VOL. XXV.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., MARCH 29, 1890.
NO. 13
A Word as to the Alliance.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
I see in last week's issue the editors, in
commenting on I. R. S's. article, ask to
hear from members of some of the farmers' organizations: First, I. R. S. says let
every farmer in the State attend to his
own business. Now one great object of
these organizations is to place a farmer in
a condition that he can attend to his own
business. For many years past everybody else has been attending to his business for him, that is why he is so badly
'in the boup." He also says don't buy
anything you can afford to do without. I
think the average farmer has been doing
that very thing for some time; and if
prices grow lower ho will have to quit
buying anything at all.
He says don't lease your lands for gas or
oil for a minimum sum; how is he to
know what is a minimum sum in theso
times, when a silver dollar looks as large
as the hind wheel of an old fashioned
farm wagon? consequently a minimum
sum is very likely to be taken for a maximum sum.   He says that there have been
few instances where organizations run
well for a time; then a few
men would steal the thunder
and money too. The Alliance has no thunder, it is
all lightning and they had
better not fool with it. As
for the money, we believe
in a rich people and poor
treasury, initiation fee for
men only 50 cents, ladies
free; dues 25 cents per quar
ter, for men only, 15 cents
of that is retained in your
sub-Alliance.
He says the more stores of
every description we havo
the better for the public. I
suppose he would also say
the more middle men of
every description the better
for the producer. To this 1
will take exceptions, and
say the more middle men
we have, the more expense
the producers are at in keeping them. He further says
it is well enough for farmers to combine against the
u n just encroachments of
corporations, combines,
trusts, etc. Then he says
let us farmers combine with
one concentrated effort to
run the whole machino.
Xow brother we want to
know how we can combine
without organization. I
think brother I. R. S. should
join the Alliance and help
run the machine.
One of the greatest objects of the Alliance is expressed in that grand word, education; education that will enable farmers in every particular to keep abreast of
the times; education that will give us better homes, better schools, better politics,
better legislation and better administration of the laws; education that will enable us to abolish every species of gambling in politics and in the products of labor; education that will give us an equal
chance with others in the pursuit of comfort and the accumulation of wealth; education that will build labor up and place
it upon a broad, intelligent basis where
the farmer, mechanic and other wage
workers may, in all respects, be abreast
with the foremost men of the times. We
aro resolved to educate, agitate, and organize; that justice to all men shall be the
prime motive of our every act, and the
greatest good to the greatest nunjber, the
result to be obtained; that we will not
knowingly compromise any principle of
common justice in order to further any
■ends; that education and the ballot shall
be the means by which we shall accomplish our purpose. Now some may
think that I have laid too much stress
upon education, and that it covers nearly
all the by-laws and constitution of the
order. Well, in an indirect way, it does
nearly so. Xow mind, I do not mean for
us all to attend our schools, to acquire
this education, not by any means, but by
meeting together and exchanging
thoughts with each others, and getting
down to real hard study, read more and
think more for ourselves. I find already
in our Alliance that the members are reading aud thinking more for themselves,
have less prejudice, and are more liberal
in their views. A man with his head full
of prejudice has but little or no room for
anything else there.
Wo have in this (Madison) county some
14 or 15 Alliances with a membership of
about 600. In Henry and Delaware
counties we have our organizers at work,
and in thoso counties they aro organizing
rapidly, many of our most substantial and
intelligent farmers are joining. We are
working with a view of effecting a State
organization soon, whi-h will bo of great
would only loan for two-thirds tho value
of the land, how could the ~°Yernment
lose anything?
Then the Government would have to go
to farming? Xo, not all, for there is always a ready sale for land at two-thirds its
value.
As Mr. R. says it is very hard for a man
to live comfortably on a farm and be entirely out of debt.
The present rato of interest on a farm at
its money value, amounts to more than
the receipts of the crops and tho cost of
keeping the farm in repair.
There must be something done or the
farmers of this country will soon be bankrupt. There is plenty of money made,but
who makes it? The banks and money
kings.
Tbo merchant and manufacturer make
nearly the samo profits on their goods today, as they did when we had good crops
and farmers were prosperous. "All men
are equal" and their profits should be more
equally proportioned to the amount thoy
have invested. If the farmer wishes a new
law made, he will have to send one of his
own class to make it.
INTERIOR OF ISLAND HOME FARM STABLES, DETROIT, MICH.
advantage to the order. We have four
regular commissioned organizers working
in this and adjoingng counties. Xow as I
have broken tho ice let us hoar from
others. Wilson Cory.
Anderson Ind.
Should Government Loan its Surplus on
Farm Security?
Editors Indiana Farmer:
I have been reading with considerable
interest, the articles in the Farmer on a
cheaper rate of interest for the farmer,
who has his farm mortgaged. This is no
small thing. All are interested in the welfare of the farmer, for prosperity for the
farmer, means prosperity for the Xation.
Why not loan the money that is lying in
the vaults, not doing either the Government or the people any good, as it now is,
why not loan this money to farmers, who
have their farms mortgaged, at a small
per cent?
The money would be just as safe in land
as in the vaults, and be at the same time a
blessing both to the farmer and the Government? Some say that cheap land leads
to  speculation,  but  if  the   government
It is true if there should be a mortgage
and loan agency established, that it would
involve new duties upon the Secretary of
the Interior, but there are plenty of competent men to perform the work.
If this was done thousands of farmers
could pay off their mortgages and live
comfortably and "keep the boys on the
farm."
Please let us hear what others have to say
on this subject. S. L. C.
Spiceland.
■   .    «s    s	
Farming Does Pay.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
I am sure your correspondent in the
Farmer of Jan. 4th does not look at matters
in the right light, I believe farmers aro the
most independent class to-day, and that
there aro fewer failures among them, as a
class, than among any other, considering
the number in the business. It is true
therearesome failures, but they are caused,
as he says, by extravagance, either by the
man or his wife, usually by both, and by tbe
middle or poorer classes trying to equal or
excel the succesful. The farmer should
not buy carriages, extra  horses  or  other
luxuries until he can pay for them. A
farmer on rented land can make a good
a good living, set a good tabl * dress well,
have ponies for the boys to ride and have
all kinds of finery for the baby, but will
not lay up any money. I would prefer to
retrench a little and save some for old age.
He must not spend the money until ho
has earned it. When his wheat, corn or
hogs look prosperous ho must not say
to his wife, "Well 1 guess I will buy
that carriage or organ, for I think I shall
be ablo to pay for them soon and the agent
says he will wait for tho pay," but wait
until you have the money in your hand,
for you know not what may happeu. The
drouth may injure your crops or the cholera may sieze your hogs. I know that an
industrious man with a good wife can
make a good living and lay up money on
an SO acre farm, for a neighbor of our has
dono it. Ho went in debt soveral hundred
dollars for the farm. It is truo it had
buildings upon it which would answer the
purposes for which they were intended
until he could afford to build new ones.
He has paid the indebtedness, mado a tubular well, bought and paid for a wind engine, built good substantial
out buildings excepting a
barn and this last summer
built a § 1,500 house. All-this
time thoy had their buggy
snd an abundance of good
wholesome food; better by
far and moro of it, than
you usually see in the homes
.of town people of any class.
The man went to Kansas
and other places in this time
ao it was not work all tho
time.
Farming is like any other
business, it must bo attended to, and atthe right time,
good management of stock,
rotation of crops, beekeeping, dairying, poultry raising and gardening ;are all
carefully attended to by the
successful farmer and his
wife, so if one thing fails
perhaps another will not,
and lie has a feeling of security all tlie time. If he takes
a day occasionally for recreation he docs not consider
it a day lost, for his animals
and crops are growing just
the same. And if the farmer does need to borrow
money, as is sometimes tho
case he goes to the lender
of money, gives him his
note and pays a certain per
cent for the use of it, but
does not pay -550 or Sloo for
the talking, as has been
your   correspondent.
Country Girl,
women can make farming pay.
The lady who   writes   the  abovo  adds
this in a private note:
We are three women living on a small
farm, mother and two daughters, tho
mother being Gli years old. Wo manage
to make an excellent living, and havo
some of the luxuries of life, such as periodicals, books and music.
Alice lt.
a  man to
intimated
do
by
Plenty of Ice ln Wisconsin.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
Our people are still harvesting ice which
is 12 to 10 inches thick and clear as crystal.
Wisconsin has an abundant ice crop with
which to supply the less fortunato sections
of the country. Alpiiecs Tvneh.
Madison Co.
—This is good news, friend Tyner, for
wo have had no ice here thick enough to
put up.—Eds.
 .    s>    .	
A destructive cyclone passed over tho
village of Edgemoor, S. C, on the 22d. 14
houses were blown down.