Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-02-29
THEY DECIDE TO Do IT.
Farmers Alliance and Trades Assem-
bly, to Combine.
W. ". FOREMAN TALKS TO THE
Assembly-A Long Discussion on the Project Fol-
lows-The Report Of the Committee Finally
Aiopted-The Routine Proceed
lngs-0ther Notes.

Yesterday inasmuch as the question of
the combine with the Farmers Alliance
was likely to be the prime topic under
consideration, still the attendance was
not quite so large as on previous meet
ings. In the absence OF President Dom
nelley, Vice President Imhoff presided.
Secretary Salisbury was there with bis
usual startling punctuality, and by the
way, the Assembly has seldom had
more efficient and accommodating Sec
retary. Among the distinguished gen.
tlemen present yesterday was Mr.. w.
r. Lamb, of Bowie, Texas, delegate to
the Peoples Convention at st. Louis.
member of the National Committee OF
that party, and Chairman OF the State
Central Committee of Texas.
After the reading of the minutes and
the obligation of several new delegates,
came the routine proceedings. The
Stove Filters Union, No, 5,2Ss, asked
that the boycott be removed from the
Joseph Bell Stove Co., as all difficult
ties had been adjusted, the firm having
fully sanctioned union principles. The
boycott was also removed from the car
riage factories on the list, as all three
OF the firms had finally asSented to the
nine hour law. The chairman OF the
committee to push the boycott on
Mouongah coal reported progress, and
as it required more money TO carry the
boycott on effectively, the assembly
voted the sum of 500 to further assist
the committee.
Then came up the matter OF the pro-
posed combine Of the Trades Assembly
and the Farmers Alliance, and Mr..
Roman Dobler read the following re-
port Of the joint committee recently
held:
PREAMBLE.
To eounteract the influence Of the class who
rob labor of its lust rewards, aud restore the
eouiIibrium which should exist between the
different Industries, securing TO the lsoorer OF
each industry the reward to which ne Is justly
entitled Is the object OF this Union
To effect this purpose we ask the dlnerent
subordinate organizations 10 consider the fol-
lowing propositions, viz
Nv this Union TO cooperate and secure the
repeal OF all ordinances which now bear un-
Justly on those engaged in productive LABOR
To reduce the cost Of distribution by bring
ing prod ucer and consumer nearer together.
Othe- things being equal, we favor patron
iZiug hCme products; 10 Iurther lnlS ODJeCI we
favor the establishment Of an agency where the
price. quality and quantity may be acchssbls
to tue membership; thatin our dealings we Will
carefully guard against deception.
That Tor the purpose Of furtherlng the de-
velopnent and carving into effect said Union
we favor the appointment OF n JOINT committee
which shall meet at least once quarter Tor the
purpose of protecting aud ady.ncing the lnter
ests OF this Union: said committee 10 report re-
gularly to the different subordinate organlza-
tions.
We would favor the adoption Of fair trade
label by this Union, by which the products OF
each could be recognized by the purchaser;
We recommend tnRt convention be held IN
the near future to be composed of one delegate
ii0'A' ''-'' J.B GAVIN,
BRICE SUPLER,
NJ. l.. CONNELLY,
Executive Committee Of Ohio County Farmers
J. II. BURTT,
ROMAN bOBLER,
]. w. lNHoFF,
Labor Committee
Mr.. W. w. Foreman, County Lecturer
of the Farmers Alliance, was present,
and next took the floor 10 unfold the
benefits of the proposed combine. lie
began by saying that the Farmers Al
lance as considered by the newspapers,
meets with frequent opposition, because
IL is suspected there is too much poll
tics in it. Politics has little TO do with
the Farmers Alliance. The object OF
the Alliance is TO correct certain evils
which fairly threaten the existence OF
the country. The main points TO be de-
sired are education, sociabilltY and
business. In an educational sense we
have found it necessary TO take up GER
tain questions which effect our In
terest, and what effects our
interests likewise effects those OF every
other organization, and that is the
study of political economy. We have in
the Farmers Alliance members with all
shades of political belief, yet none take
offence at the discussion OF the topics
we so frequently carry on. The pro-
posed combine with the Trades Assem-
bly should meet with the sympathy
and support Of all 1t is our aim TO
elevate and instruct in the true princi-
pies of political economy. 1t is also
our aim 10 restore confidence that has
been DESTROYED l notice by the sta
tistics of 1890 that the population OF
the cities is increasing, and that OF the
country IS decreasing. Here is condi-
tion that confronts US, the constant in
fink from the city TO the country. II
naturally follows that there Is
some cause for this. 1t is large
ly in the matter OF fixing
prices. Now, of the products OF the
cities, OF the different factories, they
are governed by certain rules, and the
goods are not produced at loss. The
manufacturer knows exactly what he is
doing at every stage Of the game. Not
so with the farmer. a different condi-
tion of affairs confronts US. Weare un-
able 10 fix the prices ourselves on the
products we raise. They are liked oy
persons who have no direct connection
with the farming industry. There
should be some well-dehned price
for the necessaries Of life. As
il is we are made slaves OF de-
signing persons. Competition instead
of being the life, is the death OF trade.
The only solution OF this problem is to
he found in cooperation. In regard 10
fixing prices there seems 10 be an antag-
onism. About the only thing the farm
er fixes his price on is perishasle pro-
duee. and this is governed by the law OF
supply and demand. A certain number
OF middlemen are necessary, out TOO
MANY OF them are severe tax Farm
ers, like other laborers, can't go out on
a strike 70 benefit themselves. What
we ask for is fair days wages for
fair DAYS work. This we have not been
getting. We have been producing crops
at ? loss, and the continuance OF this
state of affairs is what has occasioned
the rapid exodus to the cities. One OBJ
iect OF the Alliance is TO elevate the
condition Of the farmer, place him
on a higher plane OF Intelligence. to