The Farm Record from Topeka, Kansas • 6

organizations, as they may be incurred notes. In the end this is the real cur- rency reform. These votes show that it is only waiting the necessity to become the policy of the nation for the future. by each. Tenth The joint committee on confederation shall have power to adopt such by-laws for the government of the joint committee as they deem best.

BRAZEN THREAT AND BULDOZ1NG TACTICS. THE INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE. In regard to the bulldozing tactics of the loan companies operating in Kansas in threatening to withdraw from the state, the Rice county Eagle says that it is simply done to defeat any legislation regulating the interest of money, and as such will have very little effect on our legislators. The peoplos party, nor their representatives, do not propose and never have proposed to repudiate their obligations, but will endeavor to see that the rights of labor are protected as well as capital. This brazen threat of the corporations should more clearly show the people that they have taken up the cudgel In thoir own defense none too soon, and can stick to it none too closely if they ever expect to gain any relief from thoir financial burdens.

The government only can give relief, by taking control of the currency from the hands of the few and administering it in the interests of the people. The tug of war is yet to come, and the outcome is not uncertain if the people but stand together. CAPITAL NOTES. Our Railroads. The board of railroad commissioners have nearly finished their compilation of the returns of the railroad companies from which the following figures are taken The number of miles of railroad constructed in the state during the past year was 84.94, making the mileage ef the state 8,882.31.

Of this mileage the Santa Fe leads the list with 2,665, the Missouri Pacific, with 2,209, being second. The compilation shows that miles are operated by roads making reports to the board. Of this amount, 23,539.60 miles are owned and! 8,977.37 miles are in the state of Kan sas. It will therefore be observed that of the operations and figures returned only about one-third belong in the state of Kansas. The capital stock issued oni this mileage is $539,351,106, or $19,330 per mile, including amount issued to control other properties.

Of this amount it is shown that or $16,080 por mile belongs on the mileage in Kansas. The bondod indebtedness is or $27,538 per mile in addition to which there has been issued or 1,722 per mile, to control other properties. Of this amount, including amount issued to other properties, as also United States subsidiary bonds and accumulated interest, $204,392,023 or $23,234 per milo is a lion on the mileage in Kansas. The total amount car trust obligations outstanding is $3,907,979, current liabilities $16,609,589. The total stock and dobt is $1,308,931,966, or $49,393 per mile.

The same for Kansas is $358,200,650, or $43, por mile. This table will bo followed by those on earnings, operation, cost of construction and equipment, tonnage, accidents, equipment and employes and salaries. The railroad commissioners have received their new map. There is little change except an improvont in the general makeup. The distance between stations is shown by a small red figure.

alliance in power to-day, and with the old idea of government the same dreary round would be run. Yet the remedy lies all around us, under our feet, and we have been engaged in the usual blind work of humanity fighting against the blessings that the development of the race has in store for us. We think certain formulas and certain definitions of freedom have done the work so far, but these are only effects. Invention and discovery have been at work. Slavery was abolished really by labor-saving inventions, and associated capital combined labor, and the communal principle underlying both has done the work, dospite all the efforts government could make to render the principle odious.

And now the most infamous of all devices to own and control the masses for the benefit of the governors trusts is forcing upon the thought of the people the lesson that only by forming tho trust of government for themselves and by themselves is the practical remedy. Government, in its modorn sense, is not control, but management. To tax peopio is not a God-givon right to anybody, but a voluntary contribution for the handling of certain external conditions of social and individual life that cannot be secured by individual effort. The idea that men cannot and will not live in order except from the exercise of force is only a relic of barbarism. The normal man will not do violonce to his neighbor or to himself unless there is some wrong somewhere that has incited him to the action.

If it is impossible for a man to force his neighbors necessities to pay him ten per cent for the use of money, he will never ask it. If a mans smoke house is supplied with all the cured meat needed, his neighbor noed not buy a padlock for his. People are boginning to realize that if the oil crop, tho sugar crop, the grain crop, "THE TROUBLE IS. feolon Chase. The trouble is, there is a money famine, and has been for the last tea years, and relief can come only by increasing the volume of money equal to the needs of the people.

A majority of republicans in congress act as though the free coinage of silver would be a dangerous inflation and make a supor-abundance of money. There is not much danger of inflation so long as hogs are 5 cents a pound. I think the bondholder can bear a little rise in pork. If the volume of money is increased no more than would come from the free coinage of silver, the shrinkage would go on for the next decade hogs would go down, but bonds would go up. Filteon years of falling prices has driven the money into bonds and boards.

The financiers and statesmen of the country wonder where the money has gone. The key that will unlock the boards is more money, enough to raise the price of property raise the price of the assets of the peopio so that other business will be as good as bondholding Then the idle hoards will come out and seek investment on a risiDg market. For the last fifteen years all contracts have beon made and all debts have been paid in gold or its equivalent. During this time the gold coin has not been clipped nor debasod, but every time the creditor has been paid his debt he has got something for nothing has received from the debtor a dollar of greater purchasing power than the dollar he let go. It is this long-continuod increase of the purchasing power of the gold dollar that is sucking the marrow from the bones of labor throughout the boundless west and in the contracted east.

This is the phase of the financial question that is now staring the republican party in the face. The people dont want something for nothing. 1LU lVi The following is from Mr. Powderlys official circular, expressive of the circumstances, causes, and objects of the postponement of the proposed convention at Cincinnati for the organization of a new party: When the farmers alliance held its convention at Ocala, Florida, a call for a conference to organize a third party was circulated and signed by those who attended. That call fixed upon Cincinnati as the place to hold the convention and Februprv 23, 1891, as the date.

At an informal conference of the order of Knights of labor and many of those who signed the call at Ocala, it was agreed to postpone the Cincinnati conference until after the industrial conference could meet and agree upon its platform of principles. In accordance with the action of the general assembly, by which I was instructed to correspond with tho presidents or other chief officers of the other industrial and reform organizations, I place this matter before you with request that you take action at once and notify me of the result. In view of tho fact that nearly all organizations have recently held their annual conventions, it may be difficult to send delegates to another conference so soon, and I would suggest that the executive officers, or as many of them as can attend, make up this conference. I suggest three dates on which to vote, and whichever receives the majority will fix the time of the assembling of this gathering: February 23, March 25, and July 29, the date recommended by committee of the general assembly. I shall vote for February 23, for the reason that we shall be enabled to meet and confer with the newly elected congressmen who owe their elections to the laborers of the field and city.

This is a very important matter and should receive carelul attention. Every organization should take action and be represented, for it is not intended to be a Knight of Labor gathering or a conference of those representing one idea or section alone. All are inviteil and all Ehould be represented. Vote on tho date, and when they are all in the call will go out with as many names attached to it as vote upon it. Bespy and fratornally submitted, T.

V. POWDEKLY, Goneral Master Workman K. of THE NEW PARTY. Washington. The farmers alliance and labor organizations delegates in conference hero, adopted and agreed upon resolutions as the basis of action under their proposed confederation.

The resolutions called for the abolition of national banks as banks of issue, and demand the issuance of legal tender treasury notes in sufficient volume to meet the noeds of tho businoss of the country, without name or especial ad-j vantage to any class or calling, favors government loans to the people at 2 per cent upon non-perishable products, and also upon real estate; domands free and unlimited coinage of silver; tho prohibition of alien ownership of land; favors a graduated income tax; national control and supervision, and if this does not remove existing abuses, then government ownership of the tolegraph and the railroads. Ben Terrell, of Texas, was elected president, and f. W. Hayes, of Penn-sylvania, secretary and treasurer of tho confederation. TO justice.

The farmers alii- I'k PS ance demands tlmt money enough be 8W siWor cop. can put in circulation to bring out the hoards, and to bring prices up somewhere near to the level where prices stood when the statesmen and the financiers of the country made tho gold dollar king be managed by trusts to their great profit and benefit, that these interests, if managed by a general trust that wo have misnamed government, all men would get the benefits tho few possess. This is the comiag idea of what the true office of what we call government is. Tax Levies and Warrants. Attorney General Ives has given his opinion as follows: It is unlawful for any board of county commissioners or county clerk to issue county warrants or orders in any one year greater than the amount of county taxes levied in the same year to dof ray county charges, and that officors thi eaten in to do so may be restrained by injunction proceedings.

He says that ho is of tho opinion that warrants issued, ovon for valid claims, in excess of tho levy, would be void. Further on the attorney genoral says, I come to tho conclusion that the warrants issued in excess of tho amount which the county commissioners wore permitted to issue uudor soction 1887, are absolutely void. Again ho says: It seems to me there can be no question but what the commissioners would bo criminally lia-b'ft tiurjr section 1889. 'Or. GOVERNMENT, '4 A COMPARISON OF CLASSES.

THE PROPOSED FEDERATION OF TOILERS. ORGANIZATION NOTES. Kantns Farmer. The county secretary of Bussell county alliance writes us that their exchange is in a prosperous condition Rush county alliance is reported as in a very flourishing condition. They are thinking of establishing a county paper of their own.

O. D. Dillon, secretary of Wido Awake alliance, Seward county, writes us that at a late meeting they unanimously resolved in favor of the prohibitory laws of Kansas and the enforcement of the same. A. J.

Boyco, secretary of Gove county alliance, writes us that the organization is progressing finely in that county. At the last meeting of tho county alliance tho subjects of starting an alliance store and a county paper were freely discussed. Aansas Sheriffs, the Eighth annual meeting of the Sheriffs Co-operative association was held at the court house, and was largely attended by the sheriffs throughout tho state. Several new names were added to tho roll of mombors, and considerable business of importance was transacted. Tho following officers were elected: Sheriff Waldo Wortor, of Lyon county, was ie-elocied president; also Chief of Police G.

T. K. Prentice, vice president; J. M. Wilkerson, socie-tary, and N.

Frankhouser, treasuier. The roll of membership ombracos about soventy-five officers. A genoral discussion of the codifying committeo report and sweeping redaction of sheriff fees was considered, and tho conclusion finally reached that tho duties and responsibilities the sheriff's office had not been considered by tho senate committee, and it was thought best to present the matter to the representatives and ask them to consider the same. Alliance Sentinel. For the man who honestly investigates public questions on their true merits and in all their bearings relative to the real wolfare and prosperity of the country, with the view of casting an intelligent ballot, calculated to foster the liberties of the people and a republican form of government, we have tho most profound respect and unbounded admiration, whether he votes as we do or not.

But for the representative of that other class of so-called freemen and supporters of good government, who seems neither to know nor care to know anything of public questions or the primary principles of American freedom, or possess not the moral courage or integrity to vote their lonest sentiments, but are the ready tools of designing politicians and offico-seekers, and seem proud to know that are of sufficient importance to bo the object of the attention of his lord and master, we profess an unlimited contempt. The very sight or thought of such a man is repugnant, and revolt-ng to the lover of freedom and the admirer of true American citizenship. 3uch a man is unworthy the blessings of liberty. He is fit only for a state of slavery. In his composition is only the material of which slaves are made.

Not Control but Management. E. T. Van Horn. The farming, or the interests growing out of tho cultivation of the soil, are always hurt by government, as the idea is understood, and this fact has been demonstrated since the history of man has been written.

Why? Because it is tho ultimate object of all government, and our idea of governing is by coercion. Farmers dont want to be governed, but to bo let alone. Tho more government the more expenses taxes and tho ultimate of taxation is the land. There is absolutely only one relief to the farmer to be let alone. And as at prosont that lot alone policy can only find practical direction by the reduction of the rate of interest the abolition of usury.

All that is needed is tho experience of tho next two years to demonstrate that the farming interest can never find relief by employing the ideas of government that in all ages have made it boar the burden. It may seem a wild declaration to make, but no man ever knew tho value or importance of a dollar who did not earn it by labor. Take the farmer, for example, as the primal laborer. Tho return for his labor is limited by an in- flexible law the capacity of the soil to produce. Every coin is the result of so much toil, controlled by conditions that are planetary.

At the end of the year he has so much. Now, every dollar of that so much has a value that the man who buys and sells cannot realize, cannot feel, and does not sense. To take one of these dollars merely to pay the eost of being governed, when govern-' ment is in his case useless and, as felt, oppressive, is something the farmer feels as no other man can feel save tho man who works for daily wage another form of fixed income. This is why the question of taxation has always been so sensitive an issue with the men i who work. They are, after all, the only I men who know what a dollar really means in the economy of life.

Let a farmer go to town, see a big court house, filled with bailiffs, officers, and all the machinery of governing, and I whioh he never UBes, never needs, but which he pays for, and you may have soma idea of what government means I to him. 1 Washington. Tho meeting here of the committee on federation of labor is simply in conformity with tho instructions of the Ocala conference. Grand Master Workman Powderly and his executive committee have arrived with some of the missing delegates, and a meeting was hold to discuss the objects for which they were called together. An organization was perfected by the election of Bon Terrill, of Texas, as chairman, and G.

T. Gant, of Georgia, as secretary. The organizations represented are the Knights of Labor, the Colored Farmers alliance, the National Farmers alliance, the Farmors union, and the Citizens alliance. A committee on businoss was appointed, consisting of Livingston, of Geoigia; Wright, of Pennsylvania; Humphreys, of Texas, and Wild of Washington City. After a long discussion, a formal agreement, looking to tho confederation of tho different organizations was reached on the following basis: First A confe leration.

Second A joint committoo on confederation of five from each organization, which shall represent this confederation. Third Each organization shall bo entitled to as many votos as it has members who are legal voters in a state or national election. Fourth The St. Louis platform shall be the basis. Fifth Each shall stand pledged to assist when possible in all local efforts to bettor the condition of our people.

Sixth Fraternal delegates or correspondence shall never bo denied to one by the other, as long as the confederation exists. Seventh; Tho joint committee on confederation shall have the power, by a majority vote, to admit other organ i zations with similar objects, upon appli cation. Eighth When plans are agreed upon by the joint committee on confederation for mutual co-operation, such organizn tion Bhall be bound to support said plans fully and cheerfully. Expenses accruing on aocoun Ninth between new and old THETURNER-McGRATH matter. Kans'is Farmer.

The executive committee of tho stato alliance, aftor a careful examination, have found nothing in tho Turner letter to reflect on the integrity of President McGrath, and report as follows: We, the boaad of trustees of the F. A. I. U. of Kansas, have carefully examined the evidence presented to us by the committee appointed to inves tigate President Frank McGraths con nection with the Turner letter, and find that there is no evidence implicating President McGrath in the affair, or in any way reflecting upon him as a man or an officer of the alliance.

We com-pletelv exonerate him and declare our confidence in him unshaken. Signed! Board of Trustees, Of F. A. I. U.

of Kansas. I certify that the above is a true copy ol the decision of tho Board of Trustees. J. B. French, Secretary.

THE ASSESSORS STAMP. The commissioner of fisheries, John M. Brumbaugh, has submitted his report, to Governor Humphrey. It covers the question of fish propagation. He says: The rosults of the efforts ot the commissioner to stock the waters of Kansas withgedible food fishes, and to protect those already in the streams and lakos of the state, have not beon ns satisfactory as could have been wishod, as the commissioner has had no funds for expenses incurred by him while in discharge of his duties.

That this omission on the part of the last legislature was duo more to a want of knowledge of tho benefits to be derived from tho support of this industry and its general supply of a choap and nourisli-l'ood product to tho people of Kansas, is the belief of the commissioner. At tlio late mooting of tho regents of the agricultural collego it was decided to use the $15,000 rocoived in December, under tho Morrill act, for needed apparatus and machinery in tho departments related to agriculture und mechanic arts, having already made great improvements in tho shops. Tho secretary of tho interior lias agreed to givo the second iustallmont of tho fund, which will be $16,000. When it is received, the rogonts propose to extend the facilities for instruction in theso linos to the full capacity of the buildings. To use, efficiently, the means provided by tho goneral government, more room must bo provided by tho legislature.

It. T. Van Horn. The passage of the silver free coinage bill by the senate by the decisive vote of 39 to 27 is the second time the country has decided against the brokers or the money owners. The practical result is not certain, but I am inclined to think matters at tho adjournment will be found about they are now.

We shall never get to the true financial policy and practice until the interests of tho people overshadow political or party interests. In a former letter I pointed out the difference on this question to be one of local interest the accumulated capital of the east paying interest and dividends against the to be amassed wealth of the west, from tho margins between new and old conditions. But there were two or three votes given that are more pregnant with future promise than even free coinage. These were the votes for the unconditioned issue of legal tender The Neosho county farmers alliance adopted this; Resolved, That our assessors be provided with a seal of office and be required to stamp all interest-bearing papers when assessed, and that all notes, bonds, mortgages, and papers collectable by law, not bearing the impress of the assessors seal, shall be null and void, and uncolleotable within th ir-ty days after the asseesor makes his final eettlement for the year. then, th.

bnt ot th. joint committee on confederation tow are they to bo remedied? Put the shall be defrayed by their respective.