People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1895-11-01
HON. NJ. D. IRWIN
ADDRESSES THE STATE
ALLIANCE
At ATLANTA, GEORGIA.
October 23rd lS95-He Sits the
Honest Allianceman From
the Knayes.

the Knayes.
One year ago it was thought by the
enemies of the Alliance that there
never would be another meeting of the
State body, but you have disappointed
your enemies and surprised even your
friends. Today, instead Of showing a
decline, you show nearly double the
number of counties represented in your
last annual meeting. The order is TAX
ing on new life, and promises to regain
its former vigor and power in the near
future. The great question of cooper
alton among the producers is forcing
itself home to every farmer at this time
as it, never did before, and they are
realizing that the most practical place
to put this cooperation in operation is
through the Alliance organization. In
fact, the farmer has no other place of
refuge when he is assailed by the trusts
and com bines except his own order, the
Alliance.
Thousands of dollars have been saved
to the farmers this year in many coun-
ties of the State through the co-opera-
ton of the Alliance. With d perfect
organization all over the State, millions
can be saved every year, and instead of
it going into the hands of the specula-
ter, as now, it would remain in the
pockets of the producers.
Every organization, be It's principles
ever SO true, has its storms and sun
shine, bat if It's demands are based up
on Justice and equity, its final triumph
is assured. So with the Alliance with
equal and exact justice to ALL in
scribed upon its banner with right,
truthNand humanity as its motto, moth
ing can prevent its success save orr Qygn
neglee fI.lf astr
Upon the action of this meeting de.
ponds the future pros perity of the order
you represent. If you are wise, con
servative and determined, laying all
selishness aside and looking only to
the interest of the producers as whole,
then the order will take ON new life,
and much good will be accomplished by
your meeting together. Let us hope
for this line of policy the policy that
is TO make the producer master Of the
situation.
Nothing but dire necessity ever forced
the farmers into organization. Their
very existence is itself against organi-
cation, against monopoly OF any and all
kinds.
Eight years ago, after bearing the
burdens of class legislation patiently
for years, the farmers reached a point
in their history where the necessity of
organization was forced upon them. 1t
was then that the Alliance was formed
a purely class organization, with the
emancipation of the producers as it's
chief object. We had watched the rise
and fall of many farmers orders until
it was a common expression among all
classes that the producers could not
unite The commercial world ac-
ceptsd the truth of this saying and
looked upon the organization of the
Alliance with that same complacent
smile that characterized them during
the organization Of former orders of the
producers. They feared nothing from
class of men who were so foolish as
not to be able to organize for their own
promo tion and welfare.
The order moved forward and into its
ranks it swept the producers every
where the new doctrine was preached
until its proportions were alarming to
the classes who had and were still
growing fat at the expense of the pro-
ducers. 1t looked for once like the
farmers were going to stick and that
ShylocE would have to loose his hold
upon the throat of agriculture and
labor. The first bait e was between
the order and the merchant, and it was
won. The merchant was compelled to
bring down his profits to reasonab e
point, and the farmer no longer had to
suffer under the burden Of 100 per cent
per annum for supplies purchased. But
the order was not long in discovering
that the burden was not alone due to
exorbitant profits on goods, but to
other sources. Although the farmer
had been for half a century like ''dumb
driven cattle" in politics, the order now
took the helm and by the unity and
concentration, BY the justice of its de-
mands, By the necessity of the times,
many were its victories in this new
field. The old politicians went down
before it and founi himself at sea with
out q compass. 1t looked as if the
political atmosphere would be cleared
and the drones who produced nothing,
but consumed the peoples wealth,