The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-20
WHY FARMERS ONLye

meet together in them 10 compare iarni-
ing methods. discuss measures lot po
curing fertilizers upon the best terms
! and generally TO take under cohs'"e'"
ton such proposals as seem TO teho III
the direction Of raising crops most econ
| omically and selling them TO the best ao-
| vantage. farmers are engaged In an I'M
| dertaking that is likely TO be OF great
| advantage to them. But when farmers
| form themselves into associations that
propose TO operate upon the law-making
| bodies Of the country and have statute
| laws passed that are to work TO the
| special advantage of farmers, then farm
| ers have departed from the straight
and narrow road OF farming interests
| that they should follow, and have gone
| out into the great wilderness OF politics.
in which they will surely become lost, 10
| be led into all sorts of jungles and traps
| by designing men who are seeking their
| own ACKNOWLEDGMENT under pretence or
| love for the farmer.
The farmer should recollect that when
ever he gets a law passed which is gong
to put money in his pocket, he is taking
that money out Of the pocket Of some
other man. Now. men do not come to-
rether and form social relations that
the physical power OF the whole body
shall be brought into play to extort from
| some for the benefit OF others. They come
| into social relations that each may have
a free and complete opportunity to eN-
ercise freely any faculties he may have
for the development OF his own destiny
and the lettering Of his own condition
and all that the physical power OF the
whole is to do is to keep one Of the mem
bers Of society from trospassing upon the
| rights Of another member. That is l"e
entire function Of law where the subject
is properlv considered. The farmer ought
TO see therefore that his interest differs
in no respect from the interest OF any
other member Of society. 1t IS the inter
est Of ALL farmers as well as others that
each man shall have perfect freedom
TO do as he will so long as he respects
the rights OF all others, and that IL ls
opposed TO the interest Of all that any
man or men should be put under tribute
TO any. whether they be farmers or others.
These reflections are suggested to us
by reading the proceedings Of the SUI
| prcme Council of the National Farmers
Alliance and Industrial Union now hold
ing a session in Washington city. on
wednesday last this body adopted the
following resolutions. which were. I'm fact
reafrmation Of what had been done
by it a year ago:
That private monopolies Of public neces-
stiles for speculative purposes whether
Of the means Of production. distribution
or exchange, should be prohibited, and
whenever any such public necessity or
utility becomes monopoly in private
hands. the people of the municipality,
| State or Union. as the case may be- shall
appropriate the same by right Of om-
inent domain. paying just value there
for. and operate them FOR. and ia the
| interest of the whole people.
| " e. NfIldllu a. IiAtttttftA Ntt+ t'i+N'f
sound and flexible. issued by the general
| government only: fun legal tender Tor
an debts and receivable for all dues and
an equitable and efficient means or
distribution Of this currency. directly 10
| the people at the minimum OF expense
and without the Intervention of. banking
corporations and in sufficient volume 10
transact the business OF the country on
a cash basis.
We demand the free and unlimited coin
age of silver end gold at the legal ratio
of IL to ]; u graduated income tax; that
or national legislation shall be so franz
ed IN the future as not to build UP one
industry at the expense Of another; that
all national and State revenues shall DE
limited To the necessary expenses Of the
| government economically and honestly
administered; ana that postal savings
banks be established by the government
for the safe deposits of the savings of
the people. and TO facilitate exchange.
We are maltcrably opposed TO the is-
sue by the United States of intercst-bear
ing bonds. and demand the payment of
an coin obligations of the United States
, as provided by existing laws i'm either
gold or silver coin. at the option OF the
Government and not at the option OF the
| creditor.
The Government shall purchase or con
struct and operate a sufficient mileage OF
railroads to effectually control ali rate.
OF transportation on "a just and equitable
basis.
The telegraph and telephone like Tho
postofhce system. being a necessity fol
the transmission OF intelligence, should
be owned and operated by the govern
ment in the interest OF the people.
We demand that no land shall be hcl,
by corporations for speculative purpose
or by railroads i'm excess Of their needs
as carriers. and an lands now owne.
by aliens should be reclaimed by thu
Government and held for actual settler
only
We demand the election OF Unite,
States senators by direct vote OF th
people. That each State shall be divided
into two districts Of nearly equal votln.
population. and that a senator from cacl
shall be elected by the people OF TN
district.
Now. with the exception Of what Is sail
Of taxation, tariff. end election OF sena
tors by the people there IS not a pro
position contained in tho above that 4
not instinct with mischief and disaster q
the people.
We have not printed the resolutions
however. to discuss them. We quot
them. however. to point out their