THE ALLIANCE.
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY MORNING.
y r.Y the
ALLIAliCE PUBLISHING GO.
. BOHANNAN BLOCK,
Lincoln, - - - Nebraska.
J. BURROWS, :
J, M. THOMPSON,
: . Editor.
Associate Editor.
All communications for the- paper should
he addressed to THE ALLIANCK PUBLISH
ING CO., and all matters pertaining to the
FarmerB' Alliance, includitg subscriptions to
the papc to the Secretary.
EDITORIAL.
188t 1890.
Another of the old years is gone, an
other of the new begun.
. Let the dead past bury its dead."
But of the new year we have great
hopes. An intellectual ferment never
before known is going on among all
classes of men. This is not literary or
educational hi its Character. It seems
to arise from a common conviction that
our social forces are being misdirected
that our present industrial and eco
nomic systems are productive of injus
tice and inequality, instead of justice and
equality. And a remedy is being sought.
New ideas are being cyolved, and men
who have long been wedded to the old
are being convinced that perhaps there
may be something better in the new
that mere age may not after all be in
fallible evidence of truth. So we have
hopes for the new year. Hidden forces
may be brought to light, and new sys
tems be developed, which will revolu
tionize our ways of life without the red
hoiTors of old time changes without
th e axe and the fusilade. These hopes
look in the direction of a closer co-operation
and a fuller recognition of the
brotherhood of man. In physical life
we have seen such a revolution. The
most powerful agency known has with
in the past ten years been harnessed
and brought into subjection more than
in a thousand years before. May we
not develop a social electric force as
powerful as the malereal one?
And now, dear reader . of whatever
sige or station, let us give you a hint of
the true philosophy of life. Do the duty
day by day that lies nearest to you, and
remember that the highest dedication of
man is to duty, which often lies along
thorny paths. Do not look too far ahead
for happiness, unless you look beyond
the veil. It is a mirage, that vanishes as
you approach it. Wealth, honors, a great
name, do not bring it. Do not, with
haughty mien, while looking for the op
portunity for some great achievement,
pass the lowly and needy who are at
your feet. What happiness you get in
this world you will lind scattered by the
way as you go along, not corralled and
branded at -some elysian ahead of you.
And you will find it through love and
charity and kindness to your fellows,
more than in all other ways combined.
Let that sublime sentiment of Terence,
"There is nothing which is human that
is alien to me," be your motto and your
guide of action, and you will lind. much
content. And now wo wish you all a
very Happy New Year.
The Tariff and the Iron ana Steel Men.
It is stated that during the first ten
months of the current year our imports
of iron and steel manufactures amount
ed to seventeen millions of dollars,
while our exports of the same goods for
the same period amounted to nearly
twenty-thrte millions. That is, we sold
in the hrst ten months of the current
year, in the open warkets of the world,
in competition with the manufactures
produced by the so-called pauper labor
of Europe, nearly six million dollars'
worth more of those goods than they
sold to us. Or in other words, we have
gone into the free markets of the world,
in competition with manufacturers who
-are said to have a great advantage over
us in the matter of labor, and who do
have an advantage in the matter of
money, and beaten them in their own
door-yards. Of course it goes without
saying that our manufacturers have sold
-cheaper in foreign markets than they
do in our home market. And it also
goes without saying, that they are not
selling good3 anywhere for their health
alone, but have made a fair living protit
on the wares they have sold abroad.
Now they have done this while han
dicapped by a tariff which, while it fails
to give them the monopoly oi the home
market as against foreign competition,
largely enhances the cost of production
by imposing a duty on raw material, as
well as upon the cost of living of them
selves and. their employes. Suppose
this handicap was removed by making
raw material upon which American la
bor may be employed free, and by
largely reducing or entirely removing
the duties upon the necessaries of life,
is there any doubt that our manufac
turers of steel and iron goods could con
trol the markets of the world? Labor
, is the creator of all wealth; and the
policy that taxes . labor by imposing a
duty upon raw material upon which la
bor may be employed, and upon arti
cles necessary to subsist laborers, is too
blind fer any intelligent' nation to pur-J
sue.
Something Like a Depression.
It has for years been the business of
"R. G. Dun & Co. to keep a tentative fin
der on the commercial pulse of the
country, and note the changes in the
condition of the patient. They have
-also put out weekly bulletins, purport
ing to announce these changes. But
these bulletins have been inspired more
by hopes than symptoms. They have
been continual prophets of better tunes.
"Business improving," " prospects fair
for an excellent trade," " stocks tend-
in nr ward, "collections easier," etc.,
-etc. have been their burden. And not
withstanding the patient ; hasn't been
getting any better. He has just barely
weathered he last two years and kept
life in him, and seems now on the verge
of a fever or convulsions. Dun & Co.'s
report for Dec. 28 is a sort of suppressed
wail over the condition of trade. Such
tonus as "much pressure for money,"
"a dullness bordering on depression,"
"fear of commercial embarrassments,"
"unusually slow collections," etc., are
sandwiched between hopes and prophe
cies of better times.
Gentlemen, let us tell a little truth.
We have been on the down grade for
several years! For the past two years
the pace has been accelerated, and an
other year, or half of one, like the past,
will drop the country into the worst
financial panic ever known in its his
tory. Down, down, down, have gone
all kinds of prices. This same It. G.
Dun & Co. announced a decline in val
ues in one of their reports this fall
which aggregated seven billions of dol
lars. Ten western states are sending
out of their borders $240,000,000 annu
ally in interest. With every fall of
price it takes more of the products of
labor to raise this money. Lands are
falling fearfully. Cultivation has ceased
to pay. Wide-spread movements for a
general stay of mortgage sales are be
ing made.
This on one side. On the other, money-lenders
and bankers are reaping a
harvest never before known. Interest
scoops in wealth as never before. The
railroads, too, in spiitc of the interstate
law, are prosperous. These are the
classes who have lixed incomes in mon
ey, and the lower prices are the more
wealth they command. The Great West
compiles the following figures to show
how the grangers have ruined the rail
ways. While farm incomes have de
creased in four years from $8.75 to $6.75
per acre, the railroads show up the fol
lowing for the first week in December,
with increase over the same week last
year:
1st week in Dec. Inc.
Canadian Pacific
L. N. O. and T
St. Paul
Evansvillc and Terre Haute
Ernnsville and Indiana
Toledo, St. Louis and K. C.
Milwaukee and Northern..
From January 1
Toledo, Ann Arbor & N. M.
Mexican Central
Western N. V. and Pa
Pittsburg and . Western
Northern Pacific
Norfolk & Western
31i,ft00
82,044
S'.U.OUU
18.085
5.;Mi
25,845
37,3uo
1,141,154
21,782
145,16(5
62,800
40,412
407,803
117,864
$31,000
2210
62,713
2,791
116
SU20
4,952
125,581
5,380
45,804
2,100
2!17
83,515
31.444
Do the body of millionaires at Wash
ington who buy their way for six years
at a time, take cognizance of these
facts? No, indeed! If they should see
this article they w ould call its writer a
crank and a fool. Sitting there in Wash
ington, watching Wall street, as the
money-pulse of the country, and doling
out a few millions now and then, to
prevent an explosion, the secretary of
the treasury does not seem to realize
that the situation is an unnatural and
alarming one, and that his patient sore
ly needs a transfusion of new blood into
its veins in the shape of more money in
the veins of commerce. And he pre
scribes a quack nostrum called bullion
certificates, and holds the pulse and
watches the fever without knowing
what it means. The nrosneet for
A. A
change is not good.
a
Fool Editors.
One of the editors of the Omaha
Bee is at the farm mortgage busi
ness again, lhe facts about farm mort
gages which crop out now and then
keep the tools of the money power
frothing like a rabid dog. This writer,
after alluding to the figures which have
been given as to these mortgages, says:
"They were promptly and effectually
"disproved by official statements from
"governors, auditors and state treasur
ers; but the sunie old falsehood once
"more reappears to do service for cam
paign and partisan purposes." That's
the kind of loose assertion indulged in
by fool editors. This man wouldn't
know a mortgage from a hitchiug-post.
He has never printed in the Bee, and
never seen, a single official statement
from any governor, auditor or state
treasurer on the subject. These men
are not giving official figures from the
records on this question.'
Again he says: "There are millions of
"dollars of mortgages of record in the
"west which have been paid off, and
"tlie evidence of payment not spread on
"the books." This editor evidently
thinks the farmers who have paid off
their mortgages are as great numskulls
as he is. But he is mistaken. We'll
bet him a horse against a dude necktie
that there isn't $25,000 of such in the
state.
Will the editor te1! us what "cam
paign" is going on just now, ana what
"partizan jmrposes" arc to be served by
telling the facts about farm mortgages.
An Omaha editor might mortgage his
pasture a thistle pasture probably to
build "good barns and sheds," but a
sensible Nebraska farmer will not do it
these times, and they have not done it
in the past, to any great extent.
Going from mortgages to money, this
writer slobbers over the -president for
his supposed approval of Mr. Windom's
plan to issue gold certificates on silver
bullion. He says "both the president
"and secretary have received thousands
"of letters from financial men in all
"parts of the country, commending the
"proposition." We suppose so. That
is one of the tricks of the national
bankers' association. To accomplish
that one-half of its members would have
to write one letter each. He alludes to
"the convictions of the president," etc.
The message' showed conclusively that
the president did not have a single con
viction on the subject. His influence
upon legislation in - regard to it will be
as neutral as his opinions are unde
cided. But one thiug seems sure that
the power of Wall, street controls the
daily papers on the money question, no
matter what their politics or . profes
sions. "Justice to Wanamaker," The
Bee has an article headed "justice to
Wanamaker."' That's right ! Justice
should be meted to all the fellows who
had a hand in that "blocks of five"
business.
a Wild Scheme.
The National Economist for Dec. 28,
under the flaming heading of "Eureka!
Key to the Solution of the Industrial
problem of the Age," elaborates a prop
osition for the relief of the industrial
masses a scheme which it says "will
emancipate productive labor from the
power of money to oppress, with speed
and certainty." We heard this scheme
presented, on a celebrated occasion, un
der an injunction of secrecy. V e had
fondly- hoped the secrecy was to be
eternal; but we were doomed to disap
pointment. -
The scheme in short is for the gov
ernment to build warehouses and ele
vators in all counties producing more
than $500,000 worth of farm products,
including wheat, corn, oats, rye, rice,
tobacco, cotton, wool - and sugar, all to
gether, and receive those products in
store, issuing warehouse receipts there
for, conditioned on their redemption
within one year, and at the same time
advancing to the storer United States
legal tender paper money equal to 80
per cent of the local current value of
the products stored, the storer to pay
interest on the same at the rate of one
per cent., and also a trifle for handling,
storage and insurance.
We believe the above is a fair state
ment of the proposition. We regret
more than Ave can express that a paper
having the standing of the Economist, a
paper "devoted to social, financial and
political economy," and representing as
it does so large a wing of the Alliance,
should seriously put forth such an im
practicable, unwise and unjust propo
sition. We regret it on account of the
confidence we have had in its author,
and on account of the ridicule and con
tumely it will bring upon the Alliance
and the cause of financial reform. We
regret it on, account of the division it
will cause in the Alliance ranks. We
have studied hours over our duty in
this matter; and have concluded that
we are here to tell the truth as we be
lieve it and see it.
A scheme that proposes to expand the
currency of the country to the amount
of a billion at the time the crops begin
to move, and contract it to the same
amount when the products are con-1
sumed, requiring an adjustment of j
prices and business to this enormous
range of variation twice within twelve
months, is too hair-brained for even pa
tient criticism. Such propositions tend
to make one conservative, and inspire a
healthy dread of revolutions.
In the same number of the Economist
is a criticism of Secretary Windom's
scheme to issue certificates on silver
bullion, and it is very justly denounced
as much worse than the present system.
But issuing certificates on all kinds of
perishable crops would be all right.
We write this article with great re
luctance. But it is our duty to put this
paper on record without waiting to hear
the criticisms of others. And it is our
duty to protest against the Alliance be
ing compromised, or having to bear the
discredit of such propositions. The
author of the proposition makes an ex
cellent argument in its favor. He is in
dead earnest, and sincerely believes in
the efficacy and adequacy of his plan.
Should the proposition receive any at
tention we may analyze it hereafter.
"Why Trices of Farm Products Have
Declined."
The above is the eaption of an article
in the Omaha World-Herald of Dec. 27.
The reason it gives for the dceline is the
oldhaeknejed one the money-lenders
have used for generations, viz: over
production. The article closes as fol
lows: "It must be apparent, therefore, that the
low prices of all food products, from which
the farmers throughout the land are now suffering-,
is not to be attributed to the demone
tization of silver, and that the restoration of
that metal to its former standard of value
would not in any wise aid them. The inevita
ble laws of supply and demand are stronger
than legislation, and prices will doubtless
continue to be fixed thereby."
If the laws of supply and demand
make prices, what makes and controls
the laws of supply and demand? We
answer, contraction of the money vol
ume. Money is the primary and gov
erning torce, which as its volume in
creases or diminishes, increases or di
minishes prices. The value of each
unit of either fiat or metallic money de
pends absolutely upon the number of
such units and the relation they bear to
the services they are required to per
form. It is the limitation of the quan
tity of money that regulates the value
of each unit of money, whether fiat or
metallic. Every great and general fall
of prices has been preceeed by a de
crease in the volume of money. There
never has been a decrease in the. volume
of money which has not sooner or later
resulted in a general fall of prices, and
there has never been a recovery there
from except through a preceding in
crease in the volume of money. If by a
contraction of the money volume and a
consequent fall of prices you destroy
the farmers' margin of proft which
should be left after subsistence has been
secured, you destroy his power to make
new improvements, buy improved stock
and machinery, and engage in new en
terprises, and thus effectually interfere
with demaud to that extent. Diminish
ing money and falling prices are not
only oppressive upon debtors, but they
cause stagnation in business, reduce
production and enforce idleness. All
intelligent writers on money agree that
when it is decreasing in amount, either
relatively or absolutely, poverty and
misery also increase.
One of the traits of these times of
prostration is an apparent overproduc
tion. But this arises from actual un-der-consumption,
caused by inability to
buy. It is merely a symptom of the
disease, not the disease itself. But em
pirics like the World-Herald consider it
the disease. And the only logical rem
edy they can offer is, do less labor pro
duce less wealth.
As to the effect of making the coinage
of silver free and unlimited, it is true it
would not offer a full remedy, because
it would notv increase the volume of
money in proportion to the increase of
population. But it would do much. It
would make the stock of silver now in
the country, or which might ls brought
in, potentially money, whether it was
coined or not. The plan of Sec'y Win
dom, on the contrary, would not in
crease our stock of money by a single
dollar. The demonetization of silver
was intended to diminish the money
volume of the world, and cause a fall of
prices; and it was undoubtedly one of
the agencies that did it, notwithstand
ing the World-Herald. Its remonetiza
tion will have the contrary effect in
quite as great a degree. The editor of
the World-Herald ought to read an ele
mentary treatise on money, or else read
The Alliance more attentively.
The Eight-Hour Law.
That asinine corporation organ the
Lincoln Journal was greatly exercised
a few days ago about a resolution of the
Knights of Labor in favor of a legal
eight-hour day. Its agony was occa
sioned by its fear lest the farming in
dustry might be ruined by a limitation
of farm labor to a day of eight hours.
The anxiety it commonly shows is
caused by fear the farmers may organ
ize and hurt their pets the railroads. It
has never been known to lose any sleep
on account of anxiety for their welfare,
either as laborers or sellers of products.
Its natural instincts would be against an
eight-hour law, or any other law for the
amelioration of the condition of the la
boring men. The laboring men of Lin
coln would like to see it come squarely
out in favor of making eight hours a le
gal days' work.
The agitation in favor of an eight
hour day is not new, and it has made
great progrpss. Such profound think
ers as John Stuart Mill, and such pro
found reasoners as Thos. B. Macaulay
were among the early proposers of such
legislation in England. The agitation
began in that day in an effort to pro
hibit the labor of children and women
in factories. These worked fifteen, six
teen and seventeen hours in a day. The
same kind of sneers against the move
ment as the Journal uses were common
then. A class of men existed then as
now who look upon men and women as
simply beasts of burden who are to be
turned to the most profitable account.
Experience shows that where intelli
gent and instructed employes work
faithfully for eight hours, and have the
remainder of their time for intercourse
with their families, for reading, for
learning their political duties, for at
tending lyceums and lectures, for re
sorting to the public libraries and so
cial meetings, they are not only better
workers and better citizens, but they
turn out more work in the line in which
they are engaged. Instead of a man
jaded, tired, going to his home with
every faculty of his brain and body
worn out and fatigued, you have one
with a skillful, inventive and reflecting
brain. Where leisure is one of the lux
uries of life, it is highly valued and put
to good use, and better manhood and
higher citizenship is the result. This
experiment has been tried," and its re
sults are recorded. '
We invite the Journal to come up on
a higher plane, and treat this matter in
an earnest philosophical manner, not
with sneers and inuendoes.
WHAT MIGHT HE, BUT WILL KOT.
What an opportunity any great rail
road in Nebraska now has to do a favor
to the farmers living along its line
which would make them its fast friends
for j'ears. The elevators are glutted
with corn. The capacity of the roads
are overtaxed. They cannot at once
furnish cars, nor haul all the corn of
fered. At Filley we saw a thousand
bushels of shelled corn piled on the
ground awaiting shipment. The price
at best was low. This glut forces it
still lower. Farmers cannot afford to
go to the banks and pay 12 per cent for
money vo hold 15 cent corn. They can
make contracts for future delivery at
these low prices, and so get a little
money to pay up interest; or they they
can rush it on the market, and take
what it will bring. This is what many
are doing.
Now suppose one of our great rail
road companies should go along its lines
and offer all farmers who had corn to
sell, and would mortgage the same, an
advance of say ten cents per bushel, at
5 per cent, with three or four months'
time to repay the debt thus relieving
the farmers' most pressing needs, and
giving time for the glut to get over, and
the market to recover. If a road should
do this, it would secure ultimately one
third more corn to transport, as this
would be brought to it from far beyond
its natural limits; it would relieve the
pressure on its transportation, and
would endear its customers to it in a
way that would ultimately bring to it
great profit. Besides it would not lose
it dollar of the money advanced. Don't
all speak at once, gentlemen.
The Nationalist.
The Nationalist for December is upon
our table. This is a very attractive
monthly, devoted to "the nationalization
of industry and the promotion of the
brotherhood of humanity." It is pub
lished by the National Educational Asso
ciation, 77 Boyleston street, Boston,
Mass., Price $1.00 a year. The present
number contains a pen and ink sketch of
Edward Bellamy, the author of Look
ing Backward, and a choice collection
of original articles. Among these are
Looking Forward, by Edward Bellamy;
The Why and Wherefore, by Abby Mor
ton Diaz; Politics and the People, by
J. B. Wakeman; A Solution of the Li
quor Problem, by George W. Evans. To
our country readers who wish to keep
abreast of the foremost in reform litera
ture we commend this magazine.
Do not send money by postal notes.
They are no safer than stamps. Postal
notes lost cannot be traced or recovered.
Send by express or money order, regis
tered letter or bank draft.
AN AVALANCHE OF LYIX(J.
Wo much regret that it ha seemed
necessary to m many of our contempora
ries tolie o mendaciously as to what was
done at St. lonis. It may be matter
for regret that an organic union was
not formed between the northern and
southern Alliances, though we are not
at present certain that it is. But such
a union was not formed, and we see no
possible good in asserting that it was.
as so many papers which know better,
have done. There are things in the
southern Alliance constitution which
the National Alliance would never ac
cept. First, it would not consent to
be restricted as to the class of delegates
it might send to the national meeting;
2d, it would not agree to give up
its dstinctive features as a farmers' so
ciety; 3d, it would not consent to a long
line of high salaried officers.
Dakota delegates to the Southern Alli
ance: St. Locis, Mo., Dec. 7, 1889.
To the Farmers" and Laborers' Union op
America:
In pursuance of the joint action of the Na
tional Farmers' Alliance and the Farmers'
and Laborers' Union, providingfor anorganic
union between the two bodies, the conditions
being that when the new constitution should
be jointly proposed, approved and ratified by
said Farmers and Laborers' Union, and by
two-thirds of the State Alliances composing
the National Farmers' Alliance, then by pro
clamation of the presidents of the two bodies
the union should be declared completed, we
the delegates from the State Alliance of South
Dakota, by authority reposed in us, do hereby
accept and ratify said constitution, as amend
ed and agreed upon by the National Farmers'
Alliance and the Farmers, and Laborers' Un
ion, to take effect upon acceptance and ratifi
cation of said constitution by two-thirds of
the State Alliances composing the National
Farmers' Alliance.
Attest
C. V. Gardner,
Chairman of Delegation.
A. wardall..
Secretary of Delegation.
Now, the "conditions" stated above
were part of the conditions proposed by
Bro. Loucks late Friday evening, as the
final compromise basis" of a union be
tween the two bodies. The other con
ditions related to a joint election of offi
cers. This proposition was taken to
the Southern Alliance by a committee
composed of Hon. A. J. Street er and
Hon. Allen Root. It was acted upon by
the Southern Alliance, and rejected,
and the committee so reported at once.
It was then moved, we think by Mr.
Wardall, that the National Alliance
unite with the southern, notwithstand
ing the almost contemptuous rejection
of the conditions proposed by Mr. Lucks,
This motion was debated calmly and
dispassionately, until 2 o'clock, Satur
day morning. Men who went to St.
Louis to form a union opposed the mo
tion, saying that they could not support
it without sacrificing their self respect;
and it was finally laid upon the table by
an almost unanimous vote, upon which
the National Alliance . adjourned vine
die.
So, as a matter of fact, the above as
sumption of the Dakota delegates is en
tirely without foundation, and implies a
state of facts which has no existence.
As to their authority to take their
State out of their National Alliance,
they had none. When the National
Alliance adjourned their authority as
delegates ceased. But we are informed
by the Ruralist, that the State Executive
Committee has held a meeting and form
ally ratified the action of those gentle
men. If that is true, we have this to
say about it: It was quite as unauthor
ized as the action of the delegates. An
Executive Committee is raised to execute
the law, not to make it. When it as
sumes to change organic law without re
ferring the matter to the organic body
it exercises a usurped and despotic
power.
The assumption that the constitution
of the National Alliance had been amend
ed wras necessary to justify the action
of the Dakota delegates. This assump
tion has not a particle of foundation in
fact. That constitution was not altered
or amended in the slightest degree.
Some amendments which had been pro
posed or acted upon by the southern Al
liance were reported to our meeting by
our committee of conference, and were
concurred in with the proviso that said
concurrence had no force unless a union
was formed. The union was not formed,
and no amended constitution wras ever
acted upon. Other amendments which
were adopted by the southern Alliance
were not even reported to the National
Alliannce, notably the one admitting all
mechanics as members.
Dakota having gone out through the
action of its Executive Committee, Pres
ident J. II. Powers, of Nebraska, will
become President of the National Alli
ance. Iro. Loucks said, in open meet
ing, after he was elected, that if Dakota
joined the southern society he should
feel in honor bound to resign. We lose
a good president, but we also gain a
good one. There is no better man for
the position than Bro. Powers.
Another Squeeze on Wall Street.
The New York dispatches of Dec. 30
give an account of almost a money panic
on Wall St. The bank of England ad
vanced its minumium rate of discount to
6 per cent, and the impression got out
that the treasury department would not
recognize a stringency in the money mar
ket. This shot call loans up to 25 per
cent, and caused the failure of two firms
on the stock and pcrtroleum exchange.
The way these sharks eat each other
when a pinch comes, is amusing as well
as instructive to an outsider, though
the melancholy part is prominent. A
well-known stock exchange house ob
tained, on representation of great ne
cessity, $200,000 from the Mechanic's Na
tional Bank at 6 per cent. As soon as
the transaction was concluded the firm
appeared on the stock exchange as a
lender of money, and loaned at 25 per
cent precisely the same amount it had
borrowed from the bank. Its discount
on $200,000 at 6 per cent, was $12,000.
The interest on the same sum at 25 per
cent was $50,000, leav ing a net profit of
$3,000. This amount has to be paid by
somebody, and it is ultimately loaded on
productive labor, through the agency
of prices, and is termed either protit or
interest, or else it is an absolute, loss,
and taken from accumulated capital.
But the men who gain it on Wall St.,
through sharp practice, do it without
using a dollar of their own money, or
performing an hour's productive lalor.
Of course it is understood that no legi
timate business will bear such rates of
interest, and men only pay it when
forced to, and to avert disaster. The
men who are inside, and can get favors
like the linn alluded to above, turn
around and mercilessly bleed their less
fortunate associates on the same lioard.
If the merchants of New York would
come out frankly and state over their
own signatures what rates they have
paid for money for the past three months,
and give the names of the parties from
whom they have borrowed it, and the
securities they have pledged for it, a
system of extortion would be revealed
which would create a sensation.
The dispatches state that on the moriv
ing of the 9th Mr. Windom "came to a
REALIZING SENSE OF THE OBLIGATIONS
OF HIS DEPARTMENT TO THE BFS1NESS
community, and ordered the several
sub-treasuries to prepay, without rebate,
the checks for interest on the national
debt that were due Jan. I." Mr Win
dom is holding down the safety valve,
as we described a few weeks ago; and
if he should happen to dose off and for
get "the obligations of his department"
for a few days, the result might be some
thing fearful.
But doesn't this picture smack slight
ly of paternalism? If we ask that the
government own the railroads, or start
a postal telegraph, or let up on the su
gar and lumber tax, the money men
ask, "O, you want a paternal govern
ment, do you?" But the secretary of
the treasury, with his pile behind him,
must keep his finger on the feverish
pulse of the stoek board, and the petro
leum board, composed of gamblers and
thieves who rob each other with as little
compunction as a granger would kill a
rattler, and if they begin to get excited
or feverish he must dole out some fever
drops in million dollar parcels; and
these felloAvs see no paternalism in that.
A Daring Scheme That May Win.
Burnctte G. Haskell, in the National
ist, proposes a plan of action for a first
class experiment in Nationalism which
is so daring, and at the same time so
practical and plain, that it will attract
wide attention, and may win success.
It is nothing less than to colonize all
the nationalists of the country in some
large city San Francisco is named
and elect a city government composed
of that element, and at once proceed to
carry its principles into practical ef
fect. Says Mr. Haskell:
But if next November we hero in Califor
nia, by concentrating our forces on one spot,
succeed in carrying San Francisco for Na.
tionalism at the ballot box, and then right
here, wo make poverty unknown then this
city will begin a growth unpicturablo even In
a dream, a million of men will flock to it and
every other city in the Union must follow in
our footsteps or be competed out of existence.
We propose to win this next election here.
And then this is our program: Our Nation
alist Board of Supervisors will, by municipal
ordinances, declare that the city and county
of San Francisco henceforth proposes to con
duct its own affairs; that it will begin the im
mediate construction of its own water works,
bakeries, abattoirs, street car lines, bathing
houses and laundries. That it will pay for
the construction and operation of these In
script and will receive this script for water,
bread, meat, car fare and washing, and ulti
mately for taxation. This will give this
script full currency as money and at par, per
haps may place it at a premium. I have no
space to show where this has been success
fully done; I can only note the market place
of Guernsey, . the court house at Greeley,
Colo., the People's Ditch at Hanford, Cal., the
natural gas at Findlay, Ohio, etc The script
being received for the product and re
deemed by it and then destroyed, will consti
tute a scientific circulating medium subject
to no fluctuation In value.
If an aqueduct is constructed bringing the
water from the Sierras across the stato (and
sold to other towns and to farmers on the
route as well) it will produce a revenue of
f 1,550,000 per jear, and will cost 10,000,000,
paying for itself in seven years.
Bakeries and warehouses for grain can be
established for $590,000, and would make a
profit of f 2,700,000 per annum at present
prices. Abattoirs could be established for
$200,000, and would make a profit of $2,700,000
per year at present prices. Wheat and meat
could be bought of the farmer either for cash
or script. As script would be current for wa
ter," for flour, and as every city merchant
would take it from him in settlement of ac
count, the farmer would take it from us.
The street cars of San Francisco pay a profit
of $1,042,675 per year, and this plant cost but
$4,634,100.
Laundries and baths at present pay a profit
of $3,000,000; the city could build thcin for
$300,000.
The lighting of this city gives a profit of $2,
000,000 a year. A proper electric light plant
could be put In for $4,000,000.
The total cost of these would be f 19,000,000,
the annual income (profits) would be $16,000,
000. The annual tax of this city is but $3,-
000,000. Comment is superfluous.
The very first year wo would nearly pay for
all of our improvements. The second year
we could buy up the outside lands and build
homes for our workers. The third year we
could establish oher industries and in ten
years we could actually, alone, pay off the na
tional debt. No great National party, no
weary fight to win congress are necessary in
my opinion. The point of attack Is the mu
nicipality; the weapon Is competition with
municipal script receivable for the goods
produced; and the road is a plain and easy
highway.
Let the peoples' money not thelrredeema
able greenback, but the scientific product-
check once be sent into the field and nature
then fights for us, and the fittest and most
perfect will survive.
Neither ignorance nor despotism are po
tent for any purpose against science; and
that we must win the citadel and soon, upon
these lines, seems to me to be as certain as a
mathematical equation. Buknktte G. Has
kell, in the Nationalist.
Stealing Editorials. It is very flat
tering to see our editorials copied into
other papers; but don't you think,
brother editors, you ought to give cred
it? Of course, in the case of the Tren
ton Torpedo, it was a mistake. Brother
Stockton can write too well to need to
commit grand larcency. Biit as a rule
it is better to "render unto scissors that
which is scissors."
The State Alliance Meeting at (i.
Island, beginning on the 7th inst., will
be held at the Knights of Pythias' Hall,
in the Scarff Block. Reports to the Sec
retary indicate an attendance of about
five hundred delegates.
Order of Business and Outlined Pro
gram of the Oth Annual Meeting of
the Nebraska State Farmers' Al
liance at Grand Island, Jan
uary 7th, 1800.
TUESDAY, JAN. 7TII, MORNING SESSION,
10 a. M.
1. Organization, and appointment of
committee on credentials.
2. Short addresses by delegates pres
ent. AFTERNOON SESSION, 1:30 I. M.
1. Music.
2. Prayer by the Chaplain.
3 Report of committee on creden
tials. 4. Address by President of the State
Alliance.
.". Appointment of committees, lwt.
on jurisprudence; 2nd, on resolutions;
3rd, on memorial to congress, embrac
ing Money, Land and Transportation.
0. Heport of State Secretary.
7. Report of State Treasurer.
EVEN I NO SESSION, 7:30.
1. Music.
2. Address by N. B. Ashby, National
Lecturer.
WEDNESDAY MORNING SESSION, 0 A. M .
1. Music.
2. Prayer by the Chaplain.
2. Report of Executive Committee.
4. Report of Stato Agent.
.. Miscellaneous.
AFTERNOON SESSION. 1:30 1". M.
1. Music.
2. Election of Officers.
3. Report of Committee on Memorial.
4. Short addresses.
EVENING SESSION, 7:30 1. M r
1. Music.
2. Report of Committee on Resolu
tions. 3. Miscellaneous.
4. Adjournment.
CO-OPERATION'.
With the progress of sentiment in fa
vor of co-operation throughout the
country, the friends of the middlemen
are coming to the front with a demand
that the country store-keeper and agent
for farmers' supplies is a blessing that
cannot be dispensed with, even if the
farmers sustain a co-operative store.
This argument has been very effective
ly worked in tlie past. We know of
numerous instances in which farmers
have started to organize co-operative
stores and then gave up the attempt
through the persuasions 'of friends of
country store-keepers. This is all
wrong. It is claimed that the local
merchant is a blessing to farmers by ac
commodating them with credit, but it
should not be overlooked that this ac
commodation is a most expensive lux
ury. It is cheaper for farmers to mort
gage their land and pay cash for their
supplies than to buy on tick of local
dealers. We must buy together and
sell together. More money can often
be saved by this means than by a whole
season's work on the farm. But to be
effective, the business of buying and
selling together must be conducted by a
well-qualitied man in whom the farmers
have confidence, and they must put up
the cash with which to meet the bills.
Buying for spot cash from lirst hand
and distributing direct to consumers L
the object to be constantly kept in view
in all co-operative efforts.
C. II. (J ERE, editor of the Lincoln
Journal, has received the appointment
of postmaster for Lincoln. As every
body knows, the Journal i the machine
republican organ of this city. It is also
the organ and tool of the railroad mo
nopoly and whisky ring of the state.
Mr. Cere has edited the paper ably, and
been the faithful servant of his employ
ers. If he serves the -public as well as
he has served the low down political
cliques, the plundering Journal Co; and
the railroad and whisky brigades, he
will make a good postmaster.
BOIL IT DO WN.
We like many letters front our read
ers. But we cannot publish many un
less they are short. Our space is very
limited. Study brevity. "Boil it down.
If you have anything to say, say it, and
then quit. The best English is short,
concise, crisp. The shortest articles
have the most readers.
It is said that the Russian influenza
is contracted by handling money that U
infected. It will have an awful ruu
among our western farmers.
A NEW PREMIUM.
L00KINGBACKWARD.
We have made arrangements to fur
nish our patrons with that wonderful
book of Edward Bellamy, Looking
Backward, as a premium. All who wish
this book can get it in this manner at
about one-half the retail price. Every
person interested in progress and re
form, and every student of the social
problems which now claim so large a
share of public attention, should read
this book. The sale it is having is al
most uuprecdented. Since the phenom
enal sale of Uncle Tom's Cabin no book
has had so wide a sale.
We will send Tun Alliance, one
year, and a copy of Looking Backward,
post-paid,in paper covers, for $1.30. Or,
we will send the book for two new suh
scribers at $1.00. Or. we will send the
book post-paid, for 50 cts.
Three carloads of Pinkerton detec
tives have gone to a mining town in
Pennsylvania where the miners are on
a strike. It is safe to predict an early
announcement of outrages by these ir
responsible hirelings. If the authori
ties of the place to which these Mi-called
detectives are sent do their duty they
will compel them to leave without any
ceremony, and in the event of their re
fusal put every man of them where he
can do no harm. The importation of
these men is an outrage upon the jwo
ple and an insult to the authority of the
state of Pennsylvania which should be
vigorously resen ted. Bee,
In answering advertisements always.
mention The Alliance.