The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-10-09
INFAMOUS LEGISLATION.
THE COWARDLY ATTACK UPON
THE ALLIANCE CHARTER,


One Of the most cowardly acts of the
Legislature of 1898 was the attempt to
destroy the Alliance. A few non-par-
tlsan(O Alliancemen, such as J. 8. Bell,
OF Clay county, and others of the same
stripe applied to the Legislature of the
| repeal of the Alliance charter, or at
any rate, that was the excuse made by
some Of the members. A majority of
the kickers had never contributed a
cent to the Business Agency fund, yet
they wanted it paid back to the con,
tributors. Without moments warn.
ing the following bill was introduced
in the House late one afternoon and
was rushed through on its several read
ings inside of few minutes, something
never heard Of before in this State:
II. B. 1908, S. B. 674 A bill to be en-
titled an act for the relief of the stock
holders of the State Alliance Business
| Agency Fund.
WHEREAS, The North Carolina State
| Alliance was incorporated under the
laws of 1889 for the purposes set forth
| in the act of incorporation; and where
as, large amounts of money and other
property have accumulated under said
act; and whereas, all the stockholders
in said corporation are believed to be
personally liable for all defaults and
| debts of the corporation, but have no
voice in it's control or managements
under the terms of it's charter. Now,
therefore, to enable the stockholders
to obtain settlement Of the affairs of
EIN.o hn~
returned to them.
The General Assembly do enact:
SECTION 1. That said act of incorpor
alton, chapter 105, private laws of 1889,
be and the same Is hereby repealed.
SEC 2. That the Attorney General
of the State, upon the request of one or
more stockholders of said corporation,
shall institute an action in the Superior
Court of Wake county, in the name of
the State upon the relation of the At
torney, General, for the purpose of
proving q revision of the effects of said
corporation, and for the administering
and settling the affairs of the same.
That the process in such action shall
be served on the president or managing
agent of said corporation holding Office
at the time of the ratification Of this
act, and notice Of said action contain
ing q concise statement of the purpose
of said action shall be published once
q week for six weeks in daily and
weekly newspaper published In the
city of Raleigh.
SEC. 8. That such receiver shall be
appointed under the same rules and
REGULATIONS now in force for the ap-
! pointmeht of receivers, and shall have
| like duties and powers and in the dis
tribution of the assets of said corpora
tion the same shall be distributed to
the subscribers of said funds, and where
anv Subordinate or County Alliance
shall have been q contributor and since
that time shall have ceased to keep up
it's organization, the portion of said
| fund or assets due such defunct ALI
ance shall be distributed to the indi-
viduals who composed its bershIp
at the time of such contributions.
SEC. 4. That this act shall be in force
from and after its ratification.
The Senate had. some members, per-
haps no better at heart than the mem
bers of the House, but with longer
heads, and they called a halt. Out
siders shook their heads and for two or
three days both legislative bodies were
between the devil and the deep sea-.
This gave the State Alliance officers
time to get here. They employed three
able attorneys and prepared for des-
perate fight. In the meantime the now
thoroughly frightened but still desper-
ate House passed the following act of
incorporation, something wanted by
nobody and entirely uncalled for:
Fl. B. 1904, S. B. 723, 4 Bill to be En-
titled an Act to Incorporate the
North Carolina State Farmers Ali
ance, County and SUB Alliances.
The General Assembly of North Caro-
lima do Enact:
SECTION 1. That T. Ivey, s. B. Alex
ander, D. Reid Parker and such others
as may be associated with them be, and
they are hereby, incorporated under
the name and style of the North Caro-
lima State Farmers Alliance, and by
that name they and their successors
NAV have continual succession and a
common seal, which they may alter at
will, and shall be capable of suing and
being sued, pleading and being i'm
pleaded, and contracting and being
contracted with, and of acquiring,
holding and conveying real and per
sonal property in such amount as may
be necessary for transacting the bust
ness of said State Alliance in accord
ance with the purposes of this charter.
And shall have power to elect such Of
ficers as may be necessary for the con,
duct of its business, and to adopt such
rules and regulations and bylaws as
may be proper for the government Oi
the corporation. That the said cOrpoc-
alton shall have and possess all corpor
ate powers, rights and privileges con
ferred upon corporations by the general
laws of this State as may be necessary
to the conduct and management of lts
business affairs, Provided, that no per