The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-02-23

call your dtteutiuu W nuulhSi
fact.
Just after the bubble burst, last
spring, and seventeen cent cotton
went down, there was an organized,
preconcerted, systematic effort made
to increase the output Of cotton and to
reduce its price. All over the south
advice was given the farmers to plant
for 100000 bales, and we were as
sured that if we did it we would get
twelve cents pound for it. AS soon
as the crop was planted, publication
was made to the world that we had in
creased the acreage 33 1-3 per cent.
What was the origin Of that COM
bination? | have no doubt in my mind
that it originated among the manufac-
turers who did not wish to pay seven
teen cents for cotton. do not blame
them for it. | do not blame them for
thinking that seventeen cents was too
much for cotton, but call your atten-
ton to this fact, that having set the
ball in motion, il escaped their con-
troll and they have now got caught in
the same trap that they set for us.
What a singular situation is ours,
my brethren! The world has never
seen one similar to it. Famine has its
millions of victims in India because
the crops have failed. We sent the
offerings of our charity to Russia
years ago because her crop had failed.
Tonight in Ireland starvation clamors
for it's victims throughout the length
and breadth of that afflicted country,
and it is because they didn't make a
crop. Here we are threatened with
bankruptcy and threatened with COM
mercial ruin because We did make
crop. (Great applause.) q
Its a curious state of affairs! 4
starve to death, not because / have no
crust to eat, but because my table is
bountifully spread. If we make no
crop it is ruin, and if we do make one,
it's ruin, too. It's the old predestination
cry: You can and you can't, you will
and you won't; you're damned if you
do, and you're damned if you don't.
Great applause.)
ITO the man who hungers, the meat
trusts say: PAY my price 1r starve!'
To the men who shiver in the wintry
blasts of the north tonight, the coal
trust says: PAY my price or freeze!''
To the producer of corn and wheat
on the western rich lands, marvellous
gardens of fertility, no matter what
the freight rate is, the traffic asso-
citation trust says to the farmer: Pay
my price or let your corn and wheat
rot in the fields that produce it,"
Great applause.)
1--WE market our cotton without any
system whatsoever The man who can
get there first, sells first, and it's a
rush to get there with cart and wagon
and sell it for whatever you can get.
The laws of our country are unjust to
us, and have been for hundred years.
(Applause.)
I do not advise the farmers of the
south to organize piratical trust-a
predatory combination-but do say
this that while the trusts are the
devils of modern commerce, we have
got to fight the devil with fire. (Great
applause) II we do not organize our
selves into a self-Gefense trust to pro-
tect ourselves, to exact fair return
for our labor and our investments,
we are less than men; because we
have failed to assert our manhood in
defense of our manhood's rights. CAP
plause.)
Where has the farmer ever asked
any favor of the government? Where
has he asked for any special protec-
ton? Never has he demanded any
thing except a free field and fair
fight. (Applause.) Never has he ex-
pected to get anything except what he
earns in the sweat OF his face. And
tonight, our unjust laws which de-
stroy our markets, deliver us over to
those who are antagonistic to us.
From our socks to our hats; from
our undershirt to our overcoat, it's cot
ton. With the female members Of our
families it's almost entirely true that
their clothing is made up of cotton.
Our bedding, our tableware and many
of the things used on the farm, to say
nothing of ropes and pillow lines and
back bands; to say nothing of the
bunting in the flag or the cheap car
pet on the floor.