The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-07-14
PRESIDENT KEITT
Defends the National Alliance IN the
Change in Its Demands

ON"N0O
upon THE Alliance Demands" from
which I note the following extracts:
"At the recent meeting of the Ma
tiOnal Alliance in Washington City the
platform of the organic alton was re
modelled and the SUB treasury plan and
the demand for an issue of $50 per
capita eliminated" But il these de
mands are wrong to day and should
be repudiated, were they not equally
wrong six years ago when men were
riding into office a straddle these self
same issues and appealing to the farm
ers to stand by them The truth is,
the Alliance has fallen into the hands
of politicians and Cffice eeekers, and
who T warping and twisting b
farmers TO suit their selfish ends. ltls
an outrage and a shame. At one elec
ton AllianCemen are rallied around the
cub treasury plan and at the next they
are told that they must repudlate their
past work That National COnven-
ton recently held in Washington City
was controlled by politicians, and the
farmers were easily betrayed and sold
out, Before the world they II placed
in the light of irresponsible children
and fools who know not what they
want. They are made to repudlate the
principal planks in their platform, and
formulate a new n o in accord
with the wishes Of selfish politicians.
Under their new constitution, the ALI
ance has simply been turned into a free
silver faction There is nothing o
in the movement that we can see worth
~contending for"
When it is known that the writer Of
the above is the only man that has yer
been expelled from the organization by
the State Alliance, it will not be sur
prising that such vulgar sentiments
should emanate and find expression
from this source. Just tuch wauton
attacks upon representatives Of the
Farmers Alliance we're made long ago
by it's enemies to deceive and prejudice
the farmers against it. The Alliance
is an honorable organiz alton. 1t is an
organization designed for the protec-
ton and advancement of the farming
interests with due regard to the rights
of other classes. 1t is founded upon
truth, and relies upon honest methods
to accomplish its purposes. 1t cannot
employ the weapons of deception, trick
cry and falsehood that are represented
IN the above extracts.
The following is the relevant part of
the financial platform adopted by the
last National Alliance held in Wash
ington:
DEMANDs-FINANCE.
We demand a national currency,
safe, sound and fl XIble, issued by the
General Government only a full legal
tender for all debts and receivable for
all dues, and an equitable and efficient
Of distribution of this currency,
directly to the people, at the minimum
of expense and without Intervention Of
banking corporations and in 81 mcient
volume to transact the business of the
country on a cash basis.
o.. We demand the free and unlim
tied coinage Of gold and silver at the
legal ratio of Is to 1.
A casual reading will show that no
principle has been abandoned, and it
will also show how reckless is the state
ment that 1.-The Alliance has simply
been turned into a free silver faction"
There was no evidence whatever that
the National Alliance was opposed to
the sub treasury plan. That plan was
suggested as a detail with the alterna
tive of something better. The main
points involved are: A full legal tender
currency, and that currency issued d =
re CT to the people. If some better plan
than the sub treasury to execute this
policy could have been devised it would
have been acceptable to the Farmers
Alliance at any time. If no better plan
can be discovered, then the sub treas
Fury plan is the best solution of the
main points, and as such can receive
the attention of Congress, I believe the
course OF the National Alliance will be
unanimously approved by true ALI
ancemer, and regarded as wise, from
the fact that greater harmony and
strength can be secured by eliminating
details from the issue. For the same
reason it is better that the volume of
currency should not be fixed at an ar
bitrary amount.
TIE editor of the Headlight has made
the startling, and satisfactory to him
self, discovery that there is nothing
more in the Alliance movement worth
conterding for" Few men realize what
the Alliance has accomplished. The
financial Issues that are to be fought
in the political arena this year were
projected in the National Altar e al
st. Louis in 1889 Against all the power
ful opposition it has received, the ALI
ance has succeeded in forcing them to
the front. The future Of the Alliance