The Southern Mercury. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 34, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 20, 1903 Page: 4 of 8
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THE SOUTHERN MERCURY.
WEEKLY.
Dallas, Texas.
Published every Thursday. Subscription
price *1 per year In advance.
MILTON PARK Managing Editor.
Entered at the Dallas. Texas postof-
tce as mall matter of the second class.
Receipts for moneys Riven by the Man.
aging Editor only will be recognized.
Main office: 213-215 Commerce St. (cor-
per Lamar, Gaston Building), Dallas,
Ttexas.
Bryan denounced Cleveland ajp a
"bunco-steerer" at Urbana, O., last
Week. Isnf that I lie job Biyan has
undertaken since the Denver Confer-
ence? He alms to steer the Populist*
Into the Democratic party If possible.
We are "on to" his game this time.
for the trusts and their outrageous
methods, complicity and duplicity
seem to be tbe remedy for dealing
with the recent postal scandal*.
The Farmers Alliance in North Car-
olina is In .fine condition and is adding
new sub-alliances weekly. Their State
Aliance met in Hlllsboro last week
and had a fine attendance. There Is
no reason why Texas should not line
up and be the banner Alliance state
of the country as of yore.
"The County Fair" is an American
Institution and it varies in the differ-
ent states. Last fall Nelson Lloyd,
the novelist, and E. B. Child, the ar-
tist, made a trip together, visiting
county fairs in many states from Penn-
sylvania. to Kansas. Their joint pro-
duction will appear In the Fiction
Number of Scribner's. Both article
and pictures are full of the humor 'it
character which dominates the fairs.
Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts,
will publish in the September Scrib-
ner's his recollections of "Some Fa-
mous Judges," an article filled with
anecdotes of Chief Justice Shaw,
Judge Gray, Judge Met calf. Governor
Washburn, Judge Nelson, end also of
Webster, Choate and Attorney-Gen-
eral Deveins.
If the distinguished senator will fol
low this series with his recollections
of "Some Infamous Judges," and he
will have little difficulty In calling
them to mind, he will do a greater
service to the American people. He
could begin with Shlras, the hireling
of plutocracy, who once disgraced the
ermine of the supreme court of the
United States, and come on down the
line to the petty tyrants and official
abortions found on every bench in
the country.
state In the union Is blessed with the
inexhaustible resources that Texas
has. All we need is co-operation
among our people, and equitable laws
for all. No need to go out of the state
for help, mental, physical or com-
mercial. All together and each for
all, will solve the problem.
Henry S. Little of New Jersey, an
associate of Grover Cleveland on the
board of trustees of Princeton Univer-
sity, says that Cleveland will accept
the nomination for the presidency. If it
Is tendered him. Mr. Little is an Inti-
mate friend of Cleveland and speaks
from personal knowledge. By all means
let it be Cleveland! He is the only man
who can cause a division of the sheep
from the goats in the Democratic party.
James IC. Jones, chairman of the
Democratic national committer, li an
interview at St. Paul, Minn., last week
Bald "Bryan will not come before the
convention. I do not think Cleveland
can be considered either. Senator
Gorman is a strong man. and is grow-
ing in popularity daily." This plainly
shows that Bryam Is fixing his cards
to deceive the plain people who are
banking on his political Integrity.
Bryan stands in with Jones and Jones
•with Gorman. Gorman Is Cleveland'^
tool to fleece the people. See!
Did It every occur to you that no
legislature nor congress can enact a
law which cannot be repealed by a
subesquent legislature or congress?
Every objectionable law on our stat-
ute books can be wiped out whenever
a majority of the people so determine.
It is simply the fault of the people if
bad laws exist or corrupt officials hold
Office. Get this ihought into your
mind and vote Intelligently and you
will have no reason to complain.
When we consider tho thousands of
acres of land In Louisiana and other
southern states devoted to the grow-
ing of sugar cane, and the millions
Of pounds of beet sugar grown In the
northern and western states we are
surprised to learn that there were
Imported into the Unlteed States dur-
ing the year ending Aug. 1, 1903, five
Und a quarter billion pounds of sugar.
The amount of sugar <onsumed during
the last twelve months averaged 72
pounds for each individual In the
United States.
Mr. J. A. Edgerton of Colorado,
who wa.s selected as one of the or-
ganizers to round up the Populists
and their friends In the several states,
bins entered upon his work with a
determination to succecd. He has the
following dates arranged: Denver,
Col., Sept. 14; Topeka, Kns., Sept. 17;
Chllllrothe, Mo.. Sept, 19; Springfield,
Ills., Kept. 21; Indianapolis, Ind., Sept.
24; Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 2*!; Harrls-
burg, Pa., S«pt. 29. Populists In these
several states should exert themselves
to secure a rousing reception for Or-
ganizer ICdgerton at each of these
appointments, and make all the ar-
rangements for a campaign of 'educa-
tion and organization. Mr. Kdgerton
is a strong man, convincing in argu-
ment and fluent In speech. He is an
Ideal organizer. Now, if the people
will give him that encouragement he
deserves it will not be long till the
wave of Populism will be sweeping
over the whole country, as it was In
'96. Fusion Is dead but plutocracy Is
In the saddle. If the people want to
be free now is the time to strike the
blow. Let's line up under one flag,
all who are for equal rights to the
men who have made this country the
foremost of the world.
"There used to be a good Populist
vote at this box, but for some time
past they have quit voting because
there was no ticket out to suit them.
They are as firm in their principles as
ever and are ready to line up again
when the party means business oil
straight lines. The Democrats up here
are inuch disconcerted at the outlook
and If the reorganize™ capture the next
Democratic National convention, they
will be approachable by our people. I
am glad to know the Denver Confer-
ence lias made a way for all reformers
to gat together, and If a union is effect-
ed there are enough voters in the coun-
try who agree on essential principles
to sweep the country. When we build
our. National platform we must put In
a strong plank favoring a graduated
land tax. This' Is necessary to curb tho
land speculators and to give the hon-
est industrious working man a chance
to secure a home. A good plank like
this would be a strong inducement to
many to support our ticket. I would
he glud to hear the views of others on
this subject."—S. B. Williams, Ely, Tex.
The color line is looming up In fine
lhape in the United States navy. Only
last week a half dozen officers on the
United States cruiser Columbia refus-
td to eat at the table provided for the
>fficers of the Columbia because a ne-
gro had been promoted to the official
(roup and assigned a place at the t.v
ble with them. They vow they will not
eat with a "nigger" regardless of rank
ftr orders. This Is a pointer for the
Texas boys who are rushing to the en-
rolling office to become Jolly tars In
Uncle Sam's naval service. If you
lon't want to be put on a level with
the negro, keep out of the navy!
Hon. J. M. Mullett of Cleburne, one
of the National Committeemen of the
People's Party, will address the peo-
ple of Comanche county at Putnam
on Saturday, August 22, on the ia-
aues of the day and explain the pro-
gram of the reform movement.
Bro. Mallett is one of the Old Guard
•-and a thorough reformer. His pres-
ence at the Denver -Conference con-
tributed much to the success of that
fathering. He was selected to or-
ganize Tetxas, and is anxious to begin
the work. Every reformer, yes, every
voter in Comanche and adjoining
counties should make It a point to be
lit the Putman meeting.
Hon. Wm, Macon Coleman, who was
on the editorial staff of the Mercury
In 1901-2, is now permanently located
in Washington, D. C., 518 Ninth
street, N. W„ where his correspond-
ents will please addreew him. Ho was
sekected by the Denver Conference as
organizer for the District of Colum-
bia. In a private letter to the mana-
ger of the Mercury, Col. Coleman
says: "I do not yet know what was
done at the Denver Conference, but I
Judge from Bryan's wall In the last
Issue of the Commoner that there Is
to be no more fusion, and that the
two wings of the People's Party have
united. It the Democratic nomina-
tion were to be ma die now Gorman
would get H. My opinion Is .that he
will get It anyway. He was long-
headed enough not to oppone Bryan
openly, but stood by him (ostensibly).
How can Bryan refuse to support
him? Cleveland has no show for the
nomination. The fact that he was u
bond-thief does not hurt him, but the
Democrats will put up no man whom
the Bryan men cannot support. The
big trusts nnd protected Interests
have implicit confidence ih Gorman,
something they have not In Roosevelt.
As the trusts now make presidents
I would not be surprised to see them
make Gorman president. Just es they
did Cleveland."
Bro. Mallett, our state organizer,
speaks out plainly in regard to the
Denver Conference, and reads a
wholesome lecture to Mr. Bryan in
the last issue of the Watchman after
this manner. All of which we heart-
ily endorse: "The Commoner, Mr.
Ryan's paper, seems to be having a
fit of the "Jim Jams" over the late
Denver conference. He accuses the
conference of making « platform
when Indeed ft did nothing of the
kind. It simply issued an address to
the American people declaring that
the party was united. Mr. Bryan
says "there was no compromise, but
a surrender of the regulars to the
middle of the roaders." In this he is
oft again. There was no effort at
compromise nor was their any sur
render of either faction to the other.
We only agreed in the future to
stand, act and vote together, Inde-
pendent of either old party. All men
know that the Republican party U
completely boss ridden and Is the
slave of plutocracy, and every man
who is at all Informed on politics
knows that the Democratic party is
to-day as much the servant of corpor-
ations and as completely subservient
to the money kings as the Republican
party. Everybody knows that Bryan
Is a dead duck so far as the "organ-
ized" Democracy is concerned, ajul
if he Is boniest, he must step down
and out and come over and join us.
Don't get scared. Brother Commoner.
Our platform Is already before the
world and it is not susceptible of a
half dozen constructions. It is per-
fectly plain, and means what It says.
If you want to help us in the maln-
talnence of what you say you believe,
you should get a discharge from the
old Democratic machine and act and
vote with us, for you must see that
your chance to control the Demo-
cratic party Is just about as good as
your chance to control the sun, moon
and stars. Get out of the mire and
get upon the solid rock of truth!"
comrades didn't happen to think my | sort of sidled up to them and the first
CORRESPONDENCE.
'I can't do without the old reliable,
the Southern Mercury. It has ever
contended for equal and Just rights to
all mankind. It has never changed Its
principles or platform. It has always
exposed the fraudulent acts of the cor-
porations and their allies and their
puppy ngents. I see some of the old
Alliance workers want to rebuild the
organization. I have ever held to the
principles advocated by the Alliance.
It was the ruling power of our state
nnd nation till some would-be Solo-
mons In this county run matters re-
gardless of law, principle or honor and
killed the Alliance. The People's party
was kicked to death by a few ambi-
tious office seekers. The election re-
turns are proof positive of this. I am
as true to the principles of the Alli-
ance as I ever was, although I have
been lied on and misrepresented. I
stand to-day. as I did at Omaha and at
St. Louis as a member of the Immov-
able 103. With best wishes for right
to prevail over wrong, I am as ever
an advocate of equal and Just rights
lo all mankind."—Wm. A. Sklllern, De-
coy, Tex.
The uncalled for haste with which
the administration rushed through
the bill reorganising the state militia
*nd placing it under the federal au-
thority without so mtfch as hinting
K to the people who are most vitally
Interested, would Ini'fcerts that the
people are to be made soldiers or
tllglble to military service whether
they wish to be so or not This Is
perhaps the most villainous bill of a
VlUlanous administration! Most far
patching and tremeuduous in Its
•Sects. WVtlle publicity is i^ecom-
wnded as the most efficient remedy
North Carolina furnishes an Ulus
t rat I on of what pluck and energy can
accomplish In the development of the
material wealth of a state. When the
civil war closed, no state was more
prostrate than the Old Pine Tree
State. Her fertile fields had been laid
waste, her people slain by thousands
and her public debt Increased to n
ruinous amount. But the Indomitable
energy, the undying pluck of her
people remained. They have stood
together, worked together and have
prospered as no other state In the
nation. To-day North Carolina standt>
without a peer in the galaxy of stntes
as a manufacturing people. Her cot-
ton crop last year was 649,592 bale?
Every pound of which and 32,661 bales
additional were manufactured Into
cotton goods by the mills within her
borders, bringing to her people $28,
372,798. Wouldn't things be on a
move In Terns If We could manufac-
ture our 3,000,000 bales of cotton, fur
nlsh our people with the millions of
gallons of oil used In our state, man-
ufacture our own furniture, farming
Implements, pack our own meats. etc-T
This Is by no means Impossible. No
i*
"Mr. Editor: A copy of the grand
old Mercury was put in my box a few
days ago, and It wns like meeting an
old friend. It caused me to think of
the Alliance when nearly every school
house in the state had an organization
of farmers, who, with their wives,
sons and daughters,, met every month
and exchanged Ideas and had a good
time. How different are tlie conditions
now! The farmers have fallen back
Into the old ruts and allow the politi-
cian to do the thinking und the specu-
lators to price our labor. We boast of
our free and Independent country;
boast of our children being born free
and Independent, but It Is not true.
Our children are born In bondage. We
have a heavy bonded debt hanging over
us, which our children will have to
pay. This Is wrong. Thomas Jeffer-
son was right when he said one gen-
eration should not contract a debt for
another to pay. Let's wake up the old
Alliance members. They are not dead;
they are only sleeping. Brother Sec-
retary, call a meeting of the old mem-
bers, pass a resolution allowing every
sub-Alliance to be reinstated by each
male member paying 25 cents, which
pays his dues for three months from
the date paid. I can organize every
sub-AUInnce In this country with such
a promise. The organizers should have
some remuneration, but 15 cents out
of 25 cents would pay his expenses,
then the remaining 10 cents could bft
divided between the county and state
Alliance. Bro. R. A. High and all old
Alliance members, let us keep agitat-
ing until we get the Alliance on foot
once more. Bro. Park, keep the Mer-
cury as you have always done. In the
middle of the road, and I'll try to send
some subscribers."—C. A. McMeans,
Kennedale, Tex.
way, I have not thought I had a right
to question their political Integrity.
Really, Bro. Milton, down here In Tex-
as (I came from the West three years
ago) Populists, to their advantage,
might have acted on the suggestion, let
him who hath not ofTended cast the
first stone. In that case, there would
have been less abuse of the Western
Populists for fusing with the Derr.o<
crats. Here, even in Texas; the strong-
hold of mld-roadlsm (a theory) we Pop-
ulists have not been entirely free from
suspicion of having T*Ther kukistrious-
ly encouraged Texas Republicans to co-
operate with us. True, we never went
nearly so far In the direction of fusion
with them as did our Western brothers
with the emocrats, but the difference
was rather in degree than otherwise.
I see that the Denver Conference de-
clared straight out against fusion In
the future, and I am glad of It. I am
sure there are now nearly enough
straight Populists In the United States
to whip the fight next time, but I live
In hope that when the goldbug ele-
ment In the Democratic and1 Republi-
can parties shall have slapped in the
face the free sliver element in said
parties, they will arise in their wrath
and might and hit back In the only
effective way, and that is by pulling
out from the men who will have slap-
ped their faces (figuratively speaking)
and organizing a new party to battle
for the liberties of the people generally.
When this shall come about, count me
as one middle-of-the-roader who will
be more than willing to face them, by
getting in line and close touch with
them, und'er a new line. There is life
In the old land yet. my brother, and
I know that right will prevail—after-
a while. Your friend—Joel N. Dawson.
Waco, Tex., July 31, 1903.
Editor Park;
I see that you were at Denver and
agreed to work In the future with the
men you have been abusing pretty
constantly for two or three years past.
I refer, of course, to the despised (?)
fusion Populists, who have been doing
In the West what they thought was for
the best, notwithstanding the mlddle-
of-the-ronders have been rnlllng them
hard names. So far as I nm concerned.
I never believed In fusion %lth Demo-
i rats In the West, or with Republicans
In the South, but because my fuiloiust
ii b
Jacksonville, Fla., July 27, 1903.
Hon. Milton Park:
My Friend, Comrade and Brother—1
write to you because I wish to say to
you that I am glad once more to be
in touch with you. I address you in
a tripple sense, and I mean it. You are
the friend of the people, therefore you
are my friend. You were a Confederate
soldier and so was I, therefore you
were my comrade in the days that tried
men's souls in our Southland, and I see
that you are still true to your colors
and are actlvly identified with the U.
C. V. association, as I am. But the
fact that you now are fighting gold-
buglsm and those who are standing In
with plutocracy, makes you In the
strongest possible sense of the word
my brother. May heaven bless you
for what you have done in the Interest
of the people! May It hold up your
hands now in your effort to be right
and do right. May it strengthen you
to meet bravely and successfully to
contend with those who knowingly or
unwittingly are opposing the masses In
the Interest of the classes! You observe
that I give some of those who are still
identified with the Republican and the
Democratic parties, credit for doing
wrong without knowing that they are
so doing. Here in this Land of Flow-
ers, I am every day thrown in contact
with men who are acting with one or
the other of the old parties In the be-
lief that In time they will be able to
induce their party associates to see
and do the right. Strange, Is !♦ not?
Yet these men are honest, and I can
not find it in my heart to censume
them. I can not agree with them, but
after a while they will see things as
I see them, and then they will do as I
did in 1892: come from those who stand
In with Wall Street and Join those who
are openly fighting Wall Street.
Our old friend, Haverland, who was
with us at St. Louis when the People's
Party put W. J. Bryan on our Nation-
al ticket, with "Tom" Watson (over
my protest), is still alive and sn ac-
tive reform worker at 87. I am in-
debted to him for a recent copy of the
Southern Mercury. The enclosed mon-
ey order will explain better than words
what I think of the paper. I hope lo
receive It In the future and I hope to
see It In the years to come putting up
a valiant fight for the right. I hope
you are to-day in Denver and that you
are using your influence In favor of a
cordial reunion of the two factions of
our part. It is necessary that all men
who truly love their country shall quit
fighting each other and Join hands in
a fight against the common enemy. I
have never been for fusion with either
of the old parties, but I have never
(Joubted the Populism of Senators Al-
len and Butler and those who with
them were willing to act with the Bry-
an wing of the Democracy and the Tel-
ler wing of the Republicans. I think,
though, they are now ready to give up
all such party tactics and I trust ear-
nestly that In the next national battle
of the ballots every Populist In this
country will stand shoulder to shoulder.
I see some of your correspondents are
Inclined to think W. J. Bryan will quit
the Democrats In 1904, when they shall
have repudiated him and the two plat-
forms on which he ran for president.
Mnybe so, and maybe not! He has a
cousin who is now governor of this
state, but. he is certain to stay with
that party, no matter who It shall
nominate for president, to hear his
strikers tell it, though I think he will
not. I wish you long life and abundant
prosperity nnd happiness, Bro. Pnrk.
Yours sincerely—I* P. Forsythe.
Grandvlew, Tex., Aug. 4, 1903.
Editor Mercury:
1 see you were at Denver and took an
active part In the deliberations there of
the Populists. That was all right, but
do you really think any good will com"
of It? I well remember that there
was a conference at Omaha of the Peo-
ple's Party leaders a few years ago and
that over fusion. Brothers almost
pledged themselves to quit coquetting
with Democrats, but when the very
next campaign cams on the Democrats
thing we mlddle-of-the-roaders down
here in Texas knew, both of said
crowds were in the same camp, and
thick as thieves. Perhaps thst, too,
was all right, and come to think of it,
I dare say we had no kick coming to
us, even If we didn't agree with the
fusion Populists. They doubtless thought
It was the correct thing to stand In with
the Democrats who had adopted about
all of our demands, and they did get a
lot of pie and all that sore of thing, as
the result of fusion. Evidently*
though it didn't settle well on their
stomachs, since they now seem keen
to abandon the fusion idea. At all
events, they say so, and If we can be-
lieve they mean It and will stand by it.
It may have been the best after all,
for them to have fused and been deceived.
Next time they will know better, 1
hope. Now that they are mlddle-of-the
roaders and we are still In the middle-
of-the-road, let us quit squabbling and
from now on work together In dead
earnest. Let us hold our next Nation-
al convention early in 1904, nominate
a strong reformer for president and
vice president, adopt a strong, aggres-
sive platform, and then wait to see
what the other fellows will do. I think
the Democrats are going to repudiate
their Populistlc utterances of 189G and
1900, and that Gorman or some other
such man will be put at the head of
their National ticket. If so, we will
see what we will see. I hope we will
see that the Democrats who believe in
the Chicago and Kansas City platforms
of their party will kick over the traces,
but I confess I am not very sanguine
of such a result. However, we will
have established the reform headquar-
ters and will have raised the banner
of reform, and if such men as Bryan,
Tom Johnson, "Golden Rule" Jones,
George Fred Williams and all that
crowd shall care to march In camp
with us, I shall be glad to welcome
them, and would be willing even to
go with them into a new army
of reform and side by side with thein
maek a gallant and desperate fight in
1904 for the right sort of government.
Whether we shall, all hands of us.
call ourselves Populists, or adopt a new
party name will, to my way of think-
ing, be a matter of trifling importance.
I don't care shucks for any particular
name, so long as we shall all mean bus-
iness, and that our business will be to
turn out of office and power both of
the old parties, the Republicans na-
tionally and In most of the Eastern
states, the Democrats in the South and
many of the Western states. I am glad
you are still willing and able to make
a fight for reform, and I now promise
you that I will do my part to hold up
your hands as long as you shall stand
fighting for reform measures. I am
what Is called a tenant farmer, and
I am awfully tired of paying nearly
half enough rent every year as would
pay for a farm of my own, only I don't
know where to go to find the cheap farm
lands I hear so much about, and be-
sides, I don't care to play a lone hand
In such a matter. I see some of your
correspondents have been writing In
favor of co-operation among farmers
In the way of buying farms together
and In farming them together. I think
that Is a good Idea and whenever any
considerable number of them shall b*
ready to act on that Idea, let me kno'-v
It, and If they shall be clever fellows,
they may count me In with them if
they will let me in. I need about 200
acres of good agricultural land, and I
am willing to pay $10 to $12 an acre for
In a good farming section. I can
take the rent money I would have to
pay for myshrdluushrdluupupupupupu
pay here in three years and pay $15
per acre and come out on top. Your
friend—D. N. Johnston, late of Wil-
liamson county.
Collin County, Tex., Aug. 3, 1903.
Mr. Milton Park:
My husband Is somewhere in West
Texas hunting for cheap land. He
tried to file on some school land, first
In Tom Green county, then in Glasscock
county, and still later In Mlflland coun-
ty, but the cowmen had things fixed
their way, and he never had any show
to get an acre. He wrote, me from
Midland that his only chance was to
find some good land that he could buy
without having to scramble for It like
beggars after pennies thrown to them
by goldbugs, so he Is now hunting for
that kind of land. If you or any of
the Mercury readers know of such land,
we will be grateful for Information
that will help us get a home for our-
selves and our children. We only have
nine of our own and we are raising
two orphans, so you see we ought to
have a pretty good-sized farm. We
have tried renting In Travis, Bell and
Ellis counties during the past nine
years, since we moved to Texas from
Arkansas, and after paying the third
and fourth, and having to move every
two or three years, we are no better
oft now than we were when we got to
Texas.
In the last letter I got from my hus-
band he said he was encouraged to be-
lieve that the Populists of the West
were going to stand by their colors
like brave men. He had been talking
with them In every county visited by
him, and he said they were firm as the
Rock of Ages. None that he had met
were willing to go back to the old par-
ties, but all of them expressed them-
selves as being resolved to stay with
thsoe who are so ardently In favor or
a real republican government. Yoi
know, Mr. Park, that "Jim" Is what
Is cal*d ,fa fool Pop." but his wife if
a bigger fool. If possible, than he Is
when Populism Is at stake. I was r
Populist long before he was. and he
snys now that I converted him—or. a?
he puts It, I taught him what real
d?mocracy means. You see, I used ti
be a school teacher before Jim and I
married and for eight years after that,
until ws had so many mouths to fill,
that teaching on my part and clerking
on his part, back la Arkansas, didn't
pay us enough to llv"e on. Then we
took to farming for a living, bu>; we
have found It an up-hill V><Uiness, hav-
ing to pay high rent year after year.
I am here visiting a brother, but will
go back to Ellis county soon to meet
Jim, who hopes soon to be back there
with a good Wtest Texas farm in sight
In the near future.
Our old neighbor ard your old friend,"
'Squire Trimble, !s visiting my broth-
er also, and he says for me to tell you
that he was 74 years old yesterday, and
he la still the same sort of a "fool
Populist" he has been since 1892, when
he voted for Judge Nugent for gover-
nor of Texas. Y / - friend^—Mrs. Aman-
da Kinney Graves.
Homer, La., Aug. 13, 1903.
Dear Mr. Park:
Our mutual friend, Esquire Lever,
late of your state, now on a visit to
relatives in this parish, has handed to
me a late copy of your paper, and It
was like meeting an old-time friend
to see it. Back In the 80's I was an
Alliance worker In Texas, when 1
saw It regularly, and I take pleasure
In stating that in Its columns I found
my first lessons In reform. I ses tha'
some of your correspondents are tn
favor of reorganizing the Alliance.
This, it strikes me, is a move In the
right direction, and I hope you will
use the Mercury in an earnest effort
to get the old guard Alliance men back
In Alliance work. No better organlza -
tlon for the working man was ever
organised and notwithstanding it has
been a sort of "has been" for years,
it can again be made a vital force for
good.
Enclosed herewith I hand you a list
of good and true Populists, all of
them old-time Alliance workers, to
whom I ask that you send marked
copies of your paper containing notice
of the certain Farmers' Colony being
organized to settle on Brazos bot'.om
lands in your county of Fisher. I
have been all over that county and 1
am sure It is all right as a good farm-
ing section. I visited my brother-in-
law, C. Wells, who rented a farm near
Swedonla several years ago, and he
claimed that Fisher county was quite
the equal of his old county of Chero-
kee for all purposes. The men whose
names I am sending you are all ten-
ant farmers except Bradshaw who
owns his own place, but wishes to
sell it and go west. He and his fam-
ily have not had good health in Travis
county, and I think they will prefer a
Brazos river farm In Fisher to their
Colorado river farm. I wish I was
back in Texas, but I expect I will have
to stick it out in Louisiana a while
longer. Yours very truly—Alex H.
Gordon.
The battleship Massachusetts was
damaged while leaving Bar Harbor,
Me., by striking on the edge of rocks
off the western end of Egg Rock.
E. E. Johnson, bookkeeper for the
Commercial Banking company of Du-
luth, Minn., was arrested on a war-
rant charging him with the embez-
zlement of $45,000 of the bank's money.
The Silver Spray, a fishing boat own-
ed at Erie, Pa., entered that port in
a badly shattered condition, due to an
encounter in mid-lake with the Canad-
ian revenue cutter Petrel.
At the sale held at New York of the
diamonds smuggled into this country
by Michael Lelnkram, the firm of Jos-
eph Goodman & Son, Memphis, Tenn.,
were the successful bidders, paying
$24,000 for the entire lot.
Statements from Bulgarian sources
assert that the revolutionists possess
35,000 rifles, 15,000,000 cartridges and
four tons of dynamite; that the insur-
gents number 25.000, of whom 10,000 are
In the vilayet of Monastlr.
Witnesses at the Humbert trial for-
mally- and positively Identified Romaln
and Emile d'Aurlgnac. Mme. Therese
Humbert's brothers, as being the men
who Impersonated the "American mil-
lionaires," Robert and Henry Crawford.
Lord Salisbury is seriously ill.
Four thousand troops are bombard-
ing Kurshevo.
The house of lords has approved the
tilsh land bill.
Vesuvius continues In eruption and
has caused much alarm.
Consuls at Monastlr are in danger
of being killed by Turks.
Bulgarians are said to have massa-
cred the inhabitants of Kenatl.
The Byrd faction Is thought to have
on the Chickasaw election.
The American yacht Irondequoit
•on the Canadian cup at Toronto.
The council of disconcerted Indiana
under the leadership of Craay Snake
has adjourned.
A. E. Batson will be hanged at
Lake Charles, La., to-day for the mur-
1er of the Eatl family.
Turkey Insists on the public execu-
tion of the gendarme who killed Rus-
sian Consul Rcstokovskl.
D. O'Connor and son, while round-
ng up cattle near Ardmore. I. T., col-
lided and are badly injured.
The Morgan line steumer Eldorado,
hlch arrived at New Yoik fiom Gal-
ston, had on board a twelve-year-
-l l boy who was found adrift in an
open boat, about one hundred miles
ofT Georgia on August 19. He was
naked and almost dead from expos-
ure.
Engineer J. H. ArerklU Jr. and
'■"lremnn Wm. Hair were killed in a
freight wreck on the Southern rall-
V! y near Ashevllle, N. C.
Extra session of congress will be
ailed to meet In October or Novem-
ber to tako up rsclproclty treaty with
"uba and currency legislation.
During a fierce storm at Shawnee,
Ok., lightning struck and part'ally
moll shed three brick buildings.
The son of A. T. Rosa receive* a
shock bat revived.
Tho State Capitol Commission
awarded to Caldwell ft Drake of Cb-
lumbus, Ind., 'the contract for the
completion of the new state capitol of
Arkansas at Little Rock. The firm's
bid was $947,846. The contract calls
for the use of Arkansas marble In the
superstructure and the building is toi
be completed by Dec. 23, 1906.
W. K. Ryan, son of Thomas F. Ry-
an, vice president of the Morgan
Trust company of New York, has
purchased control of tbo Portland
Gold Mining company, owning and
operating the Portland mine at Crip-
pie Creek, for the Whtties-Ryan syn-
dicate and tha Guggenheim Explora-
tion company. The price paid for tho
190,000 shares Involved is said to bo
In the neighborhood of $5,000,000.
Considerable damage was done by
a storm at Chickasha, I. T.,
The National Building Trades Council
endorsed Hearst for Jresldent.
Genie Makesnoies was accidentally
killed by her brother near Guthrie, Ok.
Will Diamond, colored, was lynched
at Marion, Ark., for the murder of his
wife.
Wheat and oats at Mangum I. T., ara
lying on the ground because of lack of
cars.
Turkish troops recovered the town
of Krushevo after a battle with insur-
gents.
The new Mallory line steamer San Ja-
cinto, will be launched at New York
Aug. 22.
A cloudburst washed out several hun-
dred feet of Rock Island track near
Croctaw City, Okla.
Clarence Brltton killed himself at
Walsh, near Jennings, La., by swallow-
ing an ounce of laudanum.
By the explosion of an ant-kllling ma-
chine at Ardmore. I. T., J. A. Robinson
was badly burned about the limbs. Ha
will recover. *
Dick Wells went a mile in 1:37 2-5 at
Harlem and defeated Grand Opera In a
match race. This Is new world's record
for a circular track.
Dr. H. J. Hamilton, United States
Marine Hospital surgeon, has complet-
?d his investigation of yellow fever
conditions at Monterey, Mex., and has
notified the Washington authorities that
there is not a case of yellow fever there
nor in the Immediate surrounding
towns.
Martinique reports losses as the re-
sult of the recent storm as follows:
"Cane, cocoa and coffee crops total loss.
Fruits and vegetables positively de-
stroyed. Every town and village in-
jured. Thousands of houses down.
Deaths few. Communication difficult.
Breadstuffs, provisions, galvanized roof-
ing will find ready sale."
Officials at Albany, Ga„ deny the re-
ported lynching of King Wightman, a
negro, and a white man named Thomp-
son at Hartsfield for assaulting Mrs.
Mathls, a white woman. The two men,
who were recognized by Mrs. Mathls,
have been placed safely in Jail at Moul-
tre, Ga., by officers, after eluding a mob
which had been in pursuit of the negro.
A storm did much damage in Yuca-
tan.
Col. Wm. E. Bundy died at Cincin-
nati, Ohio.
Choctaw lands bring a good price In
spite of the recent drouth.
St. Louis was shocked yesterday. It
required an earthquake to do It.
Albert Mormon, aged twenty-two
years, was drowned near Vlnita, I. T.
President Roosevelt spoke at Oyster
Bay on decency of speech andi conduct.
A development company takes steps
to Increase the output of coal at Coal-
gate.
Turkish officials at Constantinople
scout the Idea of a naval demonstration
on the part of Russia.
The British ambassador notifies the
Porte that grave consequences may
follow killings in Macedonia.
The Ottoman government has con-
cluded negotiations with the Krupp
works for the supply of thirty-two bat-
teries of quick field artillery, each
consisting of six guns.
A fire occurred at Maiden, Ark., which
destroyed the large compress, the ware-
houses of Ritchie & Co. and Reeves &
Son, and two other houses. Loss $100,-
000, with but little Insurance.
General Tzoncherff, the president of
the Macedonian committee, who was
reported Aug. 13 to have been arrested
by the Bulgarian police near the Mace-
donian frontier, has escaped into Mace-
donia^
The Bulgarian government has pre-
sented a memorandum to the powers
setting out at great length the condi-
tion of affairs during the last three
monthB In Macedonia, since the Turk-
ish government undertook to inaugu-
rate the promised reforms. They prac-
tically set up a plea of self-defense.
English golfers won at Chicago.
Grasshoppers are ravaging Montana.
The textile strike has been broken
at Philadelphia.
Pedro Alvarado, a millionaire mine
owner, died at Parral, Mexico.
Judge Clayton has decided that
tribal taxes can no longer be collected.
United States Senator Quay has been
invited to visit Oklahoma before con-
gress convenes.
Prince Chlng has agreed to sign a
treaty with the United States to open
two Chinese ports.
Diplomats at London have no fear
of immediate trouble between the pow-
ers over Macedonia.
Shipping did not suffer from the
storms which raged at Yucatan and
unroofed many houses.
The Barry rammed the torpedo boat
destroyer Decatur while the navy was
maneuvering at Oyster Bay.
The attorney general of the Indian
Territory has ruled that timber may
be cut as soon as land is allotted.
At the Birmingham coal hearing
leading operators declared that South-
ern plants are more expensive than
Northern.
The United States Judge at St. Louis
decided in favor of the Western Un-
ion Telegraph company In the famous
labor case.
Forty persons were killed by the up-
per deck of a vessel collapsing while
an excursion party was crossing Lake
Typojarvl, Finland.
An unknown man was discovered
choking the daughter of J. C. Stout
at Lake Charles, La. Excitement Is
Intense, but no arrests have been made.
J. L. Burke of Waco, Tex., has leas-
ed the Veldome opera house at New
Iberia, La., from Messrs. Murray ft
Bell. It Is now undergoing some
changes. _
George Miller of the famous 101
ranch ranch brought suit at Guthrie,
Okla., against Col. Albert Dean of Kan-
sas City, Southwestern agent for tbe
bureau of animal Industry, asking $20,-
000 personal damages.
Police Judge Tracy of St. Louts ruled
that street cars could be forced to stop
for passengers at street corners. Ths
case grew out of Bsrerly S. Warden a
threatening to shoot a motorman
1ms is stsand for
T
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Park, Milton. The Southern Mercury. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 34, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 20, 1903, newspaper, August 20, 1903; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth186010/m1/4/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .