Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1898-05-13
RISE OF THE PEOPLES PARTY.

less there is an occasion or demand for
such a party. There must be some solid,
cogent reasons that will induce large
bodies OF men to break away from par
ties with which they have for many years
affiliated and join in the formation Of a
new party, in opposition thereto. Let
us consider whether there was any justi-
fication for the formation of the Peoples
party, now the chief factor in the Union
party Of Oregon.
The Peoples party sprang from the
organization known as the Farmers AL
lance and Industrial Union. This was
a non-partisan society, having for its
purpose the study and discussion of all
questions relating to their mutual well
fare. In studying the economical condi-
tions of the country, they found they
had but little representation in the gov
eminent, and that agriculture was dis
eliminated against, in favor of banking,
manufacturing and commercial interests.
In q petition, signed by five Hundred
thousand farmers, they stated theirgriev-
ance, and presented it to the house of
the 5lst congress, of which body Hon.
William Mckinley was chairman of the
ways and means committee. The petit
TONERS asked relief through the "sub-
treasury SYSTEM" or legislation in that
line such 40 the wisdom of congress
might deem best. The sub-treasury was
a plea for a flexible system which would
expand the currency when more was
needed and shrink it when the demand
had passed away. A letter to Hon. VIM.
Mckinley, chairman of the ways and
means committee of the house in the
5lst congress, by G. w. Macune, chair
mar of the legislative committee of the
Farmers Alliance and Industrial Union,
clearly and succintly set forth the abuse
which the sub-treasury system was de-
signed to correct. This abuse was that
there was but one billion dollars to do
the business of the whole country that
agriculture steps in during the last four
months in the year with about five bill
lion dollars worth of products which
she offers for and must have money.
The billion dollars in the four months
must do an increased business of five
times its volume. This enables those
who have money to buy the products of
the farm during that season for but
little more money than it cost the farmer
to produce them. "No man can deny
that it is a systematic robbery of the
farmer to haye a financial system estab-
llshed by law that will contract SO as to
depress prices at the season he is COM
PEELED to sell the products of his labor"
This much is given in reference to the
sub-treasury plan to show that reason
and justice were in the petition that as
commerce and manufactures, the gov
eminent itself, are dependent ON agri-
culture for their being, this petition
should have received the most serious
attention of the tinanciers of congress.
was 1t so considered? No. 1t was re-
terred to committee, thrown into waste
basket and no answer whatever given to
the armers. But the papers, subsidized
by the Money Power, turned loose their
batteries OF abuse and ridicule on the
'hayseeders, sneered at their sub-treas-
ury plan as class legislation, and told
them, in these exact words, to go home,
work harder, be more economical, keen
out OF politics, and all will be we'll"
Is it any wonder that the farmers.
nnding that petitions were but as throw.
ing Turf at thieving boys in the apple
tree now determined to throw rocks
that would hurt and plenty of them.
They went home and lin conjunction
with the Union Labor party) formed the
reopIe's party (now the Union partly
the great growing party OF to-day, upon
the success OF whose principles depends
the salvation of our country.
THE BANKERS PETITION.
About the same time a convention of
bankers was held in Baltimore, and they
sent a delegation to Washington to ad-
vocate their interests before congress.
We have before us a report of the COM
mi'tee on banking and currency, togeth-
er with hearings, on II. r. sl4l," EN-.
oracing features proposed by the bank,
ers' The pamphlet contains $40 large.
closely printed pages. The congressional
committee sat day after day listening to
and questioning the bankers in relation
TO banking and currency through almost
all OF this book. How patient and com