Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-03-18
Cor respondence from Jacksville.

"
Jacksville Alliance had an open meeting
Oh the 7th inst, and was addressed by
State Lecturer Lewis Edwards. of James
town, Pa. The hall was crowded with
farmers who came for miles through mud
TO hear from one who is interested in their
well fare Mr. Edwards is no sore head
politician, never was a candidate for any
office, never as he says: twas disappoint-
ed in politics or in love-" He is in the
work with the object of correcting some of
the evils which we, as farmers, are op-
pressed with. N the course of his re-
marks he said: every class of people
tb At you can mention, lawyers, doctors,
preachers, bankers, are organized for their
protection, and, | am sorry to say it, but
farmers, we are at the mercy of all of these
through lack of organization. We worship
at'our political shrine and foster and protect
it till it has become as large as q mountain
We pay eighty-fve per cent. of all tax
ation. The farmers pay tax of an
average of 15i mills on the valuation.
The railroads pay tax on their net
earnings only. Railroads, banks and
corporations periodically declare fat divi-
lends. while the farmers have not averaged
one per cent. and in the best favored
districts do not realize three per cent. 1t
is startling fact farmers, that real estate
ia P.unSylvania IA, fallen off in the last
ten years s75 900, 900 in value. Farmers,
your land IL not worth as much by one
1alf to-day if forced upon the market as it
vas twenty five years ago, aud all ON ac-
count of legislation. Legislation has been
tayoring the money centres until the
;ntraliz4tion Of gsilta is accu nulatel in
tle hands oi q few individuals. Statistics
sh Nv that thirty-nne thousand men Owl
two-thrds of the wealth of these United
States, whilst ths balance is distributed
or divided among thirty millions who are
the laborers aud produce every dollar.
Now, if this IS not correct. tell me just
uow, do not 90 home and say Mr. Edwards
exag ggerated the facts. Now, as | said
fore. nothing coulI havs done this but
legislation. We do not wish to eensure
you for being rich aud having money. For
next to man's eternal destiny, money
slands above everything, money has large
y To do with your hereafter, money Will
keep you from suicide; money will keep
you from breaking tlat great CON ntni-
nent, Thou shalt not steal" No. 1t Is
Iot that you are rich that we complain, bu
{ is how you obtain that wealth. The
banker gets his wealth by borrowing
money from the government at j! per cent
n .aing ii per cent. Now, right here let
IN. explain in few words the National
B Binkiug System. You go down to
Washington with one hundred thousand
d 'llars, aud you invest it in Government
B Inds. You deposit the bonds there as
,curity and Uncle Sam gives you IN re-
turn ninty thousand dollars in currency.
You come home here TO Jacksville and
start a bank. What do you do7 l go to
ynu and want to borrow one hundred
dollars for thirty days and you charge nj
one dollar. Very nearly II per cent
Well. what about the bondsf On, yes,
they are A. per cent. payable semi i-annually
in gold, which is about 10 per cent. Now
can any politician in Butler county deny
this : This is all legislation too and ye
you will say that the farmer needs nc
legislation. Another evil is up in our
county (Mercer) where candidates are as
thick as mushrooms When ever man
mas been a failure at every thing he his
gone at, then he kind ofreforms and wants
to go to our law-making institutions to
make laws for US AMI come out for Congress
or the Assembly. Yes, the lawyers,
doctors and professional gentlemen will
say what is the use of sending a farmer
| down to Washington to make laws for us
| He does not know what he wants. | Will
| tell you what we want. We want men
who will legislate for 40 special class and
will recognize the wishes OF the farmer al
chose of the railroads. manufacturers and
milionaires Then if your district contain
| q majority of farmers, send farmer
Philadelphia and Allegheny cannot send
farmers aud you have five hundred farmers
in Butler who are as capable of making law
as any lawyer or doctor in it, Now, IL
conclusion, would say this, the Alliance
in no way conac.s with your POLITICAL oi
religious views We are not in politics.
We ask you TO take some paper that II
interested in your welfare, for it is the
political papers that are the paid mouth
pieces of some political organ that are
keeping US divided aud always will do so
until Republican, Democrat and P'obition'
ist come together under one roof to draw
conclusions as to our best interests, for
what is beneficial to a Democrat woult
sure ly not injure the other two. Then,
wLer we are working each for the Others
! good, why not work in harmony and say
nv brother. your interest 10 L-y interest' '
| Why not cast our suffrak- alike for things
j pertaining To our mutua. welfare. -s
| STATE SDREyABy.