JIjc larmcro' Alliance,
- THE KEBRASKA INDEFEHDENT
anouuin.
'."." PCBUSHK) ETEKT THCB8DAT BT
Tex Aliiavcs Ptbushixo Co.
Car. UU Md M Bt, Linooia, Neb.
AHru.rm. 1. M Tiown, SY
M. luL Tiiiuhii, V P J. F. Mimw. Trtra.
C. II. Plana.
S. Kdwto Tbomtox,....
Cua.B.FmiJ,
Managing Kflilor-
"In the beauty of the liUies
Christ was born acrou the sea,
- With a glory in hii bosom
That transfigures yon and me.
As he strove to make men holy
Let as strive to make them free.
Since God is marching on."
Julia Ward Boat.
"Laurel crowns cleave to deserts,
'. ", And jwwer to him who power exerts.1
A rnddy drop of manly blood
Tie surging sea outweighs."
Emerson.
"He who cannot reason is a fool.
Be who will not reason is a coward.
He who dare not reason is a slave "
N. R. P. A.
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
Addraa all business enmmanlcattoiis to
in U.i Kllaklno, fn.
Addr matter tor publication to Bdltor
Fanners' Alliance. . ,
Axtlclea wrlttii oa both sidea of the paper
eaanot b QKea. very ion wn"u"'-i
aaarulu cannot be uaea.
Do you want to attend the
ftatioual convention at Omaha, July 4th
- without expenses? - Here' your cbtnce.
" - To the person sending us the largest
list of subscribers at dub fates between
April 20th and June 25th. the Alliance
Publishing Co. will pay all necessary
expenses to the convention at Omaha
July 4th, including hotel expenses.
To the person sending the second
i largest list we will pay all traveling
expenses to the convention, i ! ,
These offers apply to any person liv
ing in Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas,
Iowa or Missouri. Two subscribers for
six months count one. All lists sent
nder this offer should be .marked
"For special prise."
Ocr nomination column will be re
sumed next week. I 1
Secretary Tittle would like to nave
all delegates to the state convention to
be held at Lincoln, June 30, to send their
credentials to him as early as possible.
This is Important. .
Some time ago J. Sterling Morton,
the "Sage of Arbor Lodge," came out
in the World-Herald with an article on
the silver question written in his custo
mary Pm-golng-to-settle-it style. The
silver question Isn't settled yet, but
from all appearances J. Sterling's
reputation as a logical reasoner will be
settled away down below par before
the silver men get through with him.
Thb Populist says the tirst boycott
was inaugurated by the banker's assoc
iation and cites, the Buell circular In
which It was recommended to the bank
ers of the country that "you withhold
patronage from all applicants who are
not willing to oppose the government
Issue of money." Acting on this sug
gestion a bank at Crawford, Neb., not
long ago ordered its advertisement out
of an independent paper published at
that place because the edl or persisted
in advocating the people's cause.
TmtWahoo Wasp figures out (most
probably the figuring was acme by some
plutocratic editorial bureau) that if the
thirty finance reform bills introouced
Into congress by the Alliance members
were passed, we wou'd have 350 per
capita of money In circulation. The
Wasp doesnt need to lose any sleep over
the dire calamities that would follow
such a catastrophe. There is no danger
that any of these bills will ever get out
of the committee rooms of the present
congress, The tools of Wall street don't
wait to o on record on such meas
ures. They don't intend that any of
these bills shall be even discussed in
this congress.
Col. Wm. A. Phillips of Salina Kan
sas, a stalwart republican, and ex-con
gressman has created nil immense sen
nation by coming out for the people's
party. Ho has written a book entitled
Land, Labor and Law" which treats
on tho vital issues of the day. He pro
poses to have It published by the Peo
pie's Publishing Company of St. Loute,
of which Morgan; Peffer, Simpson, and
others ate members. The book is pro
nounced by reformers who have exam
ined it an able exposition of our princi
ples. This Is the second republican
ex-congressman . that has come out for
the people in Kansas within a few
month, the first being ex congressman
Kelley. Verily the. "Alliance is dying
out" in our sister state. "
THE OMAHA CONVENTION.
I am receiving numerous letters of in
quiry about securing tickets to the
Omaha convention on tne 4th of July.
Would say to all who have the matter
in mind that we want you all to go to
Omaha, but don't expect too much In
the way of admission tickets. The
state committee ' will have none at its
disposal, as far as I know. , The tickets
will all be under the control of the
national committee. This action was
taken at Omaha at the late meeting of
the national executive committee. But
let no one that contemplates going to
the convention stay away on this ac
count There will be enough to be seen
and heard to pay any Nebraska Inde
pendent to be there whether he gets
into the convention or not, if he don't
get within a mile of the convention
building. 1 will do all I can however
to accommodate our people. "
J. V. Wolfe,
Chairman State Com.
T
8TASD TOGETHER
t
Wise men can always learn from
their enemies The wise men ol the
people's party can learn a valuable
lesson from the following paragraph
clipped faom the Kearney Hub, a re
publican piper:
The necessities af the republican
situation require an abeyance of pergon
al ambitions, the harmonising of U ele
ments, the selection of tie cleanest and
most capable men bv th-s cleanest and
most open methods, and with it all
an honest and candid deliberation
among republicans with an eye single to
party success and the public good.
No man who cirries a "knife" into
the coming campaign to gratify person
al maiice or to gslu a factional revenge
la a aouars republican or a irood citizen.
And no republican who is a tire-brand
in the party should be considered a
member in good standing who fores
his way to the front at tbe cost ot re
publican harmony.
If the above paragraphs were amend
ed by striking out the word "republi
can" and Inserting the word "Jndepend
ent" wouldn't they make excellent read
tng for the members of the new tarty?
Think for a moment of the objects for
which we are contending as compared
with tbe objects republicans are fighting
for. We are lighting for principles,
they for offices; we are striving to bet
ter tbe condition of the masses, they to
secure mere party success. We are en
gaged in a grand movement for redress
of grievances, for better laws, juster
conditions, for the advancement of the
human race to a higher plane; tbey are
trvlncr to perpetuate a system that is
destroying prosperity and degrading
humanity. It then it is important for
republicans to harmonize and bury
personal ambitions and desire for
factional revenge, how much more im
portant for us.
What kind of an independent is he
who says: "If this or that man is nom
inated, count me out?" Can men work
together in harmony to accomplish
great purposes when one sets up his
judgment as superior to that of the
majority?
Most men will of course have their
preferred candidates, but every mem
ber of the party should hold himself
ready to support with all his might the
preferred candidate of the majority:
But," says some one, "this very policy
of supporting thi ticket no matter who
may be on it Is just what baa ruined the
old parties," Not at all. No party wa
ever ruined in that way. The old par
ties have been ruined by tbe neglect of
the people to attend primaries and con
ventions, siake platforms and put up
good tickets. And if the new party Is
ruined, it will be In precisely the same
way. The very fundamental truth on
which our government rests Is that the
people can be trusted to govern. If this
principle is sound, then it applies
equally to a political party, provided
always that the members of the party
art. If a majority of them neglect their
daty, the control of the party may fall
into the hands of a minority of selfish
men and become an engine for the ac
complishment of evil. The first and
and most important duty of every in
dependent is to attend the primaries
and voice bis sentiments.
If the full and freely expressed voice
of tne people is heard in the nominating
convention, then loyal members can
have no excuse for refusing to heartily
support the ticket.
By standing together In 1890 the Inde
pendents of Nebraska accomplished
wonders. In 18U2 they can accomplish
nothing unless they stand together.
NEBEASKA MORTGAGES
If the census reports of Nebraska
mortgages published last week were
startling, the current reports of mort
gage statistics gathered from month to
month under the operation of the law
passed by the last legislature are still
more startling.
Labor Commissioner Andres reports
the mortgages tiled and released during
April throughout the state as follows:
Amount of farm mortgages fl'.ed.t 2.031,890
Amount released l,W".3u
1 noraaae 1 a rai-m mortgages 75 OS!
Amount of rbntiel mortgages
Hied i l.Blrt.873.08
Amount released 1,497.903 1
Increase In chattel mortgages..., 418,B70,ST
This report does not Include chattel
mortgages in the counties of Gage and
Lancaster where the law is for some
reason being Ignored. In these counties
there is a very large amount of chattel
mortgages which would largely in
crease tho aggregate for the state.
It should be borne in mind at all
times that tho aggregrato of mortgages
released includes all that are satisfied
by sheriffs sales, and security relin
quished in payment of the dobt without
the formality of a sheriff's sale.
inn iiKe.au mortgage statistics wo
have published f hows hew much more
rapidly chattel mortgages are Increas
ing than those on real estate. - And this
indicates a stale of affairs that Is truly
alarming Chattel loans are invariably
made at high rates of interest, usually
from one to three per cent a month.
The rapid increase in this class of loans
shows that in many cases men have ex
hausted the real estate security and are
borrowing on their chattels to pay in
terest on thuir real estate mortgages.
It also Indicates that there is a vast
number of borrowers that have no real
estate to mortgage.
BUFFALO COUNTY MORTGAGES.
Several weeks ago in the columns of
the Independent we called attention to a
statement which the Kearney Hub was
carrying at the head of its editorial
page showing that tho mortgage debt
of that county had decreased nearly
8200,000 within a few months. We
sta ed our belief that the statement was
trade up to deceive, that the figoces did
not represent the real state of affairs in
Buffalo county, and challenged the Hub
to show the contrary. Shortly after this
the Hub took in its "sign of prosperty"
without any explanation. The Kearney
Standard has been investigating the
matter and has brought to light some
very interesting details. Last week's
Standard contains the following:
For the eleven months ending May 1,
1892, the farm mortgages filed aggre
gated 1387.635 10 and farm mortgages j
released '-O.WV.W leaving a balance in
favor of plenty of money of I16J,13,90
if the record ol ming ana releasing was
not explained. Tnit summary includes
sheriff sales. Besides it includes a re-
lea.se of a mortgage for I'M 040 on fcast
Law n which has been released twice for
total consideration of t00. It should
be borne in mind that this 1 a blanket
mortgage and when one lot or parcel is
released it released the whole n-ortgaga
so far as that lot or parcel is concerned
and the release on the record kept
shows a release of the entire ta?e of the
mortgage- Now, here is a mortgage re
leased twice aggregating ms.wi ior
consideration of 860. Deducting tbe
actual amount WHO., released from the
1112,01)3 and there is left in favor of
truth 1111,323. wnich deducted from the
balance of 162,151.80 leaves a balance
against the calamity howlers argument
of VA.m 00.
It n& an on. T. ere Is a mortgage
on Kenwood addition to Kearney of
01,113. On the payment of only 125
this mortgage has likewise been releas
ed twice. Now calculate a above and
the balance changes in favor of more
money 171.130 20.
For a nominal consideration the Ne
hrajtka cattle company wlich has a
mortffairo on a large bod v of land which
it owns had 9100,0(10 refused on a small
part. This gives the advocates ni more
monoyagrand total 1172,130,20 more
mortgages tiled than released. So that
our farmers are that much more in dobt
now on furm mortgages than eleven
months ago. Besides there will be 208
releases shortly as there are that many
forclosures pending in the district court
of this county. If the reco'ds could be
searched and the truth told this amount
would swell to a quarter of a million
dollars. These are facts.
Now turn to the chattel mortgage
record. Kverv one knows how this
class of indebtedness begets prosperty.
For the eleven months ending May 1st,
18U2. there was tiled 8772 chattel mort
gages aggregated tU17,800,ll, and 2337
releases were tiled aggregating 1334,002
leaving a clear gain of indebtedness of
$587,305 80. Town mortgages riled
during that period 1357,001.22; releases
Bled 233.861.71. Balance ol aeDt in
curred t71.219.51.
The record shows Buffalo county bas
increased its indebtedness during tbe
past eleven months 1830,001. These
figures do not represent indebtedness
on land contracts, personal notes ana
bill of sale.
I830.CU1.07 in eleven months nearly
980,000 per month; $30.11 per capita.
'Bah ForTheBaces.
The men elected by the people to leg
islate for tbe protection and advance
ment of the human race are showing a
deei) interest in every other kind of a
race as the following from the Chicago
Express will sh w;
Only a few weeks ago the Legislature
. 1 1 .i , i i .A -.:.: ..
or vnio aujourneu iu uiuui iu ibh b
base ball game. Congress has frequently
been without a quorum because its
members were attending the races. The
practice makes the Aew lore Horia "io
hot" that it double-leads tne roiiowing
comment:
'For dai s in succession, with a ma
jority of 150, they permuted tneir quo
rum to be be broken by a norse race.
As though the faithlessness of inatten
tion to duty were not bad enough, they
re-assembled in force only to enter upon
a carnival of extravagance.".
"A CALL TO ACTION."
We have not had time to read
through General Weaver's new book,
'A Call to Action," nor to give it any
thing like a critical analysis. But we
have examined it sufficiently to feel
safe lr. saying it is one of the greatest
political works of the age. It is replete
with reliable information. It treats on
all the leading reform issues. It is
written in a clear, dignified, foiceful
style that makes a powerful impression
on the mind of the reader. The book
will be a great factor in the coming
campaign. Thousands of copies should
bo put In circulation among the people.
It Is prinUd on tine t.,iper, strongly and
handsomely bound and soils for $1.50.
Copies can be procured at this office,
The Omaha weekly Republkau last
week contained a very interesting
article on "Railway Methods," of which
the following is the substance: There
is a man named Voullaire in prison in
New York City on a charge of forgery
who possesses a large amount of docu
mentary evidence criminating nearly
all the principal railroad corporations
as violatiog the inter-state commerce
law. Several prominent railway men
have visited him in his cell and offered
to secure his release if he will give up
these papers. This he reluses to do
and declares that hi is not guilty of
forgory, but is imprisoned because he
knows too much. He has revealed
enough to show that he actually does
possess tho evidence. His disclosures
have created somewhat of a sensation
in railroad circles. The moral the
Republican draws from these facts is
that the interstate commerce law U not
effestive and can never be made so, and
that government ownership Is tbe only
true solution of the railroad problem.
To all of which we say, "Amen."
The people's party cranks seem to be
no respectors of persons. For instance,
there's John Davis of Kansas, one of
the "Alliance nine." He actually had
the temerity not long since to writo
"an open letter" to Secretary Foster of
the U. S. treasury. What is still worsa
he showed that Mr. Foster is either too
ignorant to fill such a high position, or
that he has deliberately falsified the
financial history of this country since
the war. Mr. Foster has tried to prove
that there is mere money per capita
now than ever before in this country.
Mr. Davis proves this to be false from
the reports of Mr, Foster's illustrious
predecessors. He shows by the report
of ex-Secretary McCullougb that we
had over (50 per capita of leg.il tender
money In circulation in I860. Mr.
Davis should not be too hard on
"Calico Charley." He was put in that
office to serve the plutocrats and bo is
doing the best he can for a man of his
small caliber.
Tbe indepeudents of Saline county
have a new organ,. the Farmer Patriot
puollshed at Crete, edited by Byron
Pendarvls. It has the true ring.
As we go to press large crowds are
coming in from all parts of the slate to
take part ia the silver celebration.
KEEP CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE
There Is no more important principle
advocated by the members of the new
party than that of keeping close to the
people. A representative government
is bassed on the delegation ot power.
One Is chosen by a number of citizens.
and empowered to act and speak for
them ia the making of laws. Political
parties in this country are built on the
same plan. I he whole meutoersnip
of the party act only in the primary
election. From their number men are
selected to act and speak for them in
the county convention, and from this
body in turn men are chosen to act in
district and state conventions which in
their turn choose delegates to represent
the people in the national convention.
At the best a certain amount of dan
ger lies in these successive steps in the
delegation of power. But tbe greater
danger lies closest to the people, i e , in
the primary. If the people do not do
thf ir duty in the primary election every
convention following is simply a farce.
For this reason both the old party state
conventions lately held in Nebraska
were farces. They did not voice the
real sentiments of the rink and file of
the respective parties as expressed in
well attended primaries. Such primar
ies are unknown in the old parties in
this state to-day.
Keeping close to the people requires
not only that primaries should ba well
attended but that the members should
act wisely in selecting their delegates.
Only men who are in full sympathy
with their Ideas, and whose interests
are the same as theirs, should be
chosen.
A further matter of great importance
is that state and county conventions
and primaries should be held as close
together at possible. It is not right, nor
is it safe that a set of delegates should
be subjected to the electioneering of
office, seekers for one, two, or three
months. Besides if a delegation is
chosen to attend a state convention to
be held two or three months later, the
political situation may change mater
ially during that time, and the opinions
of voters on matters of importance may
be changed. It is undoubtedly the true
policy for the party to keep the conven
tion'i close to the primary iu time as
well as in other respects.
There is danger too that the new
party may fall into an evil custom of
the old parties, i. that of repeatedly
choosing the same persons to represent
them in conventions. It Is by this
means that rings are creatad. The
honors and burdens should be passed
around. One of the best methods of
avoiding this Is the disfcict method of
choosing delegates. For Instance: at
the Holdrege convention a few days
ago, four delegates were to be chosen to
attend the national convention at
Omaha. Instead of having them chosen
at large from- the district the conven
tion divided the district into four sub
districts, each of which chose one dele
gate. Thus was all "log-rolling" and
combining effectually prevented. A
similar plan is frequently employed In
county conventions.
Another danger arises in some cases
where to conventions are held at the
same time and place, as for instance the
state convention at Kearney Aug, 3rd,
and the congressional convention of
the Sixth district to be held at the same
time and place. If the samo delegates
should be empowered to act In both
conventions, an excellent opportunity
is created for "log rolling" between the
friends of candidates in the two conven
tians. The independents of that dis
trict will do well to bear that in mind
and choose separate delegations to
attend tho two conventions at Kearney
August 3rd.
The people should be on the alert to
foresee and avoid possible dangers.
"Eternal vigilance is the price of
liberty." Keep close to the people.
"IT IS ALL EIGHT-"
The above words headed an article
on the "business and financial situation"
in the Evening Call a few days ago. The
article discussed Henry Clews and Co.'s
report in which this most significant
sentence cc urs: "The general tenden
cy ot prices i9 downward." If tht editor
of the Call had ever carefully studied
the effect of falling prices, aud had ex
pressed the results of his study, ho
would have said: "It is all wrong."
There is nothing that has such a
depressing and stagnating effecl on
business as a long-continued decline in
prices. Any one whj ihas studied
Bradstreets' or Dunn's or Henry Clews'
reports knows that this downward ten
dency of prices has been long continu
ed. In fact with a few variations it ex
tends back to tho close of the civil war.
It has simply been tho effect of moneys
contraction which has resulted from the
retirement of the greenbacks, and the
demonetization of silver. This contrac
tion was wrought by the republican
party acting at tho dictation of the
money power of Europe and America.
And what are the effects of falling
prices? Here are a few of them:
All clases of merchants are compelled
to sell continually on a cheaper market
than that on which they bought. Every
business man knows, that under such
conditions his profits must suffer in
proportion to the fall in t rices. This
has been the chief cause of the alarming
increase In business failures.
Falling prices cause men who have
capital to avoid investments and teek
loans. No man wants to reinvest
money in property with as almost cer
tain prospect that next year it will bo
worth less than it Is now. No man
wants to put his money into factories or
other enterprises under such conditions.
This is the principal reason why capi
talists demand subsidies and bounties,
before they will consent to invest capital
in productive enterprises. On tho other
hand capital continually seeks invest
ments in bonds and mortgages. Those
evidences of indebtedness have their
value written on their face, and hence
do cot decline in price as actual proper
ty does. Oa the contrary every decline
in the general range of prices increases
the value of the bonds and mortgages.
They call for dollars and falling prices
means dearer dollars.
Thus falling prices not only discour
age enterpri e, but make the debt bur
dens of the people heavier. The scanty
incomes of those who labor on the
farms Jand in the shops :ire depleted
more and more to pay interest on debts,
and the toilers have less and less with
which to buy the necessaries and com
forts of life. Thus consumption is
checked, and in its turn production i
discouraged.
Long-continued falling of prices is
one of the most awful calamities that
can afflict a nation. It crushes pros
perity, morality, hope and indepen
dence among the masses. No nation
can long survive under its blighting
effects.
Col. L. L. Polk.
The following le.ter from Paul Van
dervoort containing extracts from Col.
Polk's letters to him will certainly prove
a source cf inspiration to our readers:
Omaua. May 17. 1892.
Editor Alliancb-Inukplsde.nt:
Eoclosed lied extracts from letters
from Col. Polk. Please give a promi
nent place. 1 have revcral letters from
him and I wish they could bo printed. I
never read such It iters. He is a second
John the Baptist. Hs grand words are
on fire with the loyalty enthusiasm and
devoted love of country. Any "Blue
coal" can gladly clasp hands with him.
Tbe movement he leads means the com
plete burial of bitterness and hate, and
in the spirit indicated by Abraham
Lincoln, " With malice towards none
and charity for all," a complete bi nd of
union between "Blue and Gray," citi
zens and soldiers, under the stats and
stripes blest by the hope that our chil
dren will love each other as their fathers
did in the struggle for freedom and in
dependence. May God bless him and
spare his lite to see the full fruition of
his devoted labors.
Paul Van Dkrvoort.
"In this great movement all Is lost
unless we can thoroughly unify and
fraternize its advocates from all sec
tions of the country. Great national
evils, inflicted through national legisla
tion can never be corrected by section
al effort or sectional remedy.-'
"As one who felt it his duty to his
state to lift his arm against the govern
ment and the union, I desire above all
things to make and leave a record for
myself and comrades as marked in its
devotion and loyalty to a reunited gov
ernment, as the record I shalll leave
for bravery and dauntless courage. I
feel, my brother, that tho brave, true
men on both sides, who in tho provi
dence of God are spared to stand a
quarter of a century from thoss scenes
and review the past, cannot afford to
go down to their graves wi'.hout show
ing to the world and to our children
that we are brave enough to forgive and
forget the past, and patriotic eiough to
make one manly effort to transmit to
posterity the inestimable legacy of one
Hag, one country, one government and
one destiny. I know these sentiments
are but the echo of those entertained by
the great body of the ex-confederate
ssldiers. Poor old fellows, they would
gladly attest the truth of this state
ment by coming in columus of thous
ands to Omaha to meet tne brave men
of t he north, but alas the great masses
of them are too poor. Many of them
have not the money to buy bread and
clothes for their children. They may
not meet you at Omaha my brother but
they will meet you at the ballo'. box in
November Y'ou may tell the boys of
Nebraska that the west must look to its
laurels or the south will lead the col
umn for th- people's party. The south
is on fire from the Potomac to tke Rio
Grande.
Tommy Benton.
According to testimony given in the
suit of Richardson against Doty in Lin
coln a few days since, Mr. Richardson
who is ostensibly a railroad contractor,
has for silent and secret partner the
Hon. Thomas H. Benton, auditor of
public accounts, and member of the
state railroad commission.
This revelation throws a 11 lod of
light on the proceedings of the state
board of transportation. It we were a
railroad we would be delighted to let
fat contracts to a member of the board
which has the power to regulate rail
road rates.
Benton is a genius. He is a Napoleon
of politics profitable politics. Visit
Lincoln and you will be shown in archi
tectural form the evidence of his great
succoss in profitable politics. Once up
on a time and that not long back, Ben
ton lived in a modest little cottage, very
modest and very little. As politics
prospered something happened. A
fine and costly "residence'' we bad
almost written "mnnsion," grew up
next to the cottage. Benton built it
and moved into it. Now he stands in
his spacious bed room and gazes out of
his second story window upon the roof
of the little cottage, reflecting upon
railroad rates that do not come down.
although the railroads may. World
Herald. Si'EAKiNO of the adoption of the single
gold standard and tbe complete demon
etization of silver which is advocate d
by a writer in the Century for May. The
Cincinnati knquirtr says:
We concede without argument that if
silver money Is dishonored, and gold is
made the ouly legal tender that bond
holders, mortgage holders, depositors in
savings banks, salaried officers, persons
living upon fixed moneys, and the cred
itor class generally will be profited;
provided, always, that the margin of the
security is large enough to stand the
contraction in its commercial value. Of
course the holder of United States bonds
and salaried officers are all secure, bo
cause the government can dispose of
bonds to replenish its exhausted stock
of gold. What will tho condition of the
farmer be, whoso home is under niort
grge and who hopes to remove the in
cumbrance by the sale of his surplus
crops? If half of the circulating medium
is withdrawn the surplus crops will
bring onlv half the price, practically
doubling his debt for the solo benefit of
the holder of the mortgage.
The Call speaks of Edward Rosewater
as a "political thug." He seems to be
running the republican machine just
the same.
Talks About Nebraska and Appeals for
Recognition of ber Bights
And Seeds.
Extracts From a Speech Delivered in the
National House of Represen
tatives, May to.
On May 10, 1892, the sundry civil ap
propriation bill being op for discussion,
Congressman Kem of Nebraska secured
the floor for a few minutes to discuss
the bill. Speaking of appropriations in
general, he said:
Mr. Chairman, in the consideration of
an appropriation it is proper to deter
mine but three questions: First, is it
necessary? Second, can we afford it
when considered in connection with all
the other bills that go to make up the
grand total and our ability to pay?
Third, are the different appropriations
so' distributed over the country as to
meet impartially the requirements of
the people? Wneu these questions are
properly determined, there are no ex
travagant appropriations, nor people
complaining of burdensome taxes.
Of recent years these three questions,
seemingly, have been ignored, and the
only question asked was, "How much
do you want?" and when anyone dared
enter protest against the amount desig
nated, be was at once branded as a
cheese paring Pecksniflian reformer,
worthy only of contempt. Time and
again have I heard the point urged on
the iloor of this House in favor of an
appropriation, that it was small and
ought to meet with no objection.
Particularly was this true of the appro
priation asked for the Russian sufferers
and when it was refused a great cry
went up from a certain class of news
papers and we were accused of the sin
of refusing to donate to suffering
humanity the paltry sum of 100,00(1.
Let me remind these gentlemen that
it was the appropriation of these paltry
sums of ten, fifty, and one hundred
thousand dollars, here and there, gath
ered together, that brought the last
congress up to the billion dollar point,
and the wrath of the people down upon
those responsible.
The argument favoring an appropria
tion because it is nmall is not the argu
ment of a statesman, neither is it
worthy the consideration of such, other
man with feeling of the greatest con
tempt. The legislators are the disbur
ses of the people's wealth, and by a
yea or a nay vote may take from the
pockets of one class and place in the
pockets ot another millions of dollars;
hence the greatest care should be ex
ercised in distributing these appropria
tions, so that each part of the country
will receive its just proportion of that
which tho whole people must supply,
and it is just as wrong to appropriate
one dollar more than enough to defray
the just expenses of the government,
and meet the requirements of the peo
ple based on their ability to pay, as
it is to appropriate many thousands
more.
Near the close of his speech Mr. Kem
made the following remarks concerning
his own state:
This question of the distribution of
appropriations among the people in
proportion to their requirements is per
haps as diffcult of adjustment, if not
more so, than any other feature of the
problem, and I am on my feet at this
time not to ask for an increase of the
amount this bill carries, but to protest
against the manner in which the
amount is to be distributed, believing it
unjust to a portion of my constituents.
On page 4G, lines 14, 15, 1C, and 17,
the bill provides 1240,000 f or topograhp
ic surveys in various parts of the
country, one-half of which shall be used
west of the one-hundredth meridian.
These surveys have been conducted
for yaars and millions of dollars ex
pended in the work, but not one dollar
of this has been used in tho state of
Nebraska. We believe it is time she re
ceived her just dues in this matter, and
in their proper order two amendments
will be offered, one of which sets apart
$60,000 of the aboye sum for the pros
ecution of the work in a part of this
territory which has been largely
neglected in the past, and embracing,
as we believe, the future garden spot of
the United States a territory contain
ing millions of acres of as productive
soil as the sun shines on, and with suf
ficient moisture, capable of sustaining a
population as dense as any part of the
globe.
Over this territory are scattered to
day hundreds of thousands of as good
citizens as you will find anywhere; men
and women advanced in years, who
know by experience the cost of citizen
ship when blood was the price paid;
men and women of middle age, who
are earnestly endeavoring to repair in
some little degree their impaired for
tunes, and establish a home they can
call their own, where their declining
years may be passed in peace, free
from the demands of the landlord or
tent-gatherer; young men and women
full of hope, courage, and energy,
striking sturdy blows to subdue the
virgin soil and prepare the way for
coming generations. Those comprise
the citizens in whose interests these
amendments will be ottered, that we
hope may result in the work being done
that w ill be followed by the establish
ment of a system of irrigation which in
time will give to the people a supply of
water, under their own control, free
from the manipulations of corporation
and trust. The other amondment seeks
to change line 7, same page, by insert
ing tne worus --suoreiTanean waters -
alter the wora -ana.
The appropriation we ask f or is pre
liminary to, and affects a problem upon
the proper solution of which hangs tho
prosperity and welfare not only of
thousands of our own generation but
millions of those to follow.
The water necessary to irrigation,
like every other necessity of the people,
is fast passing under the control of cor
porations, and if not checked in a short
time the water supply of the west wi 1
be completely in the hands of a few in
dividuals and the millions will be at
their mercy, for he who controls that
supply is monarch of all he surveys,
and the people will be compelled to pay
him whatsoever avarice and greed may
dictate.
A few days ago I referred to the
proper committee a petition ajking for
some relief along this line, and signed
byseventeen hundred of these sturdy
pioneers who. exercised the right givan
them by the constitution to ask, not ior
charity, bui for a part of that which is
justly die tbeni, and that their own
may 'be returned. These people took
possession of that land under the home
stead, preemption, and timber culture
laws in good faith, believing the rain
fall sufficient for the purposes of agri
culture; but after paying millions into
the government treasury, and wasting
their substance in a vain endeavor to
grow crops without rain, hoping
against hope that each succeeding year
would prove better than the last, they
now realize their mistake, and their
only hope is in their ability to furnish
that moisture which nature at intervals
and for long periods refuses to give. ,
Mr. Chairman, if we were to ask for
all that these people are justly enlit.
to, we would ask that every dollar paid
to the gavernme-it for these lands, over
and above the filing fee, should be ap
plied to tbe establishment of an irrigat
ing system that would place them on an
equality with the lands lying in the rain
SteaJ lawa. anrf nntil this ta rinnj tho
principle of that law will not be fulfill-
cu, iub lmeat or wnicn .was to give
uuujca io me oomeiess. But in inis
Case it not nnlv hllilnnmnnltln
spirit of the law, but enables loan com-
g 1 Possession of large tracts
tf land, upon which small loans have
been made to the settler who was com
pelled to borrow because of failure of
crops, and in the end he not only loses
u. u.-uic, uui wnar uttle property be
was possessed of at the time of
settlement
The K50.0C0 asked for is the scount
necessary to do the work, as estimated
by Col. Powell, who has had charge of
the work for years and therefore com
petent tu judge.
Inasmuoh a this ,1 faa tint i n nA
lawn lUtl COM)
the appropriations a dollar, and only
KC " cnange ine location of a small
portion in the bill, I hope this eminent
ly just and proper request may be
granted.
The Omaha Tocsin is a bright, bold.
well edited paper, and ought to have a
liberal support.
Some Becent Additions to our Book List.
A CALL TO ACTrON
By Gen, Jas. B. Weaver, cloth and irnld
91.50. This is one of the best reform
books published, from the pen of an
authority whose legislative experience
and thorough knowledge of machine
methods in piitios gives him undoubted
authority on tbe subjects treated of in
the various chapter;?. We predict for it
a large sale.
a membee of the third house.
By Hamlin Garland, paper 50 cents. In
this, Mr. Garland's latest work, he pre
sents a swift, powerful story of Ameri
can legislation and the lobby. Differing
entirely in theme and treatment from
anything he has hitherto published.
The story has all his strength and
originality and it will live as a truthful
study of a peculiar phase of our civiliza
tion. It cannot be too widely circulat
ed and is a powerful arraignment of the
corrupt influence of the ' third house"
in legislation.
congressman swaxsox.
By C. C. Post, paper 50 cents. Col.
Post, author of "From Sea to Sea," has
in his new book portrayed in a vivid
manner the perils that surround the
politician, and the book will take rank
with "Sea to Sea" as one of the be3t of
recent contributions to reform
literature.
Any of the books sent postpaid on
receipt of price.
alliance Publishing Co.
Meetings
State Lecturer Dech asks us to say
for him that he did not till his appoint
ments for last week because of sickness
and bad weather. He says he will not
make any new appointments till after
the farmers get their corn planted and
have more time to attend meetings.
He will fill all appointments already
made.
Gen. Van Wyck spoke at North
Platte, on last Saturday evening on his
way to Denver where he spoke on the
24th. A partial report of his speech
appears on another page.
Mr. W. H. Talcott has been holding a
series of meetings in Fillmore, Thayer,
and Nuckolls counties. He reports
good meetings and increased interest.
Gosper County Alliance
Will hold a regular meeting Satur
day, June 4, at 1 o'clock p. m.
People's Independent State Conventions.
The peoples Independent electors of the
state or Nebraska are requested to elect and
send delegates from their several counties to
meet In convention at the city of Lincoln,
Thursday .June 30. 1892. at 10 o'clocka. m., for
tbe purpose of selecting eight delegates at
large to the People's National convention, to
be held in Omaha, Neb., July 4,1892. And also
to elect delegates to the state convention to
be held at Kearney, Neb., Wednesday .August
3 ,1892, at 8 o'clock p. m to nominate the
following state officers, viz; Governor,
lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treas
urer, attorney-general, auditor.oommiseioner
of public lands and buildings and superin
tendent of publle instruction. The basis of
representation will be the same in both con
ventions and the same delegates may act for
both conventions, or two sets of delegates
may be elected as counties may determine at
their county conventions.
The basis of representation will be one
delegate for every one hundred votes or ma
jor fraction thereof cast in 1891 for Hon. J.
W. Edgerton for Judge of the supreme court,
which gives the following rota, by counties:
Adams
Antelope
Banner
Blaine
Boone
Boyd
Box Butte
Brown
Buffalo
Butler
Burt
Cass
Cedar
Chase
Cheyenne
Cherry
Clay
Colfax
Cuming
Custer
Dakota
Dawes
Dawson
Deuel
Dixon
Dodge
Douglas
Dundy
Fillmore
Franklin
Frontier
Furnas
Gage
Garfield
Gosper
Grant
Greeley
Hail
Hamilton
Harlan
Hayes
Hitchcock
Hooker
Holt
Howard
12 Jefferson 10
10 Johnson 7
2 Kearney 8
1 KeyaPaha 4
9 Keith 2
2 Kimball 1
5 Knox S
3 Lancaster 32
18 Lincoln 9
11 Logan 1
9 Loup 1
13 Madison 10
7 Merrick 7
4 McPherson 1
4 Nance 6
5 Nemaha 9
14 Nuckolls
7 Otoe 14
6 Pawnee 7
19 Perkins 4
5 Pierce 5
6 Phelps 8
10 Platte 12
2 Polk II
6 Red Willow 7
10 Richardson 12
57 Rock 2
3 Saline 14
14 Sarpy 6
7 Saunders 20
8 Scotts Bluff S
8 Seward 12
18 Sheridan 10
2 Sherman 6
4 Sioux 2
1 Stanton 3
5 Thayer 10
11 Thomas 1
11 Thurston 2
8 Valley
3 Washington
5 Wayne 4
1 Webster 10
11 Wheeler 2
9 York 1
Total 722.
While the committee do not feel it best to
lay down any definite test as to who should
be allowed to i ote at the primary elections to
elect delegates to the various conventions,
as any test would not work equally well in all
localities, yet wo would urge upon county
and precinct committeemen, and all having
the primages in charge, to adopt such rules
and test aa will best secure a fair expression
of the independent voters of the state.
The question of selecting delegates to the
National convention to which the coigrea
alonal districts are entitled is left to the dis
trict themselves, either to call congressional
conventions in their respective districts or to
select them by districts at Lincoln at the
state convention, at the fame ilmo the dele-
f ates are selected to represent the state at
arge.
We would recommend that no proxies be
allowed at either convention, but that the
delegates present cast the full vote to whica
the state or county is entitled.
We would also recammend that the pri
maries for electing deleratB to tbe Countv
I conventions be hbld Thursday, June 23, 1892.
Saturday, June 25, 1892. J. V. Wolfs.
C. H. Pirtlk, Chairman.
Becretarv.
