The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-26
"Ihe Farmers Convention. 80

Editor Of The Times.
Sir cannot but regard 70 as an aus
picious sign that the "g0ld-standafd'
Democrats arc manfestug such deep
concern about the impecuniOsity Of the
farmers. 1 am rot surprised that they
should see the error OF the.r way but
that they should come out and confess in.
and then set 10 work Ike good fellows
and undertake 20 redress b..
That the farmers want more money IS
a clear proposition; that they must have
30. if rescued from q condition of somi-
bsrbarism. no one can deny; yet how
they are to get IL that's the question.
Colonel Buford. Senator Hurt. Com
mander Whitehead. and Mr.. Iine doubt
less think the first step is a convention
State and natiOIal-but they feel deli
cacy in saying 20. nevertheless there is
40 harm DO consulting about 10. Large
trees from little ac0rus grow The poll
ticidns-DcmOCrlts Republicans and
Populists-havo had their conventions.
and have made their diagnosis of the
case. and prescribed their remedies But
tho Eold-stanlIrd mon pronounced these
AN Quacks. and proclaimed Eureka. 10
seems NOW that They arc unwilling 20
take their own physic. At any rate, the
bush. --men latc taken up the cudgcls
and they are satisfied that the case calls
for a commission OF non-partisan OK
perts." WHO shall investigate and re-
port.
Yet Mr. Editor. you seem satisfied that
If Congress viii only take of the tax of
10 per cent, now imposed upon the cir-
culation Of State banks shat the matter
will right itself Us II remarkable that
under such a conflict OF opinions and
D. ..a LID. d N... O.. B.
and Cau for "uew dell'' "TimeO
Danaos q dora ferontes" Which
means tha- when the bankers and
business men undertake 20 provide a
financial system for tho farmers. they
should consider well before they accept
IL. All parties and all classes. except the
bankers and bondhoders. conccdo that
/ our present fiscal system S. failure.
| That "there is something rotten in Don-
mark" and yet your proposition u.s. Mr..
| Editor that We shall Jump ont Of the
frying pan into the fire. From sizzling
around without n dollar 10 cool the
/ porCline lips OF the farmers. YOU pro-
pose 10 burn them up with money The
most remarkable part Of it D.. that tho
| scheme should Doc evolved from The brain
/ OF "sound-money man. But Mr.
! lrigg when he went before tho Commit
/ tee OF Banking and Currency, "iot the cat
out ~ tho wallet" "Tokc that 30 per-
cent. tax Off OF state bank circulation. "
| says he I'm reply 20 Mr.. Cox. and IN six
months there viii not Doe a corporal s.
/ guard o. free-silver men in the whole
South" Now IS D. remarkable. that when
/ the State Board Of Agriculture sees this
! flank movement being executed on free
| coinage by the bankers and business men,
| that they should Immediately issue their
/ circular and call for q convention of
/ farmers. N0u can't catch such old irds
/ as Colonel Buford md Colonel White
| head and Senator Hurt and Mr.. Iline
/ with such chaff as this. cit is too thln.'
TO is very natural that having taken
| charge OF the subject Of financial sys-
tenn for the farmers Mr.. Editor, that
/ YOU should want 20 map out the pro-
gramme for their convention. The first
/ thing they have got 70 DO Is 10 keep ont
| Of politics The next thing IS 10 keep on
blowing. "Ne sutor ultra crepidam.'
But II nothing viii satisfy these farm
ers bit n convention then let them dis
cuss the best mode of hocing potatoes.
! "how 10 plant cahlace.' when 10 Stuck
| peas" and "whethor June bugs are bene'
! fetal insccts2 such economic ana scien-
/ tihc questions as those como ponefN
/ MiiHii inc hoAaln OF II itl liI'i " NN''' ~
| ton, and might be discussed with great
/ benefit. because the farmers do not agree
| on these subjects any better than me
/ bankers ana business mon agree on the
| money question" And then. too a' YOU
remark Mr. Editor m the farmers ut.
| tempt 20 cultivate corn and cotton and
/ tobacco along with politics the politics
/ Will Le sure 10 turn out me biggest CROP
and the next thing We shall hear or VIII
BE- sn over-nroducti0n Of POLITICIANS II
IS enough 70 make an editor grit his
teeth and O banker shake Ia his shoes
ius' ~ think Of oil these erangers and
alliance men ard clod-hoppers going into
! politics calling conventions demanding
O bounty on their eXportable pfoauct.
as an Offset 10 the tariff on imports. and
talking about free coinage az 10 70 az
! q remedy Tor cur present financial iiis.
And vet the great liberaior DAME
| O'Conncl said. "Who would be Tree
| themselves must strike the blow u
the farmers are as bad or and money
is as scarce en- tho country as | soc ft2io'
| bv the bankers and business men heior'
the Committee on Ranking and 'urren q
the time has come for the farme's u
| strike. Yes let them begin AZ once an'
strike FOR a convention and new Con
l stitufion. adopted 10 the prsSsi SsIal