercise of their God-given |
light to organize for their own mutual
We regard with amazemenr
he action of the State Supreme Court in
The Homestead mot cases. We had hoped |
hat constructive treason had been rele- |
.ated to the past by the adoption OF the
Federal Constitution, more than a century
go. We are more than ever impressed
With the Justice of the observation of an
yer corporate interests were involved the
ecision of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
must be taken with some grains Of allow
nee.
We insist on strict supervision of rail-
Dads by the State and general Governments
nd Government ownership of the telegraph
nd telephone lines or the country. We re-
allot law, and recommend such amend
lents as will simplify its der atls.
noroocrafic Pa rod 10 postnonad