3
"rJSm
run 1 a ttt a xrrwz
XZHED EVERY SATURDAY U0RKIH8.
BY Tins
Lincoln, - - - NeDiaska.
?.CURR0WS, : : : Editor.
JL XL THOXXPSON, Business Manager.
wla tiM beauty f the Lillies
Christ was born across the sea,
T7ih a ffloty in his bosom
That transfigures you and me.
As II strove to make men holy
, JjiX as strive to make men free,
Cince Qod is marching on."
Julia Ward Howe.
XahtcI crowns cleave to deserts,
. . Amd power to him who power exerts."
A caddy drop of manly blood
Tb surging sea outweighs."
. Emerson.
2Ie who cannot reason is a fool.
He who will not reason is a coward,
He who dare not reason is a slave."
EDITORIAL. '
"PEOPLE'S INDEPENDENT STATE
, CONVENTION.
In compliance with the request of over fif
teen thousand voters of this state that we
nbeuld name two persons to fix a ratio of re
proeentatiort, a proper date, issue a call, se
cure a hall, ana make all needed arrange
ments for holding a People's Independent
Sttate Conventio" we hereby name as such
-persons J. Burrow, Ch'm State Alliance Exe
utfre Committee, and J. H. Craddock, Sec'y
J.M.Thompson.
Sec'y State Alliance.
J. H. Craddock,
Sec. State Assembly K. of L.
CALL
A PEOPLE'S INDEPENDENT
TOR
STATE CONVENTION.
In pursuance of the duty devolved upon us
y the above appointment we hereby an
wBoe that a People's Independent State
Cfcfflvention will be held In Bohanan Hall,
JUaooln, Neb., Tuesday, July 29, 1890, at 2
o"cSock F. M-, for the purpose of placing in
nomination candidates for the following State
Dffioers, viz:
- Governor.
Xieu tenant-Governor,
jfiecretary of State.
' Auditor of rublio Accounts.
State Treasurer.
Attorney General.
Commissioner of Public Lands and Build
Jngs. .
' Superintendent of Public Instruction.
' And the transaction of any other business
-that may properly come before the conven
tion. , -All persons who accept the declaration of
-principles published and circulated by the Pec
jple's Committee are hereby invited to parti
cipate in the selection of delegates to this
"people's convention, regardless of past politi
' cal affiliations.
"We also recommend that the people in the
different precincts meet at their regular poll
ing places to choese delegates to their county
conventions on Thursday, July 24, at 5 o'clock
T. M., and that the delegates so chosen meet
in County Convention to choose delegates to
"the State Convention on Saturday, July 26,
.in the afternoon. WO also recommend that
all such county conventions appoint County
Committees for the conduct of the campaign.
We also recommend that the delegates
chosen In the First Congressional District
constitute a Congressional Convention for
3hat District, to be oonvened immediately on
he adjournment of the State Convention.
JXo proxies will be admitted. Delegates
present will cast the full vote of their county.
The different counties will be entitled to
Relegates ag follows, based upon the indus-
"tsial organization in said counties, viz :
-Adams...
.Arthur. ........
.Antelope .T..'..
Banner.... .-. . .
iilaine. .......
Ioone . ... ..
15
3
12
4
3
10
Jeffereon.. 10
Johnson 12
Kearney. 10
Keya Paha. . . . . 7
Keith... 5
Kimball.. 3
Knox. 10
Lancaster...... 24
Lincoln 10
Logan 8
Loup 5
Madison 14
McPherson 4
Meirick .... 12
Nance... 10
Nemaha 14
Nuckolls 10
Otoe ,. 17
Pawnee 8
Perkins 10
Pierce 8
Phelps 12
Platte 13
Polk 16
Red Willow 16
Richardson 16
Rock 4
Saline 11
Box Butte...... 3
Brown.;....:.. 10
- Buffalo: 20
jButlera..".., 18
-Burt. . pv,v fj') Q
Cass... .. . tf ... . 12
Cedar-;; .,....'., 4
CJhasc.T..r..... 6
Cheyenne...... 4
Cherry 5
Claj..ii....... 15
Colfax.;y...... 8
"Cuming. . . . . i 6
Custer....... ... 25
Dakota 4
Dawes? 12
.Dawson.. 13
Deuel. ......... 4
JDixoti.. 6
Dodge 9
Douglas 25
Dundy. 5
Fillmore . . ..... 15
ITr&nklin 12
Sarpy 6
Saunders........ 25
Scotts Bluffs... 4
Seward 12
Sheridan 7
Sherman 15
Sioux. 4
Stanton 5
Thayer 8
Thomas 4
Thurston 4
Valley 9
Washington 11
Wayne 6
Webster 12
Wneeler 4
Frontier....!... 21
Furnas 15
Gage ....... 20
Garfield...... . 5
Gosper. ........ 10
Grant 3
Greeley........ 13
.Hall 15
Hamilton 14
Harlan.... 12
Hayes.... ..... 5
Hitchcock .. 12
' Holt 16
Howard........ 11
Hooker.. 3
York 12
Unorg'nized ter
1
- Total
930
J.
J.
BURROWS.
H. CRADDOCK
Nebraska State Farmers' Alliance.
"Secretary's office, Lincoln, Neb.
June 28, 1890.
m Deak Sin and Brother:
We enclose herewith the call which
""has been issued for a People's Inde
pendent State'Conventiou .
Originally a call was issued by the
Alliance men of several counties for a
distinctively Alliance convention. This
not beiug thought iu accordance with
.the constitution, and it being feared
'that such a convention might disrupt
the Alliance, its promoters thought it
oest to withdraw their call, and a Dec
laration of Principles and petition for
a. People's Independent Convention was
.sent out. It was expressly "explained
that this was not to be distinctively an
Alliance convention, and that members
-were under no obligation to support it.
This understanding averted the danger
of disruption of the Alliance, and at
the same time ' resulted in the mostl
.unanimous uprising of the people that
lias ever taken place in the country.
It is probable that nearly or quite twe nty
fire thousand names have already been
-aipied to that declaration. The con
tention is called, and will be held.
While it is not distinctively an Alliance
convention, the principles of the dec
laration are Alliance principles, and the
general public will hold the Alliance re
sponsible for the convention and its re
sults. What seems to be our duty under
these circumstances? It-eeems to be
right that we should control what we
will be held responsible for; that we
should show that the 70,000 members
of the Alliance are the people; that we
should see to it that that convention is
composed of the best men in the state,
that it selects a good ticket made up of
"pure and honorable men," and that
the ticket is triumphantly elected. ,
The Alliance has 70,000 members in
Nebraska. A change of 15,000 votes
will elect the people's ticket. Twenty
thousand men have already pledged
themselves to support such a ticket
There seems to be no doubt whatever
about our duty. It is to stand by this
movement with all our strength, and
take possession of the government of
this state in the name of the people and
of pure government. While the State Al
liance is not a political party its objects
are political reform, and these cannot be
accomplished without political action.
We therefore earnestly recommend that
everv Alliance man in Nebraska make
it his special duty to attend the prirmX
ries and aid in selecting the ablest ands
honestest men to compose the county
conventions which are to elect delegates
to this People's convention.
The County Conventions which are
recommended in this call can also con
sider any local matters which necessity
requires.
We wish specially to invite your at
tention to the need of watching your
Senatorial Districts. The control of a
very small number of .senators may
give the corporate power control of the
State Senate, in which case ail efforts
for legislation in the interests of the
farmers would be futile. No man should
receive your suffrages for Senator who
is not only above suspicion, but who is
not also specifically pledged to support
the measures we demand. The road of
the candidates who will not pledge
their honor to work and vote for the
interest of the farmers should be made
a rocky road.
John H. Powers,
Pres. State Alliance.
J. M. Thompson,
Sec'y State Alliance.
J. Burrows,
Ch'm State Ex. Com.
Tyrant Reed.
The tyrannical tendency of the pluto
crat classes was never better illustrated
than by the course of Speaker Reed. He
is the agent, of the money power and
the oligarchic interests of the east; and
he has no more respect for the great
masses of the people than the Czar of
Russia apparently not so much. Hon
C. H. VanWyck called on him a few
days ago in the interest of the Conger
and Butterworth bills; and he has re
ported to us the contemptuous and
sarcastic manner in which he alluded
to the farmers as a class.
The speaker of the house of represen
tatives is presumed to be the servant of
the whole house, not a portion or a
faction of it; and his duty Is to carry
into effect the fairly expressed will of a
majority of it. In practice this princi
ple is daily violated by Mr. Reed. He
has changed the time-honored rule of
mpartial procedure into a mere party
caucus in which only a majority of one
party dictates. He has utterly destroyed
the principles of free government as
they should be applied in the conduct
of a great law making assembly. He
has made himself the tool of the men
who bought the presidency and bought
or stole their majority in the house.
This power cares for tools and votes,
but it does not care for parties or the
people. To enforce a wrong ruling, by
which the silver bill as amended by the
senate, was to be put into unfriendly
hands, Mr. Reed had to go out of the
ranks of his party for recruits. These
recruits were forthcoming from the
democratic ranks. Thirteen democrats
joined with the republicans to defeat
this bill. But yet Mr. Harrison threat
ens to veto the measure, if it finally
passes, on the ground that it was passed
by the aid of democratic votes.
It might as well be understood that
the contest now waging is big with the
momentous issue of libarty against
slavery. Tyrants will arise at every
stage of the fight, as the interests of the
plutocrats may require them. Their
commonest disguise will be that of pat
riots, but they will always wear the
livery of partisans. If the' people fail
to recognize them as they - appear it
shall not be our fault.
Honesty Applied to Legislation.
Some time ago wes printed a little ar
ticle which struck a responsive chord
over the whole State, entitled, " A crop
of legislators wanted. " We said then,
"We must harvest a crop of Farmer
Legislators. They are sadly needed
to clear out the vile crops that have
been sown by the railroad capper farm
ers. and usury farmers who have in
fested our legislative halls so long."
How will it seem, anyway, to send an
honest crop of legislators to Lincoln?
Do the farmers of this state realize the
vile character of many legislators that
have been sent here? They have rated
at from $50 to $100 per head just about
the average of a steer. Often the
drinks, a few cigars, a railroad pass, or
an interview with oil room Johnny an
swered for a price. f'
As a result of these low-priced votes
there are a vile lot of laws on our stat
ute books which have been placed there
for purely temporary, selfish and per
sonal ends. These laws remain a mon
ument to legislative villainy, and are a
disgrace to , the State. This rubbish
must be cleared away, and the foul
fields burned over and re-plowed. The
work of repealing laws that the farmer
legislators will have to do is quite
as
important as
ones.
the work of enacting new
THJmW& Ai
FARMERS OF NEBRASKA, THE HOUR
HAS COME!
Shoudcr to Shoulder "
DON'T YOU HEAR
"BOOTS AND SADDLES!"
SOUNDING!
THE COUNTRY EXPECTS EVERY MAN TO DO HIS
DUTY!
On May 3 we advised those who wanted a new party or a people's indepen
dent convention to "Wait. Let the grass grow."
May 10 we again urged our too previous friends to "wait." We then said,
"there are some men who see "only one side of the shield men who can't wait.
These men organize failures and cloud the future. To these we
say again and again, wait. Let the grass grow. The signal will strike when the
hour is ready, and not one or two alone, but all will hear it when it strikes."
When we wrote those words we knew what we were talking about. We
knew the hour was drawing near when the people would be ready for an
independent movement when they would respond to such a call almost as one
man. But the time had not then come, and we wanted no premature move-
ment. Recruiting was then going rapidly forward. The clans were gathering
from near and from far. Alliances had been forming with unexampled ra
pidity 160 in a month. While some of our friends feared we were trying to
stem a rising tide, we were only asking
THE HOUR HAS COME! THE CONVENTION HAS BEEN GALLED! X
Since last January God has been
tiny in Nebraska. No other power could have moulded events so that public
opinion would be forced to favor independent political action. That He will
now raise up men from the ranks of the peojle as instruments for the destruc
tion of the tyranny of the plutocracy, is the earnest prayer of all of us.
The farmer sent his petitions to the capital, asking- that tariff taxation be re
duced; that money be loaned on land direct to the people the same as on bonds
to the bankers; that the coinage of silver be made free the same as gold. .
The farmers applied to the Nebraska Board of Transportation and asked that
local rates be made as low as in neighboring states.
How was the farmer met at Washington? He was laughed out of the capi
tol. He was told that it was "unconstitutional to loan money on land security
at any rate of interest," at the same time that Committees of both houses re
ported bills to lend money on railroad security for fifty years at 3 per cent.
His petition for tariff reform was answered by a bill proposing an infamous
advance in tariff taxation.
His reqaest that that damning crime, the demonetization of silver, should be
undone, was spurned by a combination of votes from both parties.
In Nebraska the Board of Transportation resolved that itnvas "inexpedient"
to report any schedule of lower local rates.
In Nebraska a little coterie of men denounced corporation control, and held
a convention for what? to prevent an independent movement of the people;
and compromised their grievances on what concession? seven days in the
date of holding a convention!
A petition for a people's convention was now .issued, and the rapidity with
which the hands of 20,000 farmers were set to it surprised the State. Farmers
of Nebraska, your example is contagions. The tide 4s rising all around you.
The Dakotas have called independent conventions.
Iowa has called an independent convention.
Kansas has called an independent convention, and is moving 120,000 strong.
New York State is marshalling its forces for an independent movement.
The best men in New York City have called a convention to inaugurate an
independent movement for that city
Farmers of Nebraska! You are the vanguard of the g&atest
political revolution of modern 'times! '
The grand army of farmers is eight million strong.
A million federated tradesmen are watching you.
Seven hundred thousand Knights of Labor are waiting to
join you.
Liberty, regeneration, better laws, more equality, more pro
gress, better lives and better homes for your wives and chil
dren, will be the results of your action.
Don't you hear "boots and saddles?" The "long roll" is sounding!
FALL IN! DOUBLE QUICK! Forward ! MARCH! ,
Both Parties Against the People.
In the contest on the reference of the
silver bill the power of Wall street was
greater than any party tie. Thirteen
democrats voted with the republicans
to sustain Mn Reed in his autocratic
reference of the bill. The democrats
are considered traitors to the other
members of their party in the house,
who had been waging bitter warfare
against the tyranny of Mr. Reed. But
they had probably received a hint from
their money masters that it was more
important to prevent the present con
sideration of the silver bill than it was
to administer a rebuke to Mr. Reed.
But the lesson of the act of these demo
crats which the people should take to
heart is, that there is no organized
party in this country to-day upon
which they can depend to fight their
battles. With every incentive, present
and future, to the democrats to stand
together on that vote, the money
power sneaks in and filches a victory
by a union of the two old parties. This
same spectacle will be witnessed in
many districts in Nebraska this fall.
A Notable Editorial Event.
The Omaha Republican of July 1st
comes out in a double-leaded editorial
squarely in favor of prohibition. This
leaves the Omaha Bee and the B. & M.
Journal the only special advocates of
the whiskey side in this State. "Birds
of a feather fiock together." We pre
dict that the editors of the Journal and
the Bee will be found fighting together
in the republican convention, and af
terwards in support of the hybrid rail
road and reform ticket that will be
there nominated. The Republican s a
strong accession to the prohibition
ranks.
Discussion at Crete Chautauqua July 8.
There will be a very interesting event
at the Crete Chautauqua July 8, viz., a
discussion of the question, "Are pres
ent railroad rates just both to the pro
ducer and carrier?" The debaters will
be C. II. VanWyck and TomMarquett.
This is a conjunction of legal talent and
ability that does not often occur.
A New Accession. :
The first number of the Alliance Tri
bune, of O'Neill, is on our table. It is
Independent in politics, neat in appear
ance, and apparently sound on popular
questions. Its motto, "Intelligence,
not wealth," should rule," is the true
principle
5,
THE "LONG ROLL" IS
for time for the people to get ready
marshalling the elements of political des
Wanted, Bad Bait for Gudgeons.
A liberal reward will be paid at once,
in blocks of five, by the leaders of both
old parties, for something to fool the
people with. These fellows are mostly
just now holding the bag for snipes.
The "home market" cry is flat. " "The
protection of American labor" has been
merged into "the protection of Ameri
can capital." The "best banking sys
tem on earth, "no longer has any virtue.
The "grand achievements of the past"
butter no parsnips. Any sort of a new
fogue that will attract the attention of
the people from actual conditions, and
keep the g. o. p. in power or give the
other g. o. p. a chance to get in, will be
thankfully received and liberally paid
for by Benj. Harrison or Grover Cleve
land.
ne straits that the machine organs
are rcducad to on account of this dearth 1
of bait for gudgeons is very distressing.
They are writing up the opium dens
asd houses of prostitution of their own
cities. They are making sensational
articles about the decollete church cos
tumes of their fashionable ladies. A
charming swindler of the female per
suasion appears in Omaha and Lincoln,
claiming fraternity with newspapedom,
and all the old bald-headed editors, hav
ing nothing else to do, go wild over her.
Rosewater exchanges photographs with
her. This man's conquests are becom
ing historical. The divine Patti Helen
Gougar Bab! Only think of it! This
thing is getting a little thick.
And all this in the beginning of the
most remarkable off-year campaign
Nebraska ever had. Truly bait for
gudgeons some new campaign thunder
is wanted at once, and wanted bad,
too. .
Refreshing.
The Omaha Republican, speaking of
railway men in polities, says: "When
railway officials can act independently
of their roads, when they can enter
politics precisely as a lawyer or a mer
chant enters politics then will the op
position to railway men cease." Well,
we are glad to learn just how a lawyer
enters politics. We were under the
impression that nine out of every ten
of them entered it as the attorney or
paid tool of some railroad or other cor
poration; and we imagine that impres
sion i3 very near correct, after all.
In answering advertisements please
mention this paper.
Something About Candidates.
It is time the people were looking
about for their candidates. If "pure
and honorable " men are to be selected as
standard bearers and none other need
apply it is time they were being
looked up. They don't grow on every
bush.
How would it seem to have an honest
old farmer for Governor of Nebraska?
a man-wno aon t ne a
never resorts to any low-down con
temptible political tricks a man who
has the confidence of every body who
knows him a man of the people, who
would honestly administer the laws for
the people? Farmers, how would it
seem for vou to step out of party
shackles and vote for one of your own
men for Governor? You have sucn a
man. Many of you know him. Honest
John Powers is his name. What would
you think of it?
In the Second Congressional District
there is a farmer member of the Alii
anee who can beat auy man for Con
gress that may be brought against him
If he is nominated by the Independent
convention no republican who is not
willing to be slaughtered will accept a
nomination asrainst him. : That man is
' V syfUon. Wm. A. McKeighan.of lied Cloud.
What wouid you think of him?
What would you think of Hon. C. 11
Van Wyck as a candidate for Congress
from tb,3 First District? He has served
four terms in the House of Representa
tives, and one term in the U. S. Senate
There would be no more able cham
pion of the people in Congress; and the
people could put up no man upon
whom the monopolies would concen
trate a stronger opposition than upon
C. II. Van Wyck.
In the Third District, where the con
vention meets at Columbus on the 15th,
Hon. C. D. Shradcr, of Logan county,
and Judge Shinn, of Custer county,
have been spoken of by Alliance men.
Mr. Shrader was a member of the first
Executive Committee of the State Alii
ance. He is an able man and a fear
less one. He ha3 always been a con
sistent anti-monopolist. If he is nomi
nated he will make a good fight.
We have had no personal acquaint
ance with Judge Shinn. He was elect
ed County Judge on the Alliance ticket
last year, and we are told has made an
admirable record, and won the confi
dence of all classes of men.
But in the Third District we are con
vinced that aood policy would dictate
the selection of one of our German fel
low-citizens who has not been active in
State politics, but who would have the
confidence of all the elements which
are opposed to Dorsey. If the conven
tion of th3 lath can find, such a man
who is honest and able, victory will
perch upon its banners.
How would Nils Anderson do for one
of the members of the Board of Trans
portation?
"Sit on the Box and Drive.'.
The Kearney Enterprise, after admit
ting the numerous grievances of the
farmers, and that they demand redress,
and after beslobbering the farmers with
a lot of slush as to their being absolute
masters of the situation, " asks, . "why
should not the republican farmers go to
victory in the old coach, when they are
invited to sit on the box and drive."
The Enterprise has unwittingly perpe
trated a very humorous and sarcastic
illustration. For many years the re
publican farmers of this State have
been sitting on the box and driving,
and John M. Thurston, Tom. Mar
quette, Geo. W. Holdredge, with their
unclean brood of Senators, Representa
tives, monopoly editors, and their sat
ellites and henchmen, have been sitting
in the coach and riding. The republi
can farmers have not only "sat on the
box and drove" but they have pulled at
the traces, up hill and throughthe mire;
and the harder the road the more jubi
lant have seemed the vile crew inside.
Now, the republican farmers propose
to drive the same old coach viz: the
coach of state, and they intend also to
ride inside, and to smooth the road and
grease the wheels, and thus make the
work lots easier tor the ones who are
pulling at the traces. The best job of
the whole will be the unloading of the
vile crew who have been so long riding.
Good bye, Mr. Enterprise, unless you
want to take a pull with the new crew.
Independent Convention of the Third
Congressional District
At a conference of the Farmers' Alli
ance, Knights of Labor, Trade Uuions,
Labor Clubs and other labor organiza
tions of the Third Congressional Dis
trict, held at Grand Island, Neb., May
29, 1890, in which 2-1 counties were rep
resented, it was decided to issue a call
for an Independent1 Congressional
convention to be held at Colum
bus, Neb., ' July 15, 1890, at 2 o'clock
p. m., for the purpose of placing in
nomination an independed candidate
for congress in the Third Coogressiona
District of Nebraska.
The basis of representation shall be
as follows: The representation to the
county conventions shall be one dele
gate to every twenty members or major
fraction thereof, and all Sub. Alliances,
Knights of Labor Assemblies, Trades
Unions, Labor Clubs, with less than 20
members shall be entitled to one dele-'
gate. The representation in the Con
gressional convention shall be one dele
gate to every 10 delegates or major frac
tion thereof to the county convention.
A full delegation is desired.
, James Beswick, Ch'm.
J. G. Painter, Sec. Kearney, Neb.
Broken Bow, Neb.
The Ratio.
By the transposition of a line the
ratio of representation in call for peo
ple's convention was a muddle. It is
corrected this week.
SEVENTEEN THOUSAND NAMES
filed, signed to the call for the Indepen
dent People's Convention.
1890.
. Some Ideas about Money.
There is no subject the principles of
which are so absolutely invariable, and
yet which muddle men's minds so much
as that of money. One "Col." Iuger
soll, oftener known as Bob Iogersoll,
said some good things about money to
an interviewer the other day, and some
very foolish things, also. He said,
1. "The creditor class will insist on
gold, the debtor class on silver."
2. "As a matter of fact the eovern-f
ment can only fix or establish the debt!
navinr power of money. It cannot nxi
the purchasing power."
3. "The government should neither
make money cheap or dear."
i. W,hy? Because price depends up
on volume, and the creditor class
want low prices. The creditor class;
is always represented by those whq
have fixtd incomes' in interest thel
money lenders and the security holders..
The lower prices are the more wealth)
a certain amount of interest will com
mand. The handlers . of money know
this verv well: hence their constant!
struggle to restrict the yolune of money
by throwing out silver and limiting le
sral tender issues. The interests of the
ra
creditor class, who buy wealth with
money, and the debtor class who buy
money with wealth, are diametrically
and irremediably opposed, and always
will Jbo under our competitive system.
2. In these propositions Mr. Bob is
seriously muddled. The debt-paying
power and the purchasing power of
money are one ond the same thing. In
the sense in which he considers it the
government does not fix either. The
government says how many grains of
silver and hov many of gold shall con
stitute the dollar, and thus establishes
a nominal standard for the dollar, and
equalizes the value of the respective
number of grains of gold and silver.
But this does not fix the value of the
dollar. If gold and silver coin was the
only money, and this coinage was free
and unlimited, the total volume of those
metals available for coinage would be
potentially money. The law of supply
and demand, as applied to money,
would now determine its value. If the
supply of metal was inadequate, as
compared with population and pro
duction, prices would be low. The
purchasing power of the dollar
would be increased, and its debt-paying
power, the man M ho produced wealth
being the debtor, would be diminished.
If on the contrary, the supply of those
metals was superabundant relative to
population and wealth, prices would be
high. The power of money to command
wealth would be. diminished, and its
debt-paying power fon the producer
would be increased.
In considering the purchasing power
of money the distinction between han
dlers of money and producers must al
ways be home in mina. In transac
tions between bankers prices make no
difference, provided they are alike to
all. But in transactions between bank
ers and producers prices are the vital
point. The purchasing power of money
depends upon price. If prices are high
its purchasing power is increaased, and
vice versa. Consider now its debt-pay
ing power as applied to the producer,
that is the farmer, manufacturer or la
borer of any kind. It will be seen that
this also depends upon price. With
wheat at $1.00 per bushel the farmer
will pay twice as much debt with 100
bushels of wheat as he can with wheat
at 50 cents per bushel-' With wages at
$2.00 per day, the laborer will pay twice
as much debt with a day's work as he
can with wages at $1.00 per day. This
being true, to the producer the debt
paying power and the purchasing power
of money are exactly the same thing.
Now Col. Bob says that the govern
ment cannot fix the purchasing power.
Let us see about that.
As we said above, if gold and silver
were the only money, and their coinage
free and unlimited, all of those metals
available for minting would be poten
tially money. Money would thus be a
natural product. Its amount would de
pend upon the mines and the labor
available to produce it, and its value
would depend upon its amount, or upon
the law of supply and demand. In fact,
the value of money always depends
upon the law of supply and demand.
This law finds its first and most invari
able expression id price, as we have ex
plained. Price depends upon the vol
ume of money. But coin is not the
only money, and never again can be
i me uiume oi money snouiu be re
stricted to coin alone, prices would go
so low, and values be so utterly de
stroyed, that nineteen out of twenty of
the business men of the country would
be bankrupt. The supply of coin money
2 1 At .
is supplemented by issues or paper
money, all of which are authorized and
regulated, as to security, character and
MM1t 1 . 1 1 M
mining price, or purchasing power, or
debt-paying power, all essentially the
same thing, and law determining vol
ume, law, or the government, does fix
the purchasing power, Col. Bob. to the
contrary notwithstanding.
3. This proposition - of Mr. Ingersoll
is very nearly correct. The volume of
money should be so adjusted that pro
ducers and laborers should have their
fair reward, and so that there should
not be an undue flow of wealth into the
coil ers or tne creditor classes, as at
present. This is a government func
tion, and this question will never be
settled until this function is honestly
performed, instead of as now prosti
tuted to the uses of a class.
The mistake of Mr. Ingersoll, and all
who think like him, is in assuming that
money is a natural product, when in
fact it is almost entirely an artificial
one.
The advocates of the single standard
are imperial in their greed. They want
the earth. They are willing to push
down prices until not only is the farmer
ruined, but merchants and mechanics
ruined also. If they are al lowed their
way the wealth of the nation will soon
be in their coffers.
rms K ya Reach.'
jluw uauy nee oi a iauu tiuiu, umier
above caption, while sneering at sonu
proposed financial measures in the in
terest of the farmers, which it say-s "are
not likely to materialize during the
present generation," names some very
important points in which reform iss
needed. It says: "Our whole revenue
and taxing system needs overhauling.'-
TM. .1 M r .1-1.. T . .
This is very true, and it has a wider ap
plication than the Bee intended to give
it. It applies to our tariff taxation with
the same force that it does to our State
system. The Bee says: "Millions upon
millions of property in the shape of
stocks, bonds, mortgages and money
are never listed. Corporations that
have acquired franchises worth millions,
ai'e assessed at at a mere song and al
lowed to shift their proper share of
taxes upon the owners of lands, store
houses, mills and factories who are not
able to hide their property from the
assessors." This again is all very true
But we invite the Bee to consider that
where corporations of all kinds are left
free to fix their own charges for their
services to the public, taxes upon then
are simply an indirect tax upon the peo
ple; and if the people do not have com
pensating exemptions such taxes would
be simply additions to their burdens.
There is no doubt that taxes upon tlu
gross receipts of banks, railroads, ex
press, telegraph and gas companies,.
etc., etc., would fall very equally upon
the public at large; but it would be a
gross injustice to impose those taxes in
addition to the land ami property tax
unless the charges of all those- com
panies were absolutely fixed by law.
Another needed reform named by the
Bee, wherein we agree with it exactly,
is the designation of depositories for
county and state funds.
Now, we desire to point out to the
Bee that these reforms will be much
more apt to be accomplished by a re
form legislature elected by the farmers
than by a legislature elected in the us
ual manner. Hitherto the railroads anil
insurance companies have regularly
packed the legislature with their tools.
The insurance laws of this state form a
monument to the cheek and rapacity or
the old line insurance companies. The
valued policy law of the last session is
an exception which only proves the'
principles of taxation wo have state!
above. Under that lasv losses have in
creased about twenty-five per cent.
But the charges of the companies not
being limited by law, they have assessed
these additional losses upon the people;
and they care little for the new law so
long as this privilege is continued to
them.
We are grateful to our contemporary
for naming these needed reforms The
next legislature will be very likely to
give attention to them and others not
yet mentioned by the Bee.
David Has Some Gall.
Dave Butler Is In one respect verv much
like the noted Ilenjiunin, In that he nev r
knows when he has been knocked down anJ
drugged out. Not satisfied with liavinjf l n
governor of Nebraska twenty vears ntro
and impeached and tired out of the tnte
nouso-he is now fljrurlnjr to lead the com
bined anti-monoply hosts of Nebraska thi
fall as their jrubernatorial candidate, (iroat
is trail. Kearney Hub.
That's right. There never was :
more corrupt, unscrupulous old villaiu
in the state of Nebraska than this .same
Butler. He has about as much chance
of being nominated for governor by tin
People's Convention as satan lias of be
ing promoted to be an archangel.
ALLIANCE BADGES.
We present herewith an
illustration of the budgt
which is being made in
Chicago for the Nebraska
03V3 Alliance. It is a uty
pretty thing, in the form oi
a scarf or bosom pin. Its color b gold,
anrt red, white and blue. It U about -half
an inch wide and six-eight lis of
inch long, and is a very neat and orna
mental pin.
Secretary Thompson will furnish thi
badge to Alliances at the rate of $17. Wi
per 100. Single samples, sent by mail,
20 cents each.
We are now hoping to make a stilt
better contract in Chicago, in which
case the price will bo lowered. Our
first contract was for $15.00 per hun
dred. It was then raised to $17.."CL
But we are now expecting to make ;
contract at $14.00.
Some western Neeraska counties re
port GO per cent of their vot ing strength
as having joined the Alliance. As tin
days pass by it becomes more and more
evident that something is going to drop
in state politics this fall. And th.
membership of the order is still Increas
ing steadily and rapidly.
0mB
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