The Southern Mercury (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 8, No. 2, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 10, 1889 Page: 4 of 8
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THE SOUTHERN MERCURY t DALLAS, TEXAS, JAN. 10,
B
The Southern Heronry
.OMB DOLLAB A Till IK ADVABCB.)
—Published by—
áTATE ALLIANCE PRINT
ING BOARD.
read this carefully.
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ssr
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enew your subscription, so yon wob t miss
' copies, aa we canl alwoys furnish book
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It wfll take about three weeks after sub-
sertpikms are sent befrre the subscribers
nUM^wlIl appear an tho regular mallnf
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Make money orders, drafts and an remitj
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Articles Intended for riiblloutlou must he
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(rood faith.
All obituary notloos sent to Thb Soutijhii
Mr.netmv for publication, unless sooompa-
nlod by tho cash to pay for same, will not bo
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In excess of fifty.
When sending subscriptions to Tub Mergo-
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tion to this you will confer a fuvor upon tho
business office of Tub Mbroury.
When writing forTtiBMBRCURr concornlng
OIIAHOE or A0DRB8S, or any failuro to ro-
od ve your papers promptly, or concerning
money sent in for subsbrlptlons, plnaso men-
tion your postofllee, the dato of your former
letters, and also the date of the printed rooelpt
whlPh wo cent von, and always address your
Inquiries, complaints, oto., to
SOITTHEHN MEHOtTRT,
and your communication will reoelve prompt
attention.
P. S. Drowdeii, Uns., Mgnr.
Ah will be seen from the report of the
Dallas road convention In another column,
the road-bonds Idea was rejected.
Tub moat auccessful local Alliance en-
terprlses are mills and gins. The same
condltiona which make them aucceaaful
would make larger manufacturing enter
prises, alao, successful.
Tbb Mbbcuby suggests to the Alliance
that the reporta of local co-operative stores,
with a few exoeptlona, do not encourage
aneh ventures. They doubtless can be
made ancccssful. but ezperlenee provea
that they generally are not.
Tbb twenty-first legislature of Texaa
met OB Tuesday, the 8th. It la decidedly
a "granger" body. There are just about
•Bough lawyers to scatter around on com-
mittee* and prevent legislation which
might eonfliot with tho constitution or ex-
isting statutes.
Tbb lower bouie of tbe congres* of "the
greatest government on the earth" was
unable to secure a quorum the week after
the Christmas holidays. It !• not known
whether the membera wore only sabering
up from Christmas drunks or were staying,
away in tbe hope of escaping, a vote on a
big railroad bill and Springer's Oklahoma
bill.
Fbbd Douglas said In a speech at Phil*
adelphla the other day that tho negroes of
the aouth are practically in slavery yet;
that they work for |8 per month and take
pay In orders on stores kept by the man the
Begro worke lor, and the prices charged
are doable what they should be. It Is
hoped that tbe same merolful Providence
that Is preparing Sherman lor the tomb
will take Fred along too. Tbe war Is over,
their days of usefulness are past, and they
merely eumber the earth.
Thb following cheerlul news conoornlng
the railroad commission comes from Aus-
tin: A few legislators arrived to-day, but
candidates for legislative offices arc every-
where. There are no railroad men on the
ground yet, but It Is understood eaeli of the
roads will have a special representative.
Politicians here assume they might as well
stay away, as three-lourths oi the house
and about twenty-fonr out of thirty-one
senators are in lavor of attempting to carry
the Dallas platform Into e fleet by a railroad
commission, and no amount of filibustering
will defeat that proposition.
Tub United States has instituted suit
against against the Northern Pacido rail-
way for 90,000,009. It Is to cover deprada-
tloas upon government land along the line
as follows: In Montana the road has out
ever M,000,000 feet of tt'inbef Worth #1 WO',-
000; In Idaho 10,009,000 feet worth 93,000,-
•00; |n Washington 90,000,000 worth
9400,000: and in Minnesota over 200,000,000
worth 98,700,000, This Is tbe way railroads
repay the subsides which governments
grant, Qlven alternate sections of land
along tbe line, It Ignores the measured par-
titions and outs the government lands In
spite of appeals and protests.
A fALSB X(f DIOTMBKT.
Tbe following exsggerated statement
from tbe Stephonsville Empire Is thtiseoui
mentod on by the Texas Farmer:
Texas Farmer has always cordially in
rtorsed Alliance principle*. It could not
do otherwise, ae they are lor the most psrt
only a paraph roe n* firing dei,Ur*tlon>.
But Texss Kurnmr t)*« been open, candid
ami bonest in advising the rank and filo to
beware of an Incompetent, vtslonsry and
self-seeking leadership. In locsllilss tbe
sdvics was not heeded. Tbe following ex
tract (torn tbe Sterbenvllle Umpire aeems
to show a case in point.
What has the Aillsnce sccomplisbed t For
nearly ten years it has had an existence.
Thecostjto Its membership must reach up
to tbe millions." Yet what practical good
has resetted from It t A few men have held
lat offices and drawn good salaries; a few
men have made money out ol the organisa-
tion; a few men have risen in political life
through Alliance agency; a few men hare
been benefited, but what of tbe tolling
masses? Has it fed tbe bnngry or clothed
tbe naked f lias It benefited the poor far-
mer wbo tolls for bresdf Hss the average
member been benefited ? Under the lead-
ershlp of designing men It has disturbad
the peace of society. Under tbe Influence
or bad men it bos been used ss a means of
oppression. Tbe result has generally been
a direct injury to tbe farmers themselves.
Cspltal has been driven out of our county,
but fortunately for capital, it does not need
to seek investments In Texas. Men of
wealth do not come bere at ail, and many
wbo have property would leave If tbey
could. Some are leaving and tome are in-
vesting elsewhere. Our county needs ail
tbe cupitul It can obtain. Wo need cupliul
and manufacturing enterprises. Our coun-
ty will be poor and shall have lnird times
untii wc have inore cqpltul while we have
the boycott. >Ve con count nearly #800,WX)
of Erath county capital Invested elsewhere.
The men wbo have tbe capital aro not hurt,
but our county is badly hurt, it increases
tuxes and diminishes tbo money supply ol
our county. It conies home to us in a direct
and lorcelul way. Now we want to say to
our readers: Do not desert the Alliance.
Hold on to tbe fort. Do not allow it toiall
Into the baud of its secret enemies. It can
accomplish good, but will its members utll-
Izo It for good't But so far, It lias provon a
failuro for want of capable leadership. Its
enterprises havo come to grief and have
produced losses on every hand. Its lead-
ership has certainly not conducted it to
success. A change of leadership, a recog-
nition of established laws of business and
an abrupt bouncing of the Incendiary lec-
turers at 98 per day may produce a change.
It certainly cannot prosper with Its present
leadership and lecturers.
In reply to the Empire's question, "What
has the Alliance accomplished!"' Tiir Mxr-
cuky refers to tbe Alliance mills and gins
throughout the country that have been
built by farmers' brains and farmera' mon-
ey, and to tbe present Texas legislature
which contains llfty-seven farmers in the
lower hoase alone. The former is evidence
of material and tho latter of political change
and progress wrought by the Farmers Alli-
ance and the public sentiment and sympa
thy which the organization has aroused.
The covert Insinuations of the artlclo are
unworthy of notice. The charge that the
Alliance hai "disturbed the peace of socie-
ty" is true. The "peace or soolety," that
fancied security Into which the profession,
al politician and monled power of the coun-
try co-operating for each other's advantage
have led the people needs to be disturbed.
Pesce Is dangerous when It Is the evidence
ordespslr, and thla is the only peace which
the farmers of the country enjoy to-day.
There are trusts and combinations
of capital to control almost every commod.
ity ol large consnmptien, shore are "rings"
in legislaturea and "powers behind the
throne" In government, and there Is the
peaee of lethargy and inaction among the
people. This is the peace the Alliance has
disturbed, and its mission Is to disturb it
more. Thb Mbbcuiiy does not deny
that mistakes have been made. Leaders
themselvee do not deny this. There are
probably wiser men to be round than
those whooconpy positions in the Ailianoe,
but these have served to the best ol their
ability and have done well. Tbey might
have done better, but still tbey havo done
well. They are ready at any time to stop
down when wiser and better men are ready
to oooupy their places. In ignoring the
actual accomplishments of the Alliance,
the Stophenvlile Empire shows ignorance;
in saying so much about "incapable lead-
ers" and "Incendiary lecturers" it exhibits
prejudice which from its geographical lo-
cation we Judge is mainly persoual.
sels and tbe commercial nece k>ti« of the
country wblch can be secured and main-
tained In tbe shortest time and at least
cost, and said board of engineer* shall re
port through the secretary of war to tbe
next congress tbe point selected and tbe
estlmsted cost of securing such port. Tbe
sum ol 93,000 or so much thereof as may
he nrrcstary to pay the expenses of said
board is hereby appropriated out of any
money In the treasury not otherwise ap
proprlated.
a bhbbwd New Yorker by the name ol
Friend ''dootored" up some auger with
ebemlonla until It possessed a remarkably
fine flavor, and indueed capitalista to put up
a large amount or money claiming that It
was dono by electricity. A company was
formed and stook floated. Tbe inventor
died but his wife earrled on tbo scheme for
soveral months. A few days ago sho
skipped out, leaving the stockholders
with their stock and a "seoret working
room" whore It was discovered that no
eleotrloity had beeu used and that the
whole process waa a hoax. Mrs. Friend la
probably on the bounding ocean or In some
other, pleasurable locality, while the stock
holders are out behind the barn lndustrl<
ouely kldking thsntselvei. J , q
■ll'.-.i iii;
Mortgages.
Mexla Democrat: Thb Southkkn Mxn-
cuky Is demanding 1 railroad commission
of tho legislature, but net a word bas it to
ssy with reterence to that barnacle to the
prosperity of the iarmcrs ol Texas, namely,
the avariolous mortgage. The people have
suffered to some extent from railroad over-
charges. but not oue-tenth as much as from
the evil 0fleets of the mortgago system.
or two evils, choose ye the least."
Yeu certainly have not read Thb Mkr-
'CtriftT"Wa have, limé autf agafn, urged
upon farmers tbe importance ot doing
without one year in order to get ahead and
be able to pay cash.
DEEP WATER RESOLUTION.
The Texaa delegation has agreed upon
the lollowlng deep water resolution and
laid it before congress:
Whereas, Tbo commercial, agricultural,
mining, manuraoturlng and stock interests
of all that part of the United States lying
wost of the Mississippi river, and the com-
mercial and naval necessities of Uto entire
country demand a firstclass, permanent and
deep water port oa the, coast of Texas,
therefore be It
Resolved, That tbo secretary of war be
and Is hereby authorized and direoted to
appoint a board of three engineer officers
ol tbe United Statoa army whose duty it
shall be to make a careiul and critics! ex-
amination of tbe northwest coast oi the
gulf of Mexico west of 03 dog. 30 min. west
longltudo, excepting tho mouth of the
Braios river, in Texas, and seleot the most
eligible point for a deep water harbor, to
e or apsple depth, width and capacity to
accommodate thd largest ocean-going ves-
Thb Dallas News several days ago sold
In offset that tbe bnslnese oí tbe Alliance
Exchange had eansed an unusual nnnber
or business failures in Texes during the
year Just past. Here la what R. O. Dun
* Go's weekly review says:
"It may be noticed that throughout tbe
weetern and southern ststee, Texaa ex-
cluded. falluree were both more numerous
and larger in the aggregate In liabilities
than In tbe year proceeding, while in the
eestern, middle and Pacific states an im-
portant decrease it the amosnt of liabili-
ties appeare, and also in Texas. "
Texae ie exceptional, aeeordleg te Dün,
in not having more failures than usual and
In showing an Important deerease In lia-
bilities. A great paper like tbe News
should look a little eloeer into financial
questions before attempting to account for
financial conditions that do not exist.
IIunqabian capitalists attempted to cor-
ner maize and lost 3,000,000 florins. The
Lord be prslsed.
"MaUlng a (J cod Paper."
The following private commendation
comes from a brother In Travis county,
who knows a good thing when he sees it:
'Permit ino 10 heartily endorse the courno
ol Tiie Mkrcury. You are making a
good paper and the people will support
you."
What Wo Aro Here For.
Uockdule Messenger: Thk Soutxikrx
Mickcuky proposes to show the people this
year that tbe Alliance is doing something
besides passing resolutions and getting up
obituaries. The Alliance is capable of do>
Ing groat good for lis members as well as
all other classes. When the farmers are
prosperous all kinds of ttualness is good.
Landlord Va. Tenant.
A. B., Itenter, In North Texas Farmer.
Allow mo to speak oi a matter wblch in
terests the masses of your readers and
wblch 1 do in all kindness and love.
Homo is the dearest spot on earth to all,
and ronnd it are encircled tbe purest, and
holiest ties which are enshrined In the bu
man heart. If our home ie comfortable, if
tbe wife and mother has room to put her
beds, elotbing, etc., with somo comfort,
and has room enough to go through with
ber dally routine or household carea and
dutiea, and has llgbt In the bouae, so she
can see without opening the door and let-
ting in the bold winds and blasts of winter,
she will continually be oncouraged to beep
heme in ordor, and will beebeerful; and
stand lovingly by her husband's side, and
aid him In hi dally toil in working out
and harvesting his crop. It she ooes not
go to tbe deld herself, she csn aid him by
her cheerfulness, the neatness of the home,
and her careiul cooking.
How different tbe leeling when the fam-
ily Is cooped up in one room, things piled
round In confusion for want of room, and
no lights In the honse, save through cracks
of logs or open door. There are no home
joys or surroundings here, and there Is
continual dissatisfaction, and longing for
something bettei. Wben tbe roof is no
proteotlon, but rains pour through and wet
all tbe honse eontains, it is worse still.
I know a landlord who has five tenants
on bis plantation. Each bas a comfortable
house, with two rooms, and glass windows
in each room, Two of bis rentera have
been with blm seven years, and one, six
years. All three have cattle, horaes, and
hogs of their own, and eultlvate their
ground better than the man who ewne the
land. The lana onner knows that they
are good men, and has taken pains to ar-
range their homes so that they will be eon-
tent to stsy.
Two miles from this man Is another
planter where are four tenant houses. Only
one bas any comfort about it, but it has
no light except through the open door.
The man owning this place is bothered
about getting good renters. He told me
once, "I would like to have B. on my place,
for ho is a good worker, but I have no
bouse good enough for him to live in "
These two are patterns. Good renters,
men who hope to some day owi land oi
their own, and wbo have some pride and
desire pleasure while tolling on tho rented
farm, naturally seek a place fitted up so as
10 possess these enjoyments, and will leave
tbe second or third rate renter to occupy
the land and bouses or the landlord who
soems to think a reutei hss no heart or
homely pride to respect, and his land Is
treated accordingly.
But there are two sides to this. There
are men who give the landlord no encour-
agement to do better ler them. "I will
leave the land as good as I found it," tbey
say, and WMfdewod-jgnm-gfjw in -iht ¿¡si-
ton, and tbe corn ie a shame to heboid.
Their negligenee or work In the tending of
the crop is a loss to themselves in the lack of
yield, and 'tis also a loss to the man from
whom they rent. A shiltless, slovenly
renter glvee no encouragement to tbe lana
owner in making a better borne lor the
tenant or renter.
Again we find families who live a little
better than animals. Put them in a good
bouse and the glass windows will be broken
out, sash burned for kindling wood, and
the room door used ae a part of the floor of
stton pen. while the floor of tbo house
looks as though used lor packing grease
and soap. A rali pen with a hay roof is
good enough for them.
T be Balra Star says: "Captain W. J
Maltby or this county raised any number
or swoet potatoes thla year that weighed
from fifteen to twenty-two pounds, and
actually gathered 1&00 bushels or potatoes
on ono moasurod aero of land. This is a
fact and it can bo substantiated by sor.te of
the most reliable men in tbe county. You
fellows who have been blowing about ten
and lifteon pound potatoes, and a yield of
&Oo and 000 bushels per acre, will pleato
make a noto of this, will you? Callahan
county la the chief."
AM AMORT PROTEST.
wbut Mountain. Tax.
We, tbo membera of West Mountain
Farmere Alliance, Upahiir county. Texaa,
No. 1831, In regular aession assembled, do
bereby seek to make known our grievances
and objections to tbe ediior*orTi!x8ouTH-
krn Mbkccky. the adopted of tbe State
Alliance, for tbe manner in wblch contrib-
utions and letters from members or our
Alliance have failed to meet publication la
Its eelumns, said letters und contributions
being deelgned for tbe geuerai good and
edneatton of the order, failed to meet pub-
lication, aa stated by tbe editors, beeanse
of a want of spaee, and at the aametlme
aaid columns contained novele, advertise-
mente end other trashy matter, which were
of no importance to the order whatever,
which we denounce and to be dieeontlnued.
Tn Mbboubt being our adopted or-
gan, we believe her columna ahoukl at all
tlmea be open lor the publication of lettere
and eoatrlbutloBB Irom membera of tho
Alliance, when aueh lettere and eentnbu-
tlona are calculated to edaeate ead build
ap the order. Therefore, we demand that
heneeforth tbey be publlehad. and
Whereas, If euob lettere and contribu-
tions In the future fall to bo publlahed, we.
the membera of Weat Mountain Alliance,
No. 1331, do declare any further connection
with said paper at an end; and at tbe ssme
time we propose to adopt some other psper
as our organ, In whlob we can get a fair
and impartial discussion or sll subejets
which pertain to the general good and
prosperity or tbe order. Be it
Resolved, That the above declarations
and demands be enrolled upon our book or
minutes for luturo reference, and ulso a
copy of same bo forwarded to TiikJIkr-
cdry with a special request lor its publi-
cation.
Respectfully submitted and unanimously
adopted by Wost Mountain Alilanco in re;.',
ular session.
C. B. Mackey, Pres.
w. E. Watkins, 8ec.
December 22, 186S.
0%
The ioregolng pronunclamemo received
on the 5th day January, 1880, Is given space
—"top col., next reading"—In the earliest
Issue of Thb Mkrcury. We want to say
to tbe brethren of West Mountain Alli-
ance, No. 1321, that Thb Mkrcury exer-
cises no favoritism in the publication of
letters and communications. Everything
is judged purely as to whether it will in-
terest the Alliance public. If it will, it
goes; if not, It goes anyhow—to tbe waste-
basket. There are a great many letters,
lectures and essays that might interest one
single Alliance, and doubtless would inter-
est their authors, but unless tbey contain
something of Interest to tbe Alliance at
large they find no space in Tub Mbrcury.
Nearly every week each Alliance hears a
geod lecture or a good essay. Tbo lecture
or the esaay la appreciated, and purely aa
a compliment to author la "ordered printed
in Thb Mbrcuby." Now Thb Mbrcury
receives these essays and lectures by the
dozen every week, and to give them space
would bo to crowd out everything else.
Hence the editor is compelled to reject
them, either in part or in whole, as cir-
cumstances and liis judgment may advise.
If correspondents will make It a point to
write only that whieh is purely newa tbey
may be assured that their letters will be
published. An occasional short, pithy ex-
hortation or speech or encouragement, or
review or wrongs is good and timely, but
long-winded recitals or grievaticos in gen-
eral terms, high-sounding phrases ol indlg*
nation and labored polUi>-al estays are
neither good nor timoly, and, ir published,
would hardly be read by any but tho writer
and a few friends. Tkie la said in kind-
ness, but with an effort to put the case
plainly.
Thb Mbboubt has no recollection or
West Mountain Ailianoe communications,
and hence cannot say why they were re-
jected. And thla little "slaok.Jaw" is not
intended for the Wast Mountain Alliance
only, but for some Eaat Mountain and
South a., d North Mountain Alllanees also.
Now, brethren, please be a little mere
charitable. Take pains to condense your
communications and we will take pains to
get the good out of them and put It in
print. We may have been a Utile eareless
and not pains-taking enough, but ir you
could only see the condition and volume of
our correspondence you would pardon us.
Ws want lbttbrs, but we want them
short and to tho point. We have-spoken.
The Troublta of Farmera.
Atlanta Constitution.
Tho Charleston News and Courier, refer-
ring to tbe investigation which The Con-
stitution is now making as to tbe condition
of the farmers or Georgia, declares that all
tbe troubles of farmers originate in tbe
protective, system, and it says, without
wsitlng for tbe investigation to folriy be-
gin, that "the impoverished farmers in
Georgia, In common with those of other
states, have been sacrificed to tho greed of
the protected manufacturers."
What the Carolinians may think of it we
do not know, but we feel very sure that the
sensible farmer of Georgia would not toler-
ate such ridiculous bab tie. It is ridiculous
In the race or It, for ir protection had any-
thing to do with the matter, it would bear
equally upon every former, and while some
might be poorer than others, all would be
poor.
But what are tbe facts y The Investiga-
tion Is not yet concluded, but there bas
been enough evidence oollected to show
that while some of the farmers of Georgia
find It difficult to make both ends meet,
other formers tn the eame neighborhoods
and cultivating the same lands are not only
making money, but saving it. In other
words, they make as much money out or
their forms as tbe successful merchant
makes out of his goods. If tbe tariff af-
fected ono farmer sufficiently to make htm
poor, It would affect all In a like degree,
for it would be a condition which none
could evade or escape.
The fact that some farmers do manage in
tho moat effectual manner to evade and es-
cape the troubles that afflict their neigh-
bors shows that protection is an element
that has no proper place in the problom. Aa
to tho mortgagos to which tho Mews and
Courier alluAs, and which have been lully
discussed In* hose columns, they are the
iaftitt
natural result of an attempt on the part of
the farmers |o better their condition bv
getting hold of tbe ready eaah. Tbe fig
ures have a threatealng appcsrance in
tbe aggregate, but tbe most serious af.
lair is tbe high rate or interest for which
the national banking laws aro responsible.
State bank circulation is taxed out ol ex-
istence, and tbe farmera cannot borrow
money on their farms Irom capitalists, wbo,
under ordinary eireumstanees, would glad-
ly lend It on aueh aeearity. The law not
only prevente the national banke from lend-
ing money on real eetate security, but It
bee the effect of outlawing real estate and
farm property. Our farmers have no bonde
to put up ae oollateral, and they are oom-
polled to depond on the brokerage system
that has lately been established In some
parts of tbe south.
Bvery year the business or farming tends
mere and more to commercial methods, and
there are numbers of larmere wbo could
do aa well or better with money borrowed
at a reasonable rato of Interest as business.
What the fasmera and the whole people of
tbe state need Is ebeaper money—eueb
meneye as tbe bank of tbe state or Georgia
and ite branebee used to provide. The In-
terest paid in loans would then remain at
borne and the mortgage business would be
stripped of its terrifying aspects.
We mention these things in passing
Mosnwhile, tbe Cbarleston News and Cou-
rier may rest assured that proteotlon Is not
troubling tbe farmers.
Railroad Legislation.
Groesbkck, Texas.
Kditor Mbrcury:—In almost every
issue of your paper I see that you are ad-
vocating tho importance of our ensuing
legislature panting an act authorizing the
appointment by the state, of u railroad com
niuMnn, for tbe purpose of controlling and
regulating tho roads in their business, so
as to proti ot the citizenship in general
Irom tho universal injustice of over charges,
diKcrlmlnutions and pools.
While I think your plan will result in
some good to the people. 1 am most decid-
edly of the opinion iliat It will lull so short
ot bring'ng reliet to the people from the
abuses of the railroads, that 1 most earnestly
advise a much more simple and efficient plan,
viz : Let the legislature pass an act fixing
the rate of freigtit charges on all the first-
class roads in the stat«>, at one cent for
hauling a ton of freight a milo on all
through hauls, and twonty-five per cent,
more tor all hauls under fifty miles, and
two and a half cents a mile for pas engers ;
and two centB for hauling a ton of freight a
mile on all teoond-class roads, and three
cents a mile for passengera. Let the
bill prevont the roads from discriminating
between places and persons, and forbid
them from pooling tbeir interests In all
oases. Let tbe bill fix a heavy fine aa a
penalty lor any violation of the law, and
provide that any citizen wbo baa bad tbe
law violated by tbe roada in a bueinees
transaction may have the right to bring
suit in the court or bis own county against
the road so violating said law. This law
would be no half way means, and would
bring about a speedy and efficient plan to
correct all tbe unjust practices of the roada
upon the people.
We will now offer some proofo or the
justness and equity of such a law as I have
proposed.
. First. The census reports lor tbe United
States In 1880, show the average freight
charges ol all tbe roads In tbe government
was less than one ccnt for hauling a ton of
freight a mile on all through hauls.
Second. The testimony before the com.
mittee or ways and means in congress elic-
ited the proor that all the important rail-
roads running from New York city charged
less than the above rate.
Third. It is a matter or proof that the
roads from 8t. Louis to Galveston, have
charged voluntarily seven-tenths of a eent a
mile for hauling a ton of freight on said
through hauls Irom city to eity. The above
faote prove conclusively that there Is no
risk of doing the roads of this state an in-
juatlee In fixing tbe above rates by law,
and the lollowlng foots show the urgent
necessity for snob a law:
The sworn statement or the comptroller
at Austin, shows that the M. K. and T. road
paye a gross profit upon tbe cspltal In-
vested in tbe road, or eighty-four per eent.
per annum, calculating that the road cost
them twelve thousand dollars a mile for
constructing said road, which Is more than
tbe real cost of the road. It Is also a fact
that the census reports of the state show
that the first class roads of this state pay a
profit of flity.four per cent net. This Is a
robber profit, as every one will admit. Tbe
remedy I have proposed is tbe only short,
simple, and efficient remedy for this great
evil.
J. D. Rankin.
That New Leaf.
Now is the time to turn it over. Not
only turn It over but gum it down so that
it will stay turned. We are talking now to
thoso farmors- (there are too many such)
who are always growling and croaking and
looking on the dork side of things. This
is a bright world ir you will only open your
eves and see tbe sunlight. No doubt you
have cares and troubles and much to vex
and worry yoa. So bas every one. Don't
let little matters like these fret yon. They
are but for a moment; how soon tbey will
psss away and be forgotten I Nothing so
transient and trifling should be allowed to
disturb one's serenity. We should not ex-
pect that everything In thie world is to be
adjusted to our liking. There will be fric-
tion now and then or course, but the best
way always Is to keep oool, take things
philosophically, and reraemboT that "it
won't make any difference a hundred years
from now." 80 quit grumbling. Quit it
now and thereby make the now year hap-
pier for yoursel! and for all around you.—
American Agriculturist lor January.
The business or raising pecans will one
day become a leading industry in this
country, says tb« Victoria Advocate. In*
deed Is there mtnsy and lots or it too, in
tho business. The nut Is as saleable as cot-
ton, and tho proflt in it Is far larger. Don't
cut down another pecan tree, whatever you
do.
We pity the Waterbury WatoU Company
ifiteverhas to wind up Its movements.— ¡
Burlington Free Press.
HEWS AMD VIEWS
▲boat Afrleultarsi Organisations.
Marisna (Fia.) Alliance: Uniting the
Wheel snd Alliance gives both a strength
aud influence that neither h^ve heretofore
realized as separate bodies.' The union la
termed Farmere and Laborers Union of
America, and its membership numbers
about two millions.
Tbe Lsmar County Alliance urges upon
tbe legislature an Improved road law by
"relegating to tbe counties the authority to
levy a road tax," and passed tbe following
noteworthy resolution: "Resolved, That
this County Ailianoe offer the following
premiums, to.wit: That there will be paid
to tbe member of this County Alliance re-
porting to tbe January meeting. 1890, the
heaviest hog. any age, 9&; for tbe beavleet
bog under two years, 9ft; tor the heaviest
hog under one year old, 95. And this com-
mittee recommends that Sub-Alllanoes
thronghout the county adept a system of
premiums among the memberehlp, and pay
eame out of their treasury; said premiums
to be gives ob cereals and vegetables.
Arkansaw Dispatch: Hempstead county
Wheel has a 95.000 brick cotton warehouse.
Bro. John Phillips, the county sgent.
weighs all the eotton that comes to Hope.
Sbe has on foot a co-operative s'ore. She
Is ready for the State Exchange.
The National Farmers Alliance (of tbe
north) will meet at De Moines, Iowa.
R. B. Anderson, in tbe Denton Monitor,
writing ot the Alliance, says: "Tbere are
men in every neighborhood that are making
some money above an actual living, but
they aro few and they arc the exception.
Now most any of us can count them 011 the
lingers of ono hand. But we seo on tbe
other hand that other business is prosper-
lug. Do you know of a merchant cither in
town or country who has any enterprise
that is not getting rich? lias tho farming
class In Denton county kept paco with the
mercantile In the city t lias the country
kept pace with tbe town ? We know that
all the wealth that is made is mude in the
country, but it all lodges In the city. Now
we must not blame tbe mercbaut, the bank-
er, or anyone else but ourselves. The fact
is, we ure to blame. We have tried to keep
pace with tbe towns; we try to imitate
those who are in bettor circumstances than
wo are; we try to wear as good clothes as
they do, and try to have agreatmany things
that our circumstances will not allow.
Fifty years ago tbe farmers raised very
near everything tbey used, but now tbey
buy most all their supplies. Now let ui
commence with tbe new year and see if we
cannot improve on the past. Do net go in
debt for anything; economize on every oor-
ner, and raise everything on tbe farm that
you can. Subscribe for some good agri-
cultural paper and post yourself on the
best methods of farming. Stick to the Al-
liance and let them desert who mill."
R. H. Moreboad, secretary of the state
wheel, Walter Chapel, Ark., under date of
December 38, says: Since last report
charters havo been sent out as follows:
Crawford coanty, 3; Yell, 1; Lincoln, 8;
Drew, 3; Bradly, 3; Howard, lj Little
River, 3; Polk, 1; White, 8; Calhoun, 1;
Miller, 1; Monroe, 5; Cleveland, 3; Ouachita
<; Washington, 3; Perry, 1; Jefferson. 8:
Cross, 1; Marlon, 1; St. Francis, 1; Grant, 1;
Chicot, 1; Hempstead, 2; Nevada, 1; Benton,
1; Ashley, 1. Total, 48.
The Alliance in Denton county is in good
ordor. The county meeting on tbe 4th was
largely attended atd good reports come up
from all parts.
A considerable smount of money has
been subscribed for running an Alliance
co-operative store at San Saba, Texas. It
is proposed to conduct the business Irom
tbe very outset on a cash basis.
" arm ana icancn; wnue many
s look on and say nothing—no
ng the boyeott. If people eon-
1 their latth to men or lnstltu-
The Ailianoe Bxohance.
Farm and Ranoh.
Texas Farmer Is asked: "Why have you
let-up on tbe Exhange f " Beeause all who
have not been convinced that the thing is a
fraud ean only learn by sad experience.
Its present status may be put In a nutshell.
The grinding out of inaccuracies contin-
ues with usual regularity—seemingly aided
and abetted In the outrageous business by
the Dallas News, Southbrn Mbbcubt
and Texaa Farm and Ranch; while many
other papers look on " '
doubt rearing '
tlnue to pin 1
tlonsthat would have been sacrificed In
lieu or Ananias, i r they bad been or his
time, they deserve to Buffer.—Texas
Farmer.
If telling the truth Is aiding and abet*
ting the Alliance Exchange, Texas Farm
and Ranch pleads guilty. Whenever any
farmer's organization embarks in an enter-
prise with the declared purpose ot benefit*
ting its members this paper desires to see
them sucoeed; and in case they should fall
wo hope they will not grow discouraged;
but remember that no great reforms or big
business enterprises were ever successfully
accomplished without going to extremes or
making mistakes, and that success is
finally gained only by those who profit by
past experience and have sense onoughto
remedy tbe defects which nothing but
actual experience can bring to light. We
have published only such Informal len re-
garding tbe Alliance and Its enterprises as
has been furnished us by its officers and
members and we would at any time be
pleased to have communications from those
who have had experience with the Alliance
Exchange at Dallas or other Alliance en-
terprises whether it be fovorable or other-
wise, so long as It Is tbe truth and is di-
vested of personal spite.
Cso8alvatlonOil for severe headache, and
you will always find almost Instant roliof by
so doing. We recommend it at a good family
medicine.
The Putman Cultivator,
The Putman Cultivator will not be bandlod
by tbo trade. Ailia ico men In good standing
wishing an ugoncy will addres-
_ D^VID KEVNEIty,
Supt. D. B. C. M. A., Dallas, Toxas.
Said on y on order.
I
VI
1
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The Southern Mercury (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 8, No. 2, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 10, 1889, newspaper, January 10, 1889; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth185386/m1/4/: accessed July 9, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .