The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-02-18
TENTH ANNUAL MEETING

Industrial Union---E XtraCtS From the
Report in Senate Stewards Paper, the
Silver Knight
The Supreme Council of the National
Farmers Alliance and Industrial I'm
ion held its tenth annual meeting at
the National Hotel in this city last
| week. The N citing was C allied to q
at noon, February 4,h, and Adjourned
on the afternoon of the 9Th. The body
was a very industrious one, and DELHI
ated very carefully over every propo
sition brought before it. President
WiIlets, of Kansas, was at his post, 6nd
did his duty we'll. Seventeen States
had delegates present, though other
States had made reports and were en-
titled to representation. Several visit
nearby States. The report Of the sec
rotary, treasurer aud from the execu-
tive committee gave evidence that the
numerical and financialcondition Of the
organic alton had improved very much
during the past year. Under the
standing rule of the council reports
were bad from all the delegates pres
ent as to the condition of the order liz
the several S ates. This3 reports were
merely verbal, but it was very appa
rent that this leading farmers Organi-
cation had many things to make the
future bright with hope. From 1886
to 1892 it swept over the country like &
tidal wave. OF course the reaction in
evitably followed, and the Alliance
went down in membership. But under
wise and conservative Leadership dur
ing the last two or three years there
had been effective work done in Great
ing a better understanding Of the pur
poses Of the order, and men who were
heretofore acting on impulse are now
acting on an intelligent conception Of
the aims and objects Of this Organiza-
ton of the farmers. Such is the i'm
preston made by these reports.
The main public interest in this ees,
sion of the National Alliance-jIdging
by the goldite monOp0li8tic press-was
as to what would be the action taken
on their we'll known demands" JUdg
ing from the il qIiries made by report
ers, there was an expectation that the
Alliance would slap somebody in the
face and create q general hiatus. They
failed to count on the wisdom that the
farmers have gained ia the cOnteeG for
'eqlal rights to all and special privi-
leges to none" The demands" adopt
ed at this meeting ret fiji IN the princi
plies held for the last Six years with
the elimination OF some imnaterial de-
tails. They are as follows:
FINANCE.
We demand a national currency,
safe, sound and fl xi0le; issued by the
general government only; a full legal
tender for oil debts and receivable for
all dues, and an equitable and efficient
meaus Of distribution Of this currency,
directly to the people, at the minimum
of expense and without the interven
ton of banking corporations aid in
sutfi Gent volume to transact the bust
ness of the country on a cash basis.
(U) We demand the free and ualim
tied coinage Of gold and silver at the
legal ratio of IL to /.
(b) We demand a graduated income
tax.
() That our national legislation shall
be so formed in the future as not to
build up one industry at the expense of
another.
(d We believe that the money of the
country should be kept as much as
possible in the hands of the people, and
hence we demand that all national and
State revenue ehall be limited to the
necessary expenses of the government
economically and honestly administer
ed.
(e) We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the govern
ment for the safe deposit of the savings
of the people and to facilitate ex
changes.
Of We are unalterably opposed to
the issue by the Unlted States of inter
est bearing bonds and demand the pay
ment of all coin obligations of the
United States, as provided by existing
laws, in either gold or silver coin, at
the option of the government and not
at the option of the creditor.
LAND.
We demand that no land shall held
by corporations for speculative pur
poses, or by railroads in excess of their
needs as carriers. and all lands now