The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-16


conservative party indicative Of the dis
turblng influence of the farmers move
ment.
In this year we saw the national demo-
cratic platform avoid the ancient and
original position OF the party on the DOM
inant question, coinage of the money
metals, in order to make denomination
of Mr.. Cleveland consistent with the un-
democratic attitude of the candidate On
that question. We have seen the national
republican party of that year nominate
for President and elect Gen. Benjamin
Harrison on a platform that contained
this pledge of the ancient and original
democratic faith to-wt
1.-The republican party is in favor of the
Use of both gold and silver as money and
condemns the policy, the democratic ad-
ministration in its efforts to demonetlze
siver."
In this proclamation of principle all or
ganizations of producers, whether of
wage earners of farmers. UNANIMOUSLY
ooncurred. The principle proclaimed was
the paramount poilucal proposition of the
epoch and was more generally accepted
than any other Whatsoever. tzs
ON November 13. 1888, the ninth annual
session of the Farmers National congress
assembled in the hall of the house Of
representatives. at Montgomery.
L he meeting was tound to be the great
est number of delegates ever assembled
in the name Of agricultural enterprise
ever assembled IN the United States. This
auspiclous character had been acquired
by the meeting largely through the en-
ergy and resolution of the Alabama COM
missioner of agriculture, its president,
since 1887, at the Chicago meeting
Delegates took their seats from all parts
of the west and south. President KolD
called the meeting to order and delivered
the annual address. Mayor Edward Gra-
ham of Montgomery made the speech of
welcome. Rev Wharton of the local
clergy made the prayer Speeches were
made by Spofford of Illinois, Clayton of
Iowa, and papers were read by Sledge of
Texas, Norton of Wisconsin, Scott of I'LL
nois, Bushnell of Minnesota. Governor
Seay had expected to speak, but as the
arrived delegates discovered an incliuation
to dwell upon political questions Of the
day free coinage in special, the governor
drew out from his appointment. AT a
previous congress at st. Paul, Governor
| Hubbard of that state spoke in warm
sympathy. He said:
1T (agriculture) should receive legisla-
tive and executive recognition, national
| through such organizations as the Farm
ers congress, demanding protection and
relief from the unnatural burdens Of
| monopolistic eXactions." A delegate
| from Iowa followed Governor Hubbard.
saying, THE agricultural classes are
duped by the modern politician"
| The unusual numbers on the floor and
the extraordinary zeal soon exposed GER
tain symptoms unexpected by the farm
I I.ayp
| lobbyist at Washington. In the interest
| of a protective tariff ON wool took the
| floor He spoke In the interest of the
National Wool Growers association.
Many excellent speeches were deliv-
cred in the session of several days, the
orators representing Iowa, Minnesota,
| Ohio, Texas, Mississippi and other states
| Commissioner Kolb was reelected pres
ident and Gen. Levi W. Lawler, associate
/ railroad commissioner of. Alabama, was
| elected the vice president of the congress
| for Alabama. An elaborate series of res
lolutions set forth the ills inflicted on the
farmers by legislation in the interest OF
railroads, manufactures and banks De-
nand was made on the Congress of the
United States for improved inland water
navigation, for irrigation of the western
deserts and for improved methods Of
| trade with South America. A resolution
of the series called upon "the farmers of
the United States to assert their power at
the ballot box and otherwise, to right the
wrong and injustice of discrimination
against them.' Congress was called on to
attempt to prevent by general law the
destruction of life among railroad train
men, arising from the discharge of their
duties in coupling cars, etc. 1t was
stated by the resolutions that 5000 train
men had been killed or MANNED the year
before in their ordinary work on the
roads
On December 5, following this memor-
able gathering in November at Montgom-
cry, there met conference at st. Louis
between the various farmers organiza-
tions and the great labor society of that
day. the Knights of Labor. Commissioner
Kolb was there, accompanied by the pres
ident of the Alabama Alliance and other
high officers of that body. Terrence "
Powderly, master of the Knights of
Labor, and certain other high officers
of that organization, were there.
The result of this important conference
was a consolidation OF all the various
farmer bodies into one, and then an
amalgamation of this body with the
knights of Labor, whose strength lay
In the eastern manufa cturing section and
among the manufacturing districts of the
west.
The amalgamated elements were called
1.-The National Farmers Alliance and In
dustrial Union.''
The resolutions adopted by the
amalgamated bodies in conference at
| st. Louis pledged the new organiza-
| tion to a comprehensive political ac-
tion. The gulf harbors must be inn
proved by Congress to the relief of
western farm exports then forced by
| favoritism of the government to east
ern ports. Southern interests were
alike sacrificed through the same alb
normal trade routes. Trade with South
America must be more wisely managed
bounty must be paid to American
sugar. Postage must be reduced.
canal must be cut by the government to
connect Lake Champlain with the Mis-
sissippi, anG all western and southern
rivers must be made navigable by the
government. The science of irriga-
tion must be applied by the govern
ment to western deserts. An inmedi-
ate restoration of the free and unlim-
tied coinage of gold and silver at the
ratio OF 16 to l must be enacted by
Congress.
The producers organization had now
reached the highest stage of its devel-
opment and entered the contest for
political control Leondis f. Livingston
of Atlanta. president of the Georgin
State Alliance, was elected to Con-
gress. Northen, Alliance leader,
was elected governor. and the legis.
lature was thoroughly Alliance in char
acter. This Legislature was in duty
bound to choose senator in Congress
Gen. John B. Gordon was a candidate
for the office. The farmers had a rule
in Kansas compelling the candidate
far polttical office TO hold nm lig hauTs