The Bossier banner., 1893-09-28
President Pickett's Address to the
Farmers Alliance of Louisiana.

! I appeal to you, brothers of the
Farmers Alliance, to stand by your
colors.
Organize under the banner of the
Ocala demands.
Re-organize your defunct sub-un-
ions, reinstate your parish union with
the state union. The farmers are
the only class of people who are not
thoroughly organized, even for self
protection, to say nothing of the
commercial advantages derived there
| from.
The bankers, merchants, railroads
and all commercial bodies are allied
and thoroughly organized. Even
capital itself in the hands of moneyed
kings is organized to cent.
Labor is demoralized without any
organization whatever.
What will be the result of this dis
organization of the agriculturist? {?
Capital, with its perfect organization,
is like an army of regular soldiers,
thoroughly equipped with expert
enced officers and armed with the
latest improved weapons of war.
While labor diorganized is an in
Vulnerable mob without order, lead
ers or munitions of war. This is
dark picture, brothers, but, never
theless, true one. Are these state
ments not facts? Brothers of the
Farmers, Alliance, answer me! Will
you not see the folly of standing aloof
from the Farmers, Alliance organize
tion, and make yourself an easy prey
for the vultures of the organized plu-
aocrats to feast upon, and have him
draw his coil of interest around you,
tighter and tighter, until your home,
your only shelter for your wife and
innocent children, is taken under a
foreclosure of mortgage, and you left
penniless and roofess in this world?
Oh! how long will you stare and
listen to the enemies of the farmers
cause, telling you of better times
ahead, only await, work harder and
longer, eat less, when your wife is
almost naked and whose cheeks are
furrowed with sorrow and hard work,
and your children crying with hun
ger? How much longer will you
stand this state of affairs? You are
bound to see that in this nineteenth
century, no man is safe outside of an
organization of some character, and
the organization for the farmers is in
the Farmers Alliance, and why hes
itate, when it is for your protection? I?
By punching ourselves together in
our organization, we could defy any
corporation; no organization of money
could Withstand your power and infu
ence. Two years ago the Alliance was
in fourishing condition and well
organized, and what test did you
make of your power? The bagging
trust backed up with millions of dol
lars that attempted to extortion upon
you, crumbled to pieces, when you
pronounced your edict. The Louisiana
State Lottery, the richest monopoly
IN the world, scringed and died at
your command. And when you pro-
nounced your decree, capital trem-
bled. This was organization and
unity of action that produced this
power. Then brothers be true to
your banner. Organize the Alliance,
the home of the oppressed. Organize
for self-protection. Organize for the
sake of your wife and children. Or
ganize for the benefit of your country
and save her from an impending rev.
olution. Then your demands shall
be heard; your commands obeyed in
the Legislative halls of the state and
nation, and your rights respected as
an organized body of Alliance men
that has the power to dictate.
JOHN PICKETT,
| D~oosln.4