!
THE ALLIANCE,
FUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY MORNING
BY THE
ALLIAdCE PODLISnillG CO.
Corner 11th and M St.,
Lincoln, - - - Nebraska.
i BURROWS, : : 1 Editor.
A XL Thompson, Business Manager.
"In the beauty mf the lillies
- Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in his bosom
i That transfigures you and me.
--v As He strove to make men holy
Let us strive to make men free,
Since God is marching on."
Julia Ward Howe.
Laurel crowns cleave to deserts,
And power to him who power exerts."
A ruddy drop of manly blood
The surging sea outweighs."
Emerson.
He who cannot reason is a fool,
He who will not reason is a coward,
He who dare not reason is a slave."
EDITORIAL.
Independent State Ticket.
Governor,
JOHN H. POWERS, of Hitchcock
Lieutenant Ooyernor,
WM. H.'DECH, of Saunder.
Secretary of State,
C. N. MAYBERRY, of Pawnee.
State Treasurer,
J. V. WOLFE, of Lancaster.
Attorney General,
J. W. EDGERTON, of Douglas.
Auditor,
JOHN BATIE, of Wheeler.
Commissioner of Public Lands and Buildings,
W. P. WRIGHT, of Nemaha.
Superintendent of Public Instruction,
PROP. A. D'ALLEMAND.of Furnas.
Congress Second Congressional District.
W. A. McKEIGHAN, of Webster.
Congress Third Congressional District
CAPT. O. M. KEM, of Custer.
Lancaster County Independent Ticket.
State Senators. '
J. M. THOMPSON.
JAS. G.TAYLOR.
Representatives,
ELI AS BAKER.
W. S. DEMA.KEE.
I. F, DALE.
J. F. EGGER.
ROBT. MCALLISTER.
Commissioners.
L. S. GILLICK.
AUGUST ANDERSON.
D. A. STOCKING.
County Attorney.
N. Z. SNELL.
THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE.
Published Weekly by the
Alliance PnWisliiiifi Co.
J. BURROWS, Editor.
J. M. THOMPSON, Bus. Mg'r.
SUBSCRIPTION $1.00 PER YEAR.
INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE. OR FIVE
SUBSCRIPTIONS, IN ONE ORDER
ONE YEAR FOR $4.00.
The Alliance is the official organ of
the State Alliance. It is conducted
solely in the interest of the farmers and"
laboring men of the state. It is abso
lutely fearless and untrammeled in the
discussion of all questions. IT AC
CEPTS NO CORPORATION PAT
RONAGE. ITS EDITORS HAVE NO
FREE PASSES, AND ITS OPINIONS
ARE NOT FOR SALE AT ANY
PRICE, In the above particulars it is
a new departure in Nebraska journal
ism.
We confidently appeal for support to
all who can appreciate the value of
such a paper.
SPECIAL NOTICE.
The most important political cam
spaign ever made in Nebraska is about
to open. On the one side will be ar
rayed the farmers and laborers of the
state; on the other the corporations and
their henchmen, ana the newspapers
which for years have prostituted their
columns to the uses of . corporations.
. TALLlANClC .will be the special or
gan of the farmers and their society ia
tne contest. jNot oniy snouio. every
Alliance man talte tjie paper himself.
but he $bv9 it aid Inextending it. to
those who are not ?yet" members. To
enable ear members to so extend it, we
offer. It,
IU CLUBS OF TEN, TILL JANUARY
1st, 18 1, FOR 30cts.
PREMIUMS.
The Alliance one year, and Look
ing Backward, postpaid.
.$1.30
. 1.10
. 1.25
Ditto and Labor and Capital by
Kellogg
Ditto and Caesar's Column
Ditto and Our Rqpabliean Mon
archy to Venier Voldo
The above Books for sale at this
1.10
of-
fice, or sent postpaid as follows:
Looking Backward 50 cts.
Caesar's Column 50 cts,
Labor and Capital 20 cts.
Our Republican Monarchy 25 cts
Address,
Alliance Pub. Co., Lincoln, Neb.
BENTONIANA.
Large numbers of the ablest republi
can papers in the state are urging the
voters to scratch Tommy Benton. This
is awfully unjust. The man that can
accept Richards, Hastings, Allen and
Humphrey ought to take Tommy as a
sweet morsel. But all the same Tommy
will probably never go marching home
again. Tommy Benton , is simply an
unfortunate, victim of circumstances.
He is one of the jolliest of good fellows,
and true as steel to "his masters. The
unfortu,nate circumstances tor him is
that masters are about to change. The
railroads put him there, and he has
stayed with them grandly ; and they are
reciprocating in trying to put him there
aeain. But it can't be did. lommy
must eo, a martyr to the cause of the
poor down-trodden corporations". They
will probably be able to give mm situ
ation in a railway auditor's office at a
higher salary than the state allows
"God-bye, Tommy, good-bye.!'; r ,
THE
A RED-LETTER DAY FOR LANCAS
TER COUNTY.
The grandest celebration ever .held
in Lancaster county was on Labor Day,
September 1st. Twenty thousand peo
ple were said to be on the grounds at
Cushman Park. The procession was
over five miles long. Banners, mottoes,
floats,tand devices of all kinds, were
too numerous for description. One of
the most notable turnouts in the parade
was a float got up by Oak Creek Alli
ance, drawn by six horses, and loaded
with twenty-four beautiful young la
dies. This is Brother I. N. Leonard's
Alliance, and it is presumed that he and
his estimable wife planned this fine
display.
We give a very inadequate report of
the day on the first page of this issue.
On the speakers' stand at the park
we observed Honest jonn I'owers,
Lieut, Gov. Dech, State Supt's D'Alle
mand and Wright, Auditor Batie, State
Treasurer Wolfe, Senator J. M. Thomp
son, Attorney General Edgerton, Mr.
Voldo, Chairman Blake, Secretary Pir-
tle, and many other distinguished gen
tlemen.
Speeches were made by Mr. Edgerton,
Mr. Wheat, of Iowa, Mr. Voldo and
Mr. Powers.
September 1st, 1890, will be a long-
remembered day by the thousands who
participated in its parade, its business
and its pastimes.
The sturdy yeomanry of Lancaster
county were never so well represented.
If the day was an omen of the result on
the 4th of November next, Lancaster
county will surely be redeemed from
monopoly rule.
The following are the editorial com
ments of the Call upon the day.
"A GREAT IMPROVEMENT.
Never in the history of Lincoln has
there' been a demonstration equal to
that of today. Labor day has invoked
an era here, and the magnificent parade
this morning is a bright omen for the
farmers and workingmen. It is all a
profound expression of the demarka-
ation of the common people from su
pine followers to aggressive leaders. It
expressed stronger than words express
to the most doubting, that the working
men and farmers are in earnest as never
before.
And the farmers of Lancaster county
were out in iorce. ine Alliance pro
cession alone covered more than four
miles in length. It was the public
proof of what has been repeatedly stated
that the farmers in this county are in
touch-with the farmers over the state.
While the great parade was in honor
of Labor Day, it was yet a political pa
rade. The workingmen in the city and
the farmers from the country bore pla
cards on every hand announcing their
adherence to the independent ticket.
Here in the capital city, with its two
thousand republican majorit the dem
onstration today will be a revelation to
the dominant party in this city and it
should be a revelation to the party in
the state. These be stirring times in
Nebraska politics, and the party that
longer refuses to to recognize the fact,
and the candidates who refuse to rec
ognize the true moment of the uprising,
may sit in the ashes of defeat in No
vember." FISH OR CUT BAIT.
Mr. Van Wyck has trifled with the
people's congressional nomination long
enough. There is no earthly reason for
longer delav. The committee should
meet at once and 'put a man in nomi
nation who cares more for the move
ment than he does for himself.
EVERY TUB ON ITS OWN BOTTOM.
The nomination of a prohibition state
ticket last week in this city completed
the outfit of tickets that will be voted
for in Nebraska on the 4th of next No
vember, we suppose. The nomination
of this ticket effectually disposes of the
chai-ge that was being made by the rail
road jobberwoks that the independent
movement was a prohibitory movement
This charge is being freely made in all
parts of the State where it is supposed
it would be prejudicial to the people's
ticket. It appears that it was not sum
ciently a prohibition rsovement to se
enre a .word of endorsement or ap
proval from the prohibition convention.
And it was especially noteworthy that
the head of the people's ticket came in
for a special amount of vituperation
and abuse at the hands of delegates in
the prohibition convention. This prob
ably is all right, and as it should be
The people's movement is based upon a
few certain well-defined principles
which are agreed upon and approved
by a large majority of the voters of Ne
braska. The prohibitory amendment
is a proposition by itself . It is submit
ted to the voters, and will be upon the
tickets of all parties, and therefore is
removed to a certain extent outside o
the domain of partisan politics. In our
opinion it should have been uncompli
cated with the ,ersonalities of candi
dates left as a clean proposition, for
each voter to decide upon unbiased by
personal preferences. But the leaders
of the prohibition party thought other
wise, and we cheerfully acquiesce in
their decision.
The corporation jobberwoks, with
amusing consistency, are also charging
that the people's 'movement is solely in
in the interest of the democratic party;
the people are gravely informed that
the independent leaders are democrats
in disguise, and are-engaged in a con
spiracy to elevate democrats to office.
The democrats repudiate .this assump-
tfon by putting up a full state ticket,
and congressional tickets in every dis
trict but one. A straight nomination
would have been made in that district
FARMERS' ALLIANCE: LINCOLN, NEB.,
only for the fact that there were more
independents than democrats in the
democratic congressional convention,
and hence the independent candidate
was endorsed. In the third dis
trict there is no doubt whatever that
there is a combination between the re
publican and democratic leaders to
elect the republican to congress.
The people of this state will not fail
to see that this cry against the people's
ticket of prohibition in one place and
democracy in another, i3 unadulterated
fraud. It shows the deplorable straits
to which the railroad crew is reduced.
They dare not attack our principles.
Not a single prominent paper has as- j
sailed them. They cannot attack our
candidates. They are above reproach.
So they are compelled to resort to mis
representation and personal abuse.
These tactics will .not win this time:
The people demand facts, not froth and
fustian. :,.
Every political tub now stands on its
own bottom.' There has been no fusion,
no conspiracy, no unholy political bar
gain and sale, and there will be none.
The contest lies now between the peo
ple's ticket satnding on a platform for
the people, demanding purity instead
of corruption, justice instead of extor
tion and robbery, and the so-called re
publican ticket, nominated by railroad
nfluence, composed of railroad men,
and intended to bolster up and perpet
uate railroad power, and nowhere else.
No amount of misrepresentation can
change this fact. Either Honest John
Powers will be elected governor, and
Elonest John Batie state auditor, or
railroad Richards will be elected gov
ernor, and railroad tool Tommy Benton
state auditor, as sure as the world goes
round till the 4th day of next Novem
ber. With public opinion roused as it
is,, and with the people informed on
this monopoly question as they are,
there can be only one result. "Good
bye, Tommy, good bye !"
THURSTONIANA.
When our John wishes to issue a pro
nunciamento to the people of the United
States he. goes down to Chicago and
takes a line suite of rooms at the Grand
auu ocuui? iui ck. lupuiici. j.aia
salary of $12,000 a year as general attor
ney for the U. P. railway runs on just
the same. In fact that's the wav he
earns it. Well, when the reporter
comes John sits back in a cushioned arm
chair, with his feet oa a damask sofa,
and looks comfortable. He only lacks
a cigar to be a picture of the serenest
felicity attainable by any general rail
road attorney. But our John don't
smoke, he don't. He isn't built that
way. His salary of $12,000 a year don't
warrant cigars. Well, when John gets
settled comfortable he just talks, and
the reporter takes it down in short
hand. .
His last blow-off in that delectable
manner was about ten days after the
people's convention; and it proves that
John isn't a prophet nor the son of a
prophet, though $12,000 a year to sit in
an arm chair with one's feet cocked up
on a. sofa, might be considered profita
ble. On that occasion John said "the
people ought to have nominated Van
Wyck. Van Wyck would have made
things hum. But now there will be
tame campaign." A tame campaign,
eh? Well, we would like to see a cam
paign when things are humming. Pro
cessions three miles long! Meetings in
the woods in a farm country where the
houses are two miles apart attended by
five thousand people! Whole townships
hitching up their farm wagons and driv
ing thirty miles to hear the people's
candidates speak! Parades with ten
thousand people in line, like that at
Lincoln Monday last! A tame cam
paign, indeed! we should just like to
see a wild one. It seems Honest Farm
er John Powers is almost as much of a
drawing card as Van Wyck might have
been. If "things" go oh improving til
October as they have since the people's
ticket was put up John will think the
farmers of Nebraska are raising only
one crop the last of the three he said
they raised in Texas, viz: corn, cane
and h 11.
We heard John say one time in
Armory D that "he wished it was the
law that no 'man could wear a white
shirt until he had paid a woman a dol
lar for making it." That would be four
or five dollars a day for the woman, if
she was handy with a machine very
fair wages, but not quite $12,000 a year.
We would like to inquire whether
John's philanthrophy has impelled him
to make any effort to raise the wages of
the section hands of his road to over a
d611ar a day? Or is his sympathy for
the shirt makers a shade just a shade
different in texture from his sympathy
with the section hands. A man who
can sit in a cushioned rocker at $12,000
a year can talk sympathy for anybody.
Talk is cheap. But we have yet to hear
of our Jehu making an effort to raise
anybody 's wages.
. When another people's convention is
held our John must be invited. In fact,
he'll probably be a "delegate, as when
the people get on top all the railroad
attorneys will climb the fence. Our
John will probably have a people's anti
monopoly league formed, and will be
sending out type-written platforms for
people's conventions.
GRAND
ARMY COMRADES, AT
TENTION..
Mr. Voldo wishes to have it announc
ed that as a member of the Grand Army
of the Republic, being one of the young
est veterans of the army of the Cumber
land, and being also a member of the
Knights of Labor, with which order he
worked for eight years, he would be.
highly pleased to "greet and be greeted
by the comrades and brothers of both
organizations along the line of his fu
ture appointments, as given in this
paper. -' V ' . '
EST" When writing to advertisers be
sure to mention Tub Alliance.
DESTITUTION
In Western Nebraska An Ap
peal for Relief.
Nebraska State Farmers' Alliance,
Secretary's Office, Lincoln, Neb.,
Sept. 1, 1890.
On the 13th day of August Secretary
Thompson received the following' letter
and resolutions:
Indianola, Nfb., Aug. 10, 18!)6.
J. M. Thompson, Esq., Lincoln, Neb.:
Dear sir and Brother: Enclosed find a
resolution which 'explains itself. Will
you kindly lay this matter before our
At . . a
state executive, - requesting them to
secure free transportation for donated
supplies and soliciting agent as referred
to in resolution. Fraternally vours..
J. F. Black.
Indianola, Neb., Aug. 11, 18JK).
At the -last session of the Red Wellow
county Farmers' Alliance the following
esoiution was auoptem .
Whereas, The failure of crops in south
western Nebraska the present year
caused by drouth and hot winds is such
that the yield of grain is scarcely equal
to me seeu sown, ine potato-crop is a 1
ike failure, as are vegetables of all va
rieties. I he failure of crops has so re
duced this people financially that hun
dreds of them have left their homes in
search of subsistence while their families
eke out a miserable existence in their
drouth-desolated homes; and
whereas, these people have not the
means of securing subsistence through
the now approaching winter, nor seed
with which to plant the coming spring.
therefore be it r
therefore be it
Resolved, By Red Willow county Farm
ers' Alliance duly convened and as
sembled, that J. F. Black be made solicit
ing agent for southwestern Nebraska.
That he solicit fuel, corn, flour vege
tables salt, meat, clothing, groceries,
money, seed, etc., with free transporta
tions for all donations and supplies pur
chased with donated funds, and free
transportation for himself upon his
duties from this date.
; A. C. Blak, Secretary.
J. B. Pease, President.
In response to the above resolution
and request the chairman of the State
Alliance executive committee addressed
a letter to the general , managers of the
U. P., F & E. V., and B. &M. railroads.
setting forth the facts and asking for the
needed transportation.
Up to this date only one reply to these
letters has been received, viz.: from Geo.
W. Holdrege, general manager of the
B. & M. His letter is given below:
Omaha, Neb., Aug. 27. 1890.
Mr. J. Burrows, chairman State Farm
ers' Alliance executive committee. Lin
coln, Neb.:
Dear sir Your letter of Aug. 15 was
received at my office during my absence
and tneretore has not been promptly an
swered.
. i
war company, as you Know, nas in
the past responded in time of need to
requests for free "transportation for seed
and tor other articles.
Our rates have been so greatly reduced
in the past tw -ears that it is doubtful
whether we have at this time the ability
to help the western counties to the ex
tent that has been done at other times in
the past. We desire, however, to aid in
the direction you request in cases where
it is practicable to do so. If you will re
fer to us the various requests as they are
received, we will be glad to consider each
case upon its merits and give it prompt
attention. We can safely say that for
the present Ave will forward seed with
out charge to points where it is needed
trom points within the state.
Yours truly,
G. W. Holdrege,
General Manager
Since receiving that letter Secretary
Thompson hes received the following
communications from the committee of
which Bro. J. F. Black is chairman. The
letter to Superintendent Alexander was
written on the suggestion of Assistant
Manager Calvert, who said applications
for free transportation in that locality
would have to be referred to him. It is
published because it gives a statement of
the situation :
Indianola, Neb., Aug. 27, 1890.
J. M. Thompson. Lincoln, Neb.:
Dear sir and Bro. Inclosed find i
copy of our application for transports
tion. We hereby make application to
the Nebraska State Farmers' Alliance
for assistance in this hour of trial. The
land is wret with late rains. The call for
fall wheat and rye is everywhere heard
Fraternally submitted,
. j. F. Black,
J. M. Smith.
J. C. Blackstone,
H. H. Pickens,
A. L. En g art,
James Wright,
Wm.'Barbey,
John Whittaker,
T. D. White,
Committee.
Indianola, Neb., Aug. 27, 1890.
Alexander Campbell, McCtfok, .Neb.,
superintendent B. & M. :
Dear sir We the Alliance relief com
mittee for southwestern Nebraska re
spectfully represent that the lands of
western. Nebraska are moist and in the'
most fertile condition, and that they fliay
at once be returned to their former pro
ductive condition.
Therefore, we ask that you grant to
the hot wind sufferers of , southwestern
Nebraska free transportation for all do
nated seeds and articles of subsistence
until relieved by the raising of a crop,
and furthermore that you secure to them
the same courtesy over all lines of the
C, B. & Q, and its branches.
Respectfully.
J. . Black,
Manager and Secretary.
J. M. Smith,
J: C. Blackstone,
' " H. H. Pickens,
A. L. Engakt,
James Wright,
WM. BARBEli,
T. D. White,
John Whittaker,
Committee.
It will be seen that the need for relief
is urgent, especially for seed wheat and
rye. Rye sowed at once will, afford
great relief in the way of enabling the
people to keep a portion of their stock
longer than they otherwise would.. It
will also be seen that Mr. Holdrege of
fers to transport seed to the. needy dis
trict free. We have no -doubt this lib
erality, will be extended to other dona
tions. We therefore URGENTLY AP
PEAL to all who are more favored by
crops this year to contribute fall wheat
and rye, and other supplies, in aid of the
stricken region. Such contributions may
be forwarded by the B. & M. road to J.
F. Black, chairman relief committee,
Indianola.
This appeal is made to all, but we
especially ask our brothers'of the Alli
ance to respond at once. It is our
SATURDAY, SEPT. 6,
brothers in the west who are stricken
and in need; and it is especially our duty
as it should le our pleasure to respond
with quick relief.
The State Alliance will make a lilieral
appropriation' for the sufferers as soon
as the executive committee can be heard
from.
Contributions in money sent to this
office will be acknowledged in the paper
each week and forwarded ' to the com
mittee, or the3T can le sent direct to the
committee if preferred."
Supplies inust be shipped to J. F.
Black, Indianola, and all inquiries as to
relief addressed to him.
Committees will Ik designated at other
L points as soon as possible.
J. H. Powers,
President State Alliance.
J. M. Thompson, Secretary.
J. Burrows,
Chairman State Ex. Com.
THE GREAT UPRISING.
As no period in the history of the
United States has there been such an
uprising of the agricultural and wage
earning people of the country to assert
their rights and regain their, waxing
iberty of shaping the laws and affairs
of state and national government. A
apsed vigilance at the close of a terrible
war allowed clas legislators to frame
he laws controlling the financial affairs
of the country to such an extent that a
plutocracy of cruel, unfeeling million
aires have grown up and are attempt
ing to sieze the government and reduce
the soverign people to a state of vassal
age. The conspirators in the interest
of Wall street and the Rothchilds by in
genious finance and tariff laws, became
so ' bold and dangerous in their wicked
designs that the people have taken the
alarm. Party ties are severing and
snapping like spider webs in a cyclone.
The sons of revolutionary fathers have
woke to the danger menacing our free
institutions, and in a few months they
have allied together the grandest organ
ization of voters ever- beheld in anv
country. From the gulf to the moun
tains, over the fields of Kansas, Nebras
ka,, Iowa and Dakota the tread of the
marching hosts of independents are
moving against the ramparts of mono
poly, greed and plutoctacy. . "The gov
ernment of the people, by the people,
oa ior the people" must be upheld.
There must be a change and a bettering
of the condition of the wage-earner and
the producer, and that change can only
be gained by the victory of the indepen
dents. In the language of Douglass,
there are to day but two parties, "Pat
riots and traitors." The traitors long
held sway in legislative halls of state
and nation. Over forty plutocrats are
in the United States senate to day, and
no measure of relief to the people is al
lowed to pass that body only bv the
strongest pressure. But the swreep of
an avenging Nemesis is at hand and the
great Independent 'Alliance of the
American people in the northland and
southland, in the east and the west, will
listen no longer to the siren songs of
men that would be rulers instead of ex
ecutives.' We recognize no such rulers
but obey executives of the laws, and the
laws must in the future be in the inter
est of the people, for the people are the
government. The attempted seizure of
the government by plutocrats and plu
tocracy must be throtMed, shall be
throttled, by free American indepen
dents. .
THE AMAZING ECONOMY OF THE
G. O. P.
Last year the farmers of the western
part of Nebraska were burning ten cent
corn, while the roads were asking 20
cents per 100 to carry it to Chicago.
This year the farmers of the same sec
tion are giving away or killing their
livestocktokeep.it from starving, and
are appealing to their more fortunate
brothers in other' sections for donations
of food for their wives ami children. At
this juncture the railroads advance the
charges on 90 per cent of their business
15 to 20 per cent. This beautifully il
Uistrates the benevolence of the railroads.
But the grand old party, always 'mind
ful of the farmers, must have taken great
pains to save the money they pay in
taxes so as to enable them to stand the
exactions of roads. Let us see about it.
Here is the auditor's official report
OF THE EXPENSES OF THE LAST
LEGISLATURE.
We find the total appropriations for
two years were $2,386,328.88.
Taking; the population at 1,225,000,
this is one dollar and eighty cents per
capita. An average family of five pays
$4.50 as state tax merely for the running
of the stale each year.
ITEMS.
Legislative expenses two years ago
$190,000.
Let us see now where some of these
"legislative expenses" go to.
. The senate has thirty-eight members.
To serve these thirty-eight members it
had to have one hundred and eleven clerks.
It ought to be explained right here that
a large number of these clerks were
young ladies friends of the family you
know in some cases friends of the head
of the "family sometimes cousins and
aunts, though probably not often aunts.
Pay .of -38 members ...$10,Gi6 00
" 111 clerks . . 24,906 40
or nearly three times more to clerks
than members.
Here's Economy with a big E. Three
clerks and nearly a half of one more for
each senator. It should have been even
numbers. How could they allot those
halves of the lady clerks? Some of the
venerable senators might have had more
than their share. We have heard it in
timated that some of them obtained
clerkships for their wives. But that isn't
probable, circumstances considered.
Now let us look at the house. It has
100 members, and these found one hun
dred and sixty-five clerks necessary to
do their writing and stamp-licking.
Pay of members of the house, $32,
566.37. Clerks for same, $35,510.25, or
1890.
nearly $3,000 more to clerks than mem-1
bers.
The senate needed 12 pages to carry
papers for 33 members, and the house
needed 30 pages to carry for 100 mem
bers. There are some other very suggestive
items. The business of law-making
isn't such tame library business as an
houest old granger might suppose, lu
fact, it requires a good deal of riding
hack riding and other kinds of riding
and the members think the farmers
ought to pay their hack-hire while they
are in Lincoln. Isn't it a little strange
that the hack men don't remember to
give the legislators free passes, the
same as the railroads do? Gran En
sign received, April 6th, for hack-hire
of members, $226.25. . At regular city
fare this would be nine hundred and
five rides, or about seven rides for each
member, Well, perhaps the rides ot
.
the lady clerks were included.
These ievf items are enough for this
time. They go to show just how far the
tender regard of the g. o. p. for the tax
payers extends. They prove that the
whole political system of the state is
based on robbery and corruption. They
prove that the republican railroad tools,
when they get their hands in the peo
ple's pockets, grab for all they can.
On the principle of the Vanderbilt mot
to, "the people may. be d d," or
starve, for all they care. They are in
it for the boodle there is in it, and not
for patriotism, good government or any
other good motive.
Farmers, isn't it time there was a
change?
W will recur to this subject next
week. '
INDEPENDENT PEOPLE'S PICNICS
BOOMING.
At Odell. in the southwest Dart of
Gage county, the farmers held one of
the most successful meetings ever held
in Gan-fi eountv. From three to four
g. - -. -
thousand people were in attendance
From the farms and the city, early in
the morning, came delegation after
delegation. The Diller cornet baud,
the Lanham cornet band and the neigh
boring martial band furnished the mu
sic". The glee club of the Alliance ten
dared most excellent labor songs. The
farmers' baskets were filled with mate
rial for the inward man, and from first
to last of the exercises of the day it was
a constant round of feasting, physically
and mentallv. The candidates for
county offices occupied the forenoon
with speeches, developing the fact that
they are equal to the occasion, and were
in full sympathy with the necessities of
the people. After dinner W. F.Wright,
candidate for commissioner of public
lands and buildings, spoke upon the is
sues before the people for nearly two
hours, many times being obliged to wait
for the applause of the people to sub
side. The speaker carried his audience
with him from beginning to end. At
Cortland, in the north part of Gage
county, a most successful meeting was
held about 4 miles southwest of the city
Some mistake seemed to have been
made at this point in not giving proper
notice. But a most enthusiastic and
very large audience greeted the speak
ers. Mr. Voldo of California and Mr
Wright of Nemaha county were receiv
ed heartily, and each of the speakers
occupied nearly two hours. The en
thusiasm aroused by the speakers
at this meeting speaks with no uncer
tain sound as to the result of the vote
in the northern part of Gage county.
At Weeping Water, Cass county, last
Saturday, lion. John H. Powers, the
people's candidate for governor, was
greeted, by a large audience of the
representative men of that county. Mr.
Powers spoke for about one hour and a
half, and, as we learn from those in at
tendance, was 'again and again inter
rupted by the demonstrations of ap
proval from the audience. At the close
of Mr. Powers' remarks the chairman
introduced Mr. Wright, of Nemaha
county. Mr. Wright at once proceeded
to business, and without ceremony or
gloves arraigned the republican parly
of Nebraska as the boodle anarchists of
the state. State legislation for the last
twenty years was shown up in such a
manner that at the close of his remarks
he was beseiged by dozens inquiring
for information as to where the author
ity he produced could be procured.
Take it all in all the reports received
from all quarters of the state show the
largest crowds of people in attendance
at all our speakers' meetings ever
known in the state.
THE PAUPERS TO THE FORE.
The way the paupers are getting
there is simply amazing. Every time
the money organs refer to Mr. Richards'
slip about the pauper business they
make matters worse. Mr. Richards'
home organ intimates that there is some
doubt as to which is the pauper, the
maker or receiver of the mortgage, but
clinches its former statement by saying
"there are a good many of both kinds."
If the receiver of a mortgage is a
pauper, the giver must be doubly one.
The B. & M. Journal rushes to the de
fense of Richards, and assails Mc
Keighan and Kem on the ground of
their povetry alone. A good way to es
cape poverty is that adopted by the
editor, viz: grab a public teat and hang
on for dear life. But when the afore
said editor grabbed he was a pauper al
so. Now having filled up with monop
oly pap, the quality that made the pap
necessary to him is a disqualification
for others. The kind of mortgage is
what makes the difference. If the rail
roads and the party had a mortgage on
Kem and McKeighan the mortgage on
their farms would never once be
thought of. The mortgage the B. & M.
has on Editor Gere is of no consequence
whatever.
Betts & Weaver were closed on Mon
day. Farmers and laborers should re
member them as the only coal firm in
the city which thus showed their appre
ciation of Labor Day.
THE DUTY OF THE HOUR.
A Question of Home and Country.
There know being fought in Nebras-
.. ' . "' lit.! 1
ka the nercest political uame ever
known in the history of the state. Up
on its decision hangs something move
han the mere choice between two mas-
ters; but a choice, rather, as net ween
principle and party, right and wrong.
justice and injustice, liberty and slav
ery. It is a conflict between plutocra
cy on the one hand and the people on
he ether. Between millionaires ami
the masses. Between the mouejr bags
of the east and the corn and wheat and
beef and pork of 'the west. Between
the insatiable greed of organized wealth
the rights of the great plain people, as
vouchsafed by the constitution.
It is idle to educe proofs. The sim
ple fact that, despite a generation of
hard toil, the people are poor to-day,
mortgage-ridden and distressed, is suf
ficient evidence that the whole system
under which they have lived is a lie and
an imposture. They havo produced
but they possess not. They havo amas
sed wealth for other people to enjoy
while they themselves are almost with
out the necessaries of life. They have
builded palaces for the rich while they
themselves live in sod houses, and so
far from luxury, are denied even the
common comforts of life, which no one
on earth has a right to enjoy to the ex
clusion of him that-earned them.
The present cruelly unjust system.
therefore, is fast working the hopeless
pauperization and degradation of the
toiling masses. The great middle class,
including the farmer, is gradually be
ing undermined and destroyed. It has
been boastingly said that there will yet
be two classes in this country, the very
rich and the very poor; in other words,
the master and the servant. To this
end legislation, both state and national,
has directly tended, consciously or un
consciously, since 1861. And in keeping
herewith, whereas the farmers owned
nearly three-foiuths of the aggregate
wealth of the whole country in 1850.
they barely own one-fourth of it in 1H1K).
Quite as alarming, our liberties are
of course being destroyed with equal
celerity. Said Daniel Webster, "Lib
erty cannot long endure in any country
where the tendency of legislation is to
concentrate wealth in the hands of
the few." At the present time twenty
five billions of dollars, or just half of
the entire wealth of the nation, are in
the hands of twenty-five thousand aris
tocrats, while three-fifths of the whole
wealth is cornered by thirty thousand
persons out of a total population of
sixty-five millions! Comment is un
necessary. Too plain is it to the patri
otic vision that our country is fast going
the way of Egypt, of Greece, of Rome,
that is, to the certain death that awaits
all nations alike when the wealjh of all
falls into the hands of the grasping few.
Then is liberty at an end, and then, a
in all the despotisms of the past, a na
tion of brow-beaten slaves will produce
wealth for a handful of soulless tyrants
to possess and enjoy.
The impending struggle, then, not
only involves the safety of our homes
but the cause of liberty an well; the
preservation ot our free institutions.
the very existence of our bclovqd coun
try. Confronted by such dangers, and
with such a stake hanging in the bal
ance, what is the duty of the present
hour? It is, first and foremost, to fol
low after the. example of corporate
wealth, and in self-defense, organize,
organize, organize. It is, plainly, to
seek after every strength and avoid
every weakness. It is to keep our eye
unwaveringly set on the main issue, the
rights and liberties of the people as
against the arrogant encroachments of
the money power. It is to firmly and
persistent ly demand a just and adequate
solution of the problems of money,
land and transportation, that industry
may bo fostered and all labor fully re
warded. It is to cheek by every lawful
means the future concentration of
wealth, and to destroy forever the in
iquitous domination of railroad and
other corporate power in the politics of
our state and nation.
In the fulfillment of this duty there is
the supreme duty of unity, of harmony.
In an emergency so dire, trouble so
great, none but traitors to themselves,
their families and their country will
make division or contribute to discord.
Hold fast to the main issue. Bury per
sonal prejudices and minor differences.
If the independent convention did not
give every one his first choice remem
ber that it was a representative body
wherein all are supposed to cheerfully
accept the decisions of the majority.
Remember that the candidates it offers
are chosen from the ranks of the jeo
ple, that they are honest, tried and true
men, and are pledged to serve the
wnole people alike. That in support
ing them with our ballots we aresui
porting the cause of commou justice,
and maintaining that glorious principle
of our national constitution that tl'
mass of the citizens are the safest de
pository of their own rights.
LOOK OUT FOR NON-PARTISAN
LEAGUE MEN.
Under the guise of the republican non partisan
league the railroad party is
sending out its cappers to poison the
minds of the people under fale pre
tences. The pretence is to preach pro
hibition; and under cover of this pre
tence the rankest monopoly doctrine is
being preached. We especially warn
our readers against giving one Rankin
any audiences. Pretending to be a pro
hibition advocate he preaches the rank
est plutocracy. And he turns traitor to
the prohibition eaxise by asserting that
there is only two tickets to choose from
in Nebraska this year the democratic
and republican. We do not believe the
prohibitionists are responsible for putting
such men in the field.
Again, pass the word along the line
give no audiences to our enemies.