The Southern Mercury, Texas Farmers' Alliance Advocate. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 37, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 11, 1890 Page: 4 of 8
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THE SOÜTHEBM MEBCUBY; DALLAS, TEXAS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1890.
The Southern Mercury.
ONI DOLLAR A VIAN, IN AOVANOI.
■Sam H. Dixon,
M. Newton,
Editor.
But. Man'gr.
■atorad at tho poitoflloe, Dallas, Teia*. m
aooond-cla** moil matter.
UAD thisjoablfully
PAUOalM thOM witkj Advertise With 0
Advertising rotea furnlihed on Application.
Always mention the Mercury when writing
(0 advertisers.
Keep business matter* leparate from corres-
pondence Intended for publication.
txamlue the figure* on the label on your pa-
yer And Me that your time li correct
AU letter* Intended for the Mercurj, whether
bsalneu or otherwl**. ahonld be addressed to
■ftoDthern Mercury," DaIIa*, Texas.
When «ending notice of change of address,
anless the old a* well a* the new addre** 1*
.given, we caunot pay any attention to inch re-
Make money orders, drafts and all remittances
payable to the order of the "Southern Mercu-
ry," and Addre** *11 letter* to the "Southern
Mercury," Dalla , Texas.
Benew your «ubacriptlon, *o yon won't ml**
•Any copien, aa we can't alway* fUrnlih back
■nmberi; the flgifre* en the label on your pa-
per will tell you when your time 1* out.
Before writing to the editor, understand fully
what you want to «y, *ay it in a* few word* a*
poailble, *ign yonr uame and then qnlL
Article* Intended for publication must be
Written only on one *lde of the paper, and the
foal name of the writer «lgned to it—not necei-
-Mrily for publication, but a* an erldenoe of
-good faith.
AU obltuAry notice* aeut to the Mercury for
publication, utiles* accompanied by the caah
to pay for *ame, will not be printed; the charge*
•ftor printing obltiary notice* are one oent per
word for each word In ezceu of fifty.
When «ending subscription* to the Mercury,
please mention the word "renewal" in connec-
tion with All nAmea lent when the party i* al-
ready a inbtcriber. By paying itrict attention
to thl* you will confer a favor upon the buslnea*
deportment.
When writing to The Meronry concerning
Mhange of Addre**," or Any failure to receive
your paper* promptly, or concerning money
gent in for lubscrlptlon*, plea*e mention your
peetoflce, the date of your former letter*, and
•lao the date of your printed receipt which we
gent you, and Alway* addre** yonr lnqulrie*,
eomplalnta, etc., to
socthebn mercury,
And your communication will receive prompt
•Mention.
ANNOUNCEMENTS.
County Treasurer.
We are Authorized to announce a. McCom-
ma« a candidate for the office of county treaa-
arer of Dalla* county, At the ensuing November
•lection.
We Are Authorised to Announce 0. H. Patrick
«a a candidate for the office of county treasurer
•f Dalla* county, at the ensuing November
election.
We are authorised to announoe Jacob L. Wil-
liams a candidate for treasurer, Dallaa county.
Sleetion, Nov. 4,1890.
County Collector.
We are authorised to announce J. F. Irwin a
^candidate for County Tax Collector, at the en-
•fulng November election.
We are authorized to announce W. H. Cullum
, atoandldate for tax collector of Dalla* oounty.
1 Election November 4,1890
We Are authorised to announce Loul* Jacoby
a* a candidate for the offloe of tax collector,
DAlla* county, Texas at ensuing election.
Sheriff.
We are authorised to announoe Monroe Per-
ison a candidate for the offloe of sheriff, Dal
i oounty, Texas, at ensuing election.
We are authorised to announce W. M. Moon
. as a candidate for sheriff. Election November
4th, 1*90.
We are authorized to announce W. H. Lewis
candidate for re election to tho office of sheriff
Dallae counity. Election Nov 4,1890.
Oounty Clerk.
We Are authorised to announce Lee Hughes
. a* a candid Ate for oounty clerk. Election No-
vember 4th, 1890.
Oounty Attorney.
We are Authorized to announce D. a, Wil-
liam* a* a candidate for re-election to tho of-
fice of o unty attorney of Da las county,
■lection Nov. 4.
they would create a healthy public
sentiment which is necessary for the
prosperity of the Alliance
Don't forget to ask your candidate
for the legislature how he stands on
the peni'eatiary manufactory for bag-
gm-
From all parts of the state comes
the cheering intelligence that the cause
is strengthening, and the brotherhood
solidifying.
Barn it Gibus is light again. He
says that the com mission amendment
will be adopted by ioo ooo majority.
And he is right.
The victory the people won at San
Antonio is not yet complete, nor will it
be until the amendment is adopted in
November. Remember this.
The platform adopttd at San Anto
nio is no milk and cider mother hub
bard policy. It is clear cut, that is, it
was cut by the farmers pattern
If you must cross a mountain, you
will never do it while you sit at its
foot and keep saying it is an awful
job. Difficulties are like mountains.
The annual trade edition of the Gal-
veston News of Sept. ist, is a monu-
ment to the enterprise of that pap er,
and is valuable to file away for reference.
Grumbling may possibly do some
good as a means of agitation, but the
man who confines himself to grumbling
is a nuisance and should be so regaided.
The Mercury will be able in a few
weeks to give some reliable figures re-
garding the cost of establishin bag*
ging factories in the state peniten-
tiaries.
The pension roll shows that con-
gress has found a veritable elixir of
life. The soldiers now sing, I would
rather live always. I ask but to stay
where the (lag of prosperity waves hig'i
o'er the way.
■ohool Superintendent.
We are authorlied to announce j. K. Palmer
a candidate for oounty school superintendent
of Dalla* county. Election Nov. 4 lb90.
Assessor.
We are authorized to announoe Bam Hutinl-
«utt a candidate for the office of assessor of
alia* oounty. Eleotion Nov. 4,1890.
When writing to the Mercury upon
any subject whatever always address
your Utters to "The Southern Mercury,"
Dallas, Texas, and not to any individ-
ual. Make remittances payable to
"Its Southern Mercury." By com-
plying with this simple request, your
•Miters will be insured prompt attention.
SPECIAL NOTICE.
In view of the contemplated im-
provement of the Economist and The
Mercury, the clubbing price of the
two has been increased to $1.80. It
has heretofore been $i 6o. Please
>bear this in mind, as in no initance
-will the two papers be sent for less
<han $i.8o.
It is interesting to note party evo-
lution in the last decade.
Send your best men to the next
legislature. Men with legislative ex-
perience as well as brains. There is
much work before it, and it should not
be simply a school for young politi-
cians to learn parliamentary tactics.
If the farmers of Texas desire to
have accurate knowledge of the prod-
ucts of Texas last year, drop a postal
card to Hon. L. L Foster, Austin,
Texas, and he will mail you free of
cost a copy of the Agricultural Report
of Texas.
Subscriptions to The Mercury
were received during the past week
from the following states: Arkansas,
Alabama, Florida, California, Missis-
sippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, Lou
isiana, Indian Territorv, Missouri,
Washington Territory, Dakota, Geor
gia, and Minnesota.
The man who complains of farming
being unprofitable is not a farmer but
a demagogue, says an exchange. The
man who says fanning h a been profit
able is not a farmer but a fool. In-
deed, the man who looks over the cat-
tle market for the last two years, acd
says that agriculture is profitable, is an
idiot.
From present appearances, the aist
•legislature will very largely succeed
itself. ^_______
The newspapers are fixing up Gen.
Hogg's cabinet now. He will do it
next January.
382
subscribers in one week is not a bad
showing is it? It is business.
It keeps the kid politicians very
busy of late to keep the old party vet-
erans posted as to party fealty.
Sub Alliances should form a deba-
ting society and discuss questions both
publicly and privately. By doing so
The unwritten law was again called
on at Ft. Worth on the 8th to avenge
the honor of a ruined family, but it
ought to have been done six months
sooner. The rake who is continually
playing the role of masher, like a pole-
cat, can be traced by his odor, and a
vigorous dose of the unwritten law is
the surest specific. Ed Kennedy de
serves a monument alongside that of
Al Hayne.
Senator Coke recently introduced
a bill in congress in regard to national
banking associations, and it is exciting
much comment. It is in the direction
of relief from the present financial
stringency, proposes to make the sys
tem of practical benefit to the people,
and of course, it is opposed by those
who are always afraid that the capital
is going to get frightened. It would
be well if hoarded capital could get
just enough frightened lo turn itself
loose among the people. Read the
bill elsewhere in this issue.
TO ALLIANGEKBN THBOUOH-
OUT THE STATE.
We want to say something to you
about your paper, The Southern
Mercury. It is here and doing bus-
iness at the old stand, but it needs
your help, your sympathy, your co op-
eration, your subscription. There has
not been a more auspicious time than
the preient for every farmer in the
state to subscribe for the paper. Two
good crop years in succession, with
cotton and the cereals a. a fair price,
when will they be in better shape to
do so? And remember that the ene
mies to the order are watching your
paper, and they will judge of your fe-
alty to the cause you have espoused
by the way in which you give it sup-
port. With it, stands or falls the Alli-
ance cause in Texas, and what a titil-
lation woutd steal through the ranks
of organized monopoly and its co-ad-
jutors everywhere, should your state
organ fail to receive the support of its
friends. We are not complaining.
The Mercury has been climbing up
steadily this year, and the cheering
letters we are receiving from brethren
in all parts of the state encourages us
to go forward to better things. We
want to enlarge the paper, we want to
give you more news, we want to make
it a paying institution for the Alliance.
Changes in contemplation will involve
additional expenditures. There are
many people who take The Mercury
that take no other newspaper, and we
want to make it to such and to all
others a valuable medium for general
news, so that the farmer, the mechan-
ic, the laboring man in any sphere, or
any other class, can, by reading its
columns, keep posted on what is go-
ing on in this busy world of ours.
Especially is it our aim to make it a
reflex of current thought and action
in the reform movement throughout
the states, that is shaking up the dry
bones of dead issues, and forcing po-
litical parties to halt amidships, take
their bearings and tack for the polar
star of a pure government for the peo-
ple. Our subscription list should be
doubled this fall. Right now while
you have the money is the time to
subscribe, or to renew. We are just
tiding over the dull season, and the
dollar that you send in will help us to
make the improvements in the paper
that we desire, at the same time you
get value received many times and
have consolation in the thought of
helping in such a good work. Will
not every subscriber who can do so
renew at once, whether your time is
out or not? Now you can, but at
some other time when you would, you
might not have the change. Also,
will not every subscriber secure anoth-
er? That is something that you can
do, and in that manner how easy it
would be to double the subscription
list. When by making such a small
sacrifice, you can do so much, isn't it
your duty? Are we not recreant to
our trust, when we are continually
talking about what we mean to do,
what we ought to do, and what we can
do, yet, halt when so small an oppor
tunity of doing something is presented?
Now is the time, since we've been at
tacked by foes within as well as foes
without, to present a solid front and
show the enemy that common dangers
but serve to knit us more strongly to
gether. From all the states comes
the cheering news that the people's
cause is gaining ground, and shall we
here in Texas, the cradle of the move
ment, grow lazy with success? The
people of Texas have already won a
great victory this year. The Mercury
claims no honor for that, but it was al-
ways found in the forefront of the ranks
battling for the common cause. The
voice of the State Alliance in endors
ing its course, should be guaranty
enough for the brotherhood. But re-
member the fight is not over yet; we
expect to try to keep you posted as
we have done before, and everyone
who helps extend the circulation of
the paper is helping the common
cause along.
Remember that evetyone who will
send us five names, with $5, will re*
ceive as premium a beautiful Alliance
pin, and that all who send ten names,
with $10, will receive by return mail a
book that ought to be in every farm-
er's library, "History of the Wheel
and Alliance, and the Impending Re/*
olution."
Subscribe! Subscribe!! Subscribe!!!
DON'T WANT AGITATION.
A dispatch from Saratoga, Sept. 3rd,
says:
The annual convention of the American
Banker*' association began shortly before
noon. A large number of reprenentatlve
financial men of the United State* were
p esent. President Char e* Pardon*, pre*,
ident of the ttute bank, delivered h a annu-
al adtlres . lie treated on all finanoiai
questions In Importance, particularly of
the silver question. On tht* latter ques-
tion he argued that as congreis had al-
ready patted It for it* solution that the
law should be given a chance to show bow
It worked. Agitating the question a pree-
<nt would only result In harm to the coun-
try.
Yes, "agitating the question" is what
bankers, capitalists, protected million-
aires, and that ilk generally dread, but
the people are aroused, and the agita
tion is going to continue until congress
is composed of men who will not quail
at the fiat of Wall street, or some
trembling monarchy across the ocean
FARMER'S ALLIANCE.
Thl* body At Dallas, Tex., linlihed It* la-
bor* on the evening of the 23rd of Aug.
and briefly copied were a* follow*: Ask-
ing congress to mike lawa preserving the
public domain tor American colonization
only, and law*, state and natioal be passed
to regulate transportation for the bene it
of the people, and lor the unlimited coin-
age or gold and allver, to be tdpplimented
by a euillolent volume of treasury notes, to
supply the country wl tliou-. the interven-
tion of national banks, also asking the state
legislature to speedily amend the land law,
«0 a* '0 open up the western part of the
state for actual settlers.—Corslctna Ob-
server.
Friend Miller, you failed to notice
one of the most important demands
made at that meeting, which was that
manufactories be established within
the walls of the penitentiary for the
manufacture of bagging to wrap the
cotton crop of Texas. This is entirely
practicable, and candidates for the
legislature had just as well make up
their minds about it.
A FEW THINGS, EH7
There are a lew things that legislation
can legitimately do to aid the farmers in
their arduous struggle. Those thlrgs
will be done 11 the farmers can Agree to
Atk for them, but complete, permanent re-
lief can only ewe from farmer* advancing
to a higher plane of cultlvati >n. Farmers
must compel their soli and clrcumstancee
to do more for them, they must employ all
their power* or mind, as well a* boy, In
their vocation and then their clouds will
toll away.—American Rural U >me.
Should not the trend of legislation,
if intended to benefit the whole coun-
try, throw its greatest protection around
its greatest interest? Then say not
•'there are a few things," but "there
are maay things." One of the objects
of the Farmer's Alliance is to advance
them to a higher plane, mentally as
well as agriculturally, that is to edu-
cate them, not only in science that
pertains to cultivation of the soil, but
also in the science of government. A
representative government is safe in
the hands of an intelligent citizenship
CURS IN KANSAS, TOO.
Hon B. H. Clover, President of
the Kansas Farmer's Alliance in a let
ter to the Alliance Tribune, makes
use of the following language:
There will be a good many hungry curs
run out of their kenneii to bark at tho Al
ltance train as It gtet by, and the dirtiest
and mangiest will bark the loudest. Alll
anoe men will remember that I will not
have the time or inclination to re ute all
the liet this "g*ng" will concoet, and I am
aorry that they think j ou luch foo'aasto
believe them. Remember the interests At
■tAke. Remember the homeless, the aor
rowing, the discouraged, the weary and
heavy laden. The decalogue and golden
rule must have a place in the great upris
lng. Reform must come from the hearts
of the common poople where the higher
olTillsation always coate* from. The hyp
oerits in our order shrald be forced out.
The deelgntng scoundrels who wish to ute
the order to further their own ends, re-
gardlesi of their ability and Integrity,
ahould be thrown overboard. There It no
room for them among honest men.
The Kansas Alliance would do wel
to follow the example of the Texas
State Alliance and rid itself of those
who suppose that the greatest end to
•attain is to give them positions, and
who, foiling to secure them, attempt to
blacken the names of its leaders.
There is no room among honest men
anywhere for such material, and their
barking is like the dog baying the
moon, with the exception that the dog
may be respected by those who hear
the bark.
THE POSSIBILITIES OF SU-
GAR PROD UC TION IN
TEXAS.
At a recent meeting of the Sugar
Planters' Association of Texas, Maj.
Thos. J. Goree read á paper in which
some gratifying statements are made
regarding a much neglected industry
in our state. lie feels assured that
almost anywhere in Texas south of 31
degrees latitude, where there in suffi-
cient fertility of soil that tropical cane
will flourish. He places the area of
sugar lands lying along the Brazos
south of Waco and along the Colorado
south of Austin, including Oyster
creek, San Bernard and Old Caney at
400,000 acres, and on the streams ly-
ing in the vicinity of Houston r 00,000
acres, making a total of 500.000
acres. Exclusive of the localities
mentioned, there must be lying south
of the 31 st parallel, at least, as much
more sugar lands, making a grand to-
tal of 1,000 000 acres.
Maj. Goree's experience in the cul-
tivation of sugar cane in Texas en
titles him to be good authority on the
subject, and he is not regarded as an
enthusiast on auy question. Accord-
ing to his figures, in 1888 430 acres
on the Harlem farm, Fort Bend coun-
ty, netted $167, less $50 per acre the
estimated cost of cultivating and har-
vesting, leaving $117 profit. In 1889
the profit is estimated at $130 per
acre, less cost of cultivating and har-
vesting, leaving $80 clear gain. The
average production for these two
years was 2325 pounds of sugar and
about 100 gallons of molasses per
acre. Now, supposing that the mil-
lion acres of sugar lands in Texas in
a good state of cultivation were to
produce 2,000 pounds of sugar per
acre and 100 gallons of molasses, we
would have the enormous output of
2,000 000,030 pounds of sugar and
100,000,000 gallons of molasses, more
than enough to supply the whole
North American trade.
The Major futhermofe pleasantly
says after mentioning the tariff and
jounty question: "However, with the
advantages we have in Texas, the su-
gar industry can be made to pay, with
good management, tariff or no tariff,
bounty or no bounty."
AND THEY LIKE BOODLE
TOO.
It is enough to make one sick to
see a pretended great reform move-
meat resolve itself into a party of
spoils. That being the practical poli-
cy of the present party in power, it be-
comes a question of the "outs" vs the
"ins," and principle is left in the
back ground. At the recent conven
tion of the people's party in Kansas,
among the resolutions adopted we
find the following:
We favor a service pension to every
Union loldier and aallor, and we believe
that justice dtmands that the depreciated
curren;y In which they were paid should
be made good, and as full and complete
faith be kept by the government with the
soldiers a* with the bondholders, and that
ex-prisoners oi war be remunerated for the
time served In prison.
If this is the third party movement
we have heard so much about, deliver
us from it. A better name for such a
party would be "The Treasury
Looters." We find some good things
demanded in the glatform, and by
resolutions at that convention, but this
fly in the ointment would spoil a whole
volume of good resolutions. Wonder
if any Kansas farmer was in that con
vention!
DISS A TISFA C TION DOES
EXIST
"The Southern Mercury, the
Farmers Alliance organ at Dallas,
Texas, is making a desperate attempt
to create the impression that the
farmers of the south are dissatisfied
with their present condition. It is not
true, and we are astonished that
man of Mr. Dixon's educa ion and
culture would give vent to such non
sense."
We take the above from the
Evansville Courier. It is a fair speci
men of the sentiments pervading the
brain of the average editor of the
monopolistic papers throughout the
country. The Mercury is not mak
ing a desperate attempt to create an
impression that the farmers of the
south are dissatisfied with their con-
dition. It does not require an effort
to create the impression. It is a fact
well known to all intelligent people,
and it is worse than folly for the na-
tion to permit this unrest to go on
without an effort to remove the cause.
The people are aroused as never before,
and there is a determ nation among
them to discover the cause of the dis-
content and to remedy it if possible.
There is none so blind that he will
not admit that somethtng shou'd be
done but what that something is is the
paramount question. The farming
and laboring people of the nation
have about made up their minds
íowever, that relief must come. The
lolitician who does not hear the rum-
bling of the coming storm will have
nothing but his own stupidity to cen-
sure when the storm cloud breaks
above his head. The agricultural
interest of America will not always
continue under a deep, dark cloud that
tas covered it so long. The farmer
does not propose to be trampled un-
der foot by corporate greed, trusts and
Shylocks. To accomplish this desired
end tbey are standing up and battling
ike full grown men.
NATIONAL BANKS.
The following is the full text of
Senator Coke's new bill:
A bill to amend the la «s In regard to the
national banking associations, to retire
their circulation and for other purposes:
Be It enacted by the seiate and house of
representatives of the United States of
America, In congress assembled, that from
and after the passage of thl* act no nation-
al bankint asioclatlon now organized or
hereafter organized shall Issue any circu-
lating notes and within six months from
the p usage of the aet every national bank-
ing association shall deposit with the
treasurer ot the United State* lawful
money of the United State* sufficient to
redeem all its outstanding circulation and
upon such depoilts shall receive back the
bond* leposlted o receive payment of its
note* and thereaitor be discharged from
all liabilities upon it* circulating note*,
whl sli note* shall be redeemed at the treas-
ury of the United States; and If any auch
bank shall fall to rnaka the deposit and
take up its bonds wlth.n six months, the
comptroller of the currency shall have the
power to sell the bonds pledged lor the
circulation of the bank at public auction
at the office of the assistant treasurer ot
the United States In the city of New York,
and ater providing for the redemption
and cancellation of said circulating note*
and the necessary expenses of the sale
shall pay ove> any balance remaining to
such bank.
Sec. 2. That fi>r the purpose of the retire-
ment and redemption of the clrculat ng
note* of the national banking association
outstanding at the date of the passage of
this act, the secretary ot the treasury Is
hereby authorized an i required immedi-
ately upon the passage ot this act to cause
to be prepared and Issued United States
legal tender notes in amounts and denom-
inations corresponding to the amounts and
denomination* of all such outstanding na-
tional bank notes and the said United
States legal tender notes shall be in the
■ame form and words and under the pro-
tec ion of aud subject to the lawstouoblng
the present United Stst is notei known a*
greenbacks or legal tender notes, and as
fast as the raid national bank notes shaU
be received at the treasury of the United
States, or uny assistant treasurer, or any
designated depository of toe United
States, they shall be retired and cancelled
and the (aid United States legal tender
notes issued in thetr stead.
Sec. 3. That berearter the national bank-
ing a sooiatlon may loan money oa real es-
tate security, and no such association shall
hereafter t*ke, receive, reserve or charge
on any loan or discount made, or upon any
note, bill or exchange or other evidence of
debt, interest on any rtte greater or high-
er than 0 per cent per annum, unless it is
expessly stipulated otherwise, and in no
case shall the rate of interest be over 8 per
ient per Annum.
Sec. 4. That All acts and parts of act* In
conflict with the provition* of thi* law are
hereby repealed.
CAUSES AND CURE OF
HARD TIMES.
Under the above heading we will
begin in our issue of the 25th a series
of articles setting forth the causes and
cures of hard times. This article will
continue through five issues of The
Mercury. They have been prepared
with great care specially for The Mer-
cury by Prof. Geo. W. Buraap and
are well worth preserving. These ar-
ticles are divided as follows:
1st cause:
the failure of the agricultural
products of a country.
2nd cause.
over production.
3rd cause:
the contraction of the currency.
4th cause:
the abuse of credit.
5th cause:
the low state of pubuc morals.
Parties desiring to secure these arti*
cles withdut a break should send in
their subscriptions at once as it is not
always possible to furnish back num-
bers.
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Dixon, Sam H. The Southern Mercury, Texas Farmers' Alliance Advocate. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 37, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 11, 1890, newspaper, September 11, 1890; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth186155/m1/4/: accessed May 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .