The farmers' union., October 01, 1891, Image 1

About The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895

Image provided by: State Historical Society of Missouri; Columbia, MO

                
KrV A UJ W LJ 1 f-17
VOLUME I.
MEMPHIS, MISSOURI, THURSDAY OCTOBER 1, 1891.
NUMBER 35
SPEECH BY Dli. MACUNE
IN WHICH HE DISCUSSES THE
SUB-TREASURY PLAN.
ir Anybody Itai a flatter Scheme Let
Him Trot It Out -The People Are Alter
the Bent Tliy Can Cet-lotails Not
Important, but Kcllef resary.
Ladies and Gestlemkx: I am not
going to make you a speech to-day for
the mere honor of addressing you.
Neither am I goiug to take up your
time with fanny tales ami anecdotes,
but I have a mission to perform and I
have come a long way to deliver this
message; and if I can do so in a plain,
simple style, that yon will feel and
realize the importance of this situa
tion, I will think 1 have accomplished
a great deal.
To begin with, I will get right down
to bottom facts, and discuss the prin
ciples of the alliance.
That there is a pressing necessity for
reformation no one dare deny. These
demands are not the work of a crank,
or an enthusiast, hut the product of
honest, careful, sober and intelligent
thought coming direct from the peo
ple, who have felt the hand of oppres
sion for more than one-fourth of a
century.
There are great responsibilities rest
ing upon me, and also great responsi
bility resting upon you. Upon me to
defend the principles which I repre
sent, and upon you because these are
historic times, and because your acts
to-day will be read in the future as
history; for thinking men to-day suf
fering from taxation and persecution
will furnish in the nineteenth century
the most important links in the history
of this country.
I have endorsed these resolutions in
full. I have done so for the reason
that I believe they are God-given prin
ciples; and if you would get good gov
ernment you must watch the character
of your law makers.
The time has come when you must
resume the resjonsibility of business
relationship, the bulk of these great
duties you cannot avoid. In the forces
that command the great reform move
ment the tine has come in the history
of this country when the most of them
will write against those injustices, or
work with the opposition. I shall try
and get your mind upon the facts and
truths. I am not here to convict the
men who oppose these principles. I
am here to give reason for the faith I
profess, and with them stick square to
the right principles, as I understand
them; and if I succeed in making you
entirely forget the speaker and under
stand our principles, I will have ac
complished my mission.
I want to call your attention to some
of the facts of history of this country
for the past thirty-live years, and the
condition of the people brought about
by the administration of the national
government during that period.
This is necessary because we offer no
defense of our law makers. It will not
be disputed that we had $23.00 per
capita more money in circulation
twenty-five years ago than we have
now in this country. There are var
ious estimates as to the exact amount
in circulation. Indeed, how many
have time to pray or calculate. For
sake of argument, say we have six
hundred million dollars, and a com
pany in New York can control two
hundred millions or 33fc per cent. ;
you see that the volume of money is
decreased one-third, and, as a conse
quence the price of farm products go
down one-third. Then by their very
act of buying and paying out the two
hundred millions of money the price
of farm products go up, and money
down. Now this is done at the season
of the year when the farmer has to sell
his wheat, his corn or his cotton ; and
it is to meet this emergency that a
volume of currency is needed that
flexible, jnow, in proportion as you
increase the volume of money, yon de'
crease the power of money to oppress
As stated, the prices are depressed
one-third.
If we had ten times the amount of
circulating medium, the power would
be one-thfrtieth instead of one-third.
The exchanges last year show that 92
per cent, of business was done on
paper, and 8 per cent. cash. I some'
times illustrate it bv saving: Place
all the cotton in one pile and all the
money in another. Now it is reason
able to say that the cotton will just
pay for the money, so all you have to
do is to divide the money by the num
ber of pounds, and vou have what it
will bring. Last fall money went up
on call in New York to 182 per cent.,
and the secretary of tho treasury had
to come to the relief of Wall street to
prevent a perfect crash. I submit to
all fair-minded men if this state of
affairs should not be changed.. We
are not wedded to any detail, but we
do demand the principle of the sub-
treasury plan to meet all such emer
gencies, so that we mav not be forced
to sell our products on a depressed
market. V hen we go to market and
cannot get the market value, we
would deposit ; and when wo could get
the market value, we would sell.
By depositing and putting into cir
culation 80 per cent., we would bring
up the price, and then sell. With
single coin standard, we are governed
bv the gold standard of Great Britain.
The prices of our products are fixed in
England ana on a cold basis. 1 re
ceived letters from Alabama and Miss
issippi last fall saying that they could
not get five cents for their cotton at
home, when it was ten cents in New
York and twelve cents in Liverpool.
When we put out the suit-treasury
plan I happened to be one of them at
St. Louis who were appointed to draft
the bill. V e got it up and sent it out
and it was ridiculed by men who never
had read it. A celebrated member of
congress wrote a letter denouncing and
ridiculing it, and afterwards acknowl
edged never having read it. (A voice
"Who is it ? Oates ?") I never like to
call names, but sometimes they are
just forced out.
It reminds me of a story that was
current in Texas twenty years ago,
before they had railroads. All used
covered wagons, and it was said that
some men moved to Texas every sum
mer and returned to Arkansas in the
fall. One bad man, who asked more
questions than anybody, and got left
bad to stay all winter. Aot when b
started back, he met a man who could
answer all questions; so he struck
camp and in the run of his conversa
tion he asked the man how long he
lived in Texas. He answered: "Do
you see that hill ? Well, it was a hole
in the ground when I came to Texas.
Now you will see a big hill where there
is a hole in Alabama before the money
power will yield to the sub-treasury
i)l an.
You farmers are told to get down to
m cub basis- Those who tell you this
have not calculated the effect of its
adoption.
If we could sell for cash wo would
break every corporation; grass would
grow knee high in Wall street, and
Chicago would lie a calf pasture.
The first thirty davs we would have
one-half of the currency, and in four
months all would be driven into bank
ruptcy; but you can't get it fcr they
won't let it go. If tho farmers could
get the money they would take it
home. Tliev do not use the banks.
So vou see all the monev would be out
of the banks and thev would cry for
more of the circulating medium.
There is at least fortv per cent, dis
crimination against the farmer under
under the present financial policy. If
we had a more liberal monetary svstem,
towns and cities would spring up all
along the line of your railroads, and
manufactories would be built which
would consume your products. If our
monev wns based on the actual wealth
of this country it would always be on
paritv with gold, and vou need have
no fears of fiat money, and we would
not have our products priced by En
glish gold.
Ihe cry is raised "class legislation.
Why, we have had nothing but class
legislation, and that for a very small
lass, the English bondholders. If
this is justice and constitutional, then
let us have some legislation that will,
at least, give tho farmers an equal
chance in life the bill that will take
us practically out of the hands of the
legislator. Ihe reason you never had
any legistation is because yon never
tried to get it. lou would elect men
and think they would look after your
interest, when, in fact, the other fel
low would go before them and ho
would forget vou and vour interest
until about election time, then he was
ready to abuse the "other party" and
appeal to your prejudice until he was
elected. Then awav he goes to con
tract the currencv and demonetize sil-
er and pile up the tariff.
I nder the sub-treasnrv plan vou de
posit $50 and get $10; and bv putting
this in circulation, you help tiring up
the price to a standard, and then you
sell the other 20 per cent. The de
mands of the alliance are not partisan,
and I am glad they are not ; for the al
liance don't care anvthing about any
party, but wants relief through any
party. I am not here to defend or de
nounce any party. I have always
voted the democratic ticket, except
once, but when I joined the alliance I
determined to work for principles and
not for parties. The alliance is a place
where we can all take our wives, our
sons and our daughters and discuss in
non-partisan spirit the great eco
nomic questions that so vitally con
cern our welfare in the future. " I in
tend to cast my vote for the man who
gets on the Ocala platform with both
feet (loud applause). I don't believe
in the political machine. The old par
ties had, in the last campaign, more
than $8,000,000. What they did with
it I don't know. How they got it I do
not care : but there are men who sub
scribe liberally to both parties, or
their campaign fund, as a business in
vestment. Then it don't make any
difference which party is in power.
they virtually own both and dictate
what shall be law and what shall not
be law.
The alliance now has more than
4,000,000 members, and bv reasoning
and showing to others the condition of
affairs, each one can control one more
voter, making 8,000,000; and there is
no reason why we should oley the
dictates of the machine politician, or
surrender one of our demands. It is a
fact that the large banking and trust
companies are controlled by the ma
chine politicians. They control the
smaller banks all over the county;
they, in turn, control the merchants,
and they have been telling us how to
vote for a long time. Now we propose
to be freemen, assert our rights, and
to have some say in the matter, and
for this reason we are called cranks,
lunatics, and other names equally as
appropriate. Now the merchant who
opposes our demands is aware of the
iact that whenever you become free,
and he no longer has a mortgage on
your property, that soon will he cease
to vote you as he has been doing. If
the merchants of the country would
only stop to think that their prosper
ity depends upon the prosperity of
their customers, instead of listening to
politicians, they would be with us and
help us rid this country of tho present
financial policy.
We have had a clear demonstration
of the power of tho political machine
in the last congress. Lnder the pres
sure it dared not extend the 4 J per
cent, bonds that would mature in Sep
tember, about $30,000,000. The first
of July the secretary of the treasury
gave legal notice that the banks would
be called upon for some of the surplus
that was deposited with them to pay
off these bonds at maturity. The
bankers called him over to New York
and had him to do the very thing that
congress was afraid to do ; and now, in
obedience to the machine, he is extend
mg the londs without law or author
ity. I called on him for his authority.
and he said under the law of 1873 he
could do it. Now the truth of the
matter is the banks have tho bonds
and also have the money that belongs
to the government ; that is the reason
they are wanting the bonds extended
at 2 per cent. The fact is the political
machine dictates and the secretary
olwys. Self-adjusting to suit the
"bosses. Hub is a very clear case of
the power of the machine politicians.
l used to vote as tho machine in
structed and did not have sense enough
to know it. Jnst so long as the east
ern politicians dictate who shall fill
the offices so long will they dictate the
policy to be pursued, no matter which
partf m in power. The great north,
west and south have interests identi
cal, and when once awake to their duty
will have some voice in the law making
power of this government.
There is not a whits difference in an
eastern democrat and a republican.
We need men from the south and west
who will look to the interest of their
constituency, it matters not what party
they belong to, so they are honest and
will study tke financial situation and
not be influenced by the political ma
chine. If any one will give us a better
plan than we offer we will take it and
be glad to get it ; but until there is
something as good or better offered we
will stick to our plan, though it effects
a political revolution. The parties of
this country had better go to pieces
than the people be enslaved.
I am glad to say that the more our
Elan is discussed the more advocates it
as. The machine politicians first
tried to ignore it ; then they tried to
ridicule it ; now they are trying to get
up a substitute. As to the constitu
tionality of the alliance demands I will
say I have called for nearly two years
for learned statesmen to point out the
section of the constitution that they
come in conflict with, but have not ,
yet found the man that could do us the '
favor, i or argument sake, let us say
it is unconstitutional. Since that doc
ument was framed the changed condi
tions of affairs have made it necessary
to amend it no less than fifteen times.
Every time theso demands are dis
cussed they gather new advocates; and
if it was in the power of our enemies
to put speakers in the field and wipe
them out root and branch, it would bo
done at any cost. We invite discus
sions, for the truth is what we aro
seeking, but the opposition is content
to stand off apd denounce in hope that
the alliance will split. For this hope
they will wait without the hope of re
ward, for the people are determined to
have legislation that will giva Very
man a chance in life.
I trust and believe we will get re
lief. As for the form and detail we
care nothing, but the cry of equal
rights has gone forth and will receive
no answer but just laws that treat all
men alike.
I thank you for the very patient
hearing you have given me, and trust
you will study these questions for
yourselves, and I am satisfied you will
arrive at a proper conclusion. These
questions must stand on their merits,
or fall by their injustice.
The Movement In the South.
It is really amusing to read the com
ments of the democratic press of the
north and the recent trip of the lion.
Jerry Simpson through the south.
I his press has been constantly inform
ing their readers that the alliance in
the south was solid for the democratic
party, yet Messrs. Simpson and Weav
er were constantly talking in favor of
a third party, and whenever either of
them referred to it, the people went
fairly wild in cheering the sentiments.
And now the democratic press excuses
it and says that it was only an evidence
of the good feeling that exists in tho
south toward the north. Why was not
that good feeling exhibited toward
Gen. Weaver when he made his tour
of that section nine years ago as a
presidential candidate? The fact of
the matter is that the alliance through
its educational feature has changed tho
whole public sentiment in the south,
and created this better feeling. And
the democratic party is not entitled to
any credit for the same. If the lead
ers of that party in the south had
their way to-day they would encourage
bitterness and hate. The real truth
of the situation is that under alliance
rule free speech and free thought has
been encouraged in the south, and it
is a mystery to the people of that sec
tion how they come to be led so blind
ly bv their leaders. They find that
their leaders, like the leaders of the
republican party in the north, have
for years been fostering a spirit of ha
tred as a means of perpetuating them
selves in power. The cry of tho dem
ocratic press that the south is still true
to the democratic party, is a delusion,
as the leaders of that party in the
north who have been cheek by jowl
with the leaders of the republican
party will soon find out to their sor
row. The solid truth of the matter is
that the democratic party of the south
to-day is but a mere shell, composed of
a small lot of office holders, and they
are awaro that this is the case. An
other three months will show the
leaders of that party of the north
the
Al-
true situation. .National Citizens
liance.
I'nlte and Organize.
In union there is strength, and in
disunion there is weakness. We all
remember the old story of the father
and ids six sons to whom he gave a
bundle of six sticks requesting them to
break them as thev were bound to
gether, they all tried btit failed; then
the father took the bundle apart and
they broke them one by one very easily.
The moral of the story was, that as
long as they were united they could
not be broken but disunited they
would be an easy prey to the enemy.
So it is with the farmers to-day. They
are preyed upan and broken by rings,
combinations, trusts and syndicates
with whom they have to deal because
they are detached from each other.
They should adopt the motto of Ken
tucky, "united we stand and divided
we fall," and unite into compact bod
ies organized to act with the precision
of a pendulum and the force of a tidal
wave. Then they can meet organiza
tion with organization and put an
effectual quietus on the schemes of
those who deal with them by trying to
crush them individually. Organiza
tion is a paramont necessity and tho
sooner the better for delays are dan
gerous. Bluffton (Ind.) "Watch
Tower.
There are 9,000,000 mortgaged homes
in America. Usury on money averages
five times the product of industry.
Railroad monopolies are paying divid
ends on stock averaging five times
greater than their actual investment,
besides paying interest on debts equal
ing their stock, real and fictitious.
Hank monopolies are fostered in the
privilege of growing richer and richer
at the expense of the toil and suffering
of those who are growing poorer and
poorer. Great trusts set aside natural
competition, and the law of snpply and
demand, and the failures in legitimate
business stare us in the face every
where to the tune of $400,000,000 loss
to creditors in the single year of 1890.
Pendleton (Ore.) Alliance Herald.
The action providing for the con
traction of the currency was passed
and approved April 12, 188G. The
vote in the house, as shown by the
public records, stood as follows :
lor the bill republicans, 55; dem
ocrats, 28; total. 83. Agafnst the bill
republicans, 52 ; democrats, 1 ; total,
53.-
In tho senate but seven republicans
and no democrats voted against it.
Thus it will be seen that a majority of
both old parties voted in favor of this
infamous system that has wrought
ruin to millions, and both old parties
will keep up tho contraction as long
as they are kept in control of national
legislation. Emporia standard.
If old politicians can keep farmers
fighting each other they will be all
right. See the farmers they put on
their tickets and then defeat them.
See the farmers they are promising
and encouraging to run for office with
no intention of nominating or electing
them. How long are the farmers going
to be made fools of? How long will
they continue to go out in the cold
carrying wood that these politicians
may keep warm and grow fat. Free
Press.
Call the sub-treasury scheme class
legislation if you will, but is it not
better to have class legislation favora
ble to seven million farmers rathei
to the four thousand national backers?
UNITED WITH CANADA.
DEDICATION OF THE ST. CLAIR
TUNNEL.
The found Trunk's Remarkable Knglneor
liifr Achievement Many Obstacles Delay
the Work, but Are Finally Overcome Six
Thousand Feet Long Between Port Huron
and Sarnla.
A Great Work Complete.
The ceremonies by which the St.
Clair River tunnel was formally dedi
cated were the most elaborate of any
ever held In that section. Extensive
preparations had been made both at
i'ort Huron, Mich., on the American
elde, and at tho town ot Sarnla, at the
Canadian entrance to the gretit tunnel
which now connects the Dominion with
Undo Sam's domains. Sir Henry Tyler,
President of the Grand Trunk Kailwav,
with other oflicia's and prominent pub
l'c men of both tho I'nited States and
Canada, made an oflieial trip through
tho tunnel, stai ting from tho American
side. They were treated, upon their
arrival In Canada, to a royal reception,
after which they returned toPOrtlluron,
where banqueting and spocch-makin:?
again awa'ted them.
Tho St Clair tunnel, on the Grand
Trunk Hallway of Canada, extending
under tho St. Clair River between Sar
nia, Out., and I'ort Huron, Mich., is one
ENTRANCE TO TIIK TUNNEL.
of tho most remarkab'o engineering
feats of the present day. The Grand
Trunk Railway extended its lines to
Chicago in 1880. About a, 000 miles of
railway will use this tunnel. Previously
steam ferries had been used Their
service has not been altogether satisfac
tory because the river's current is very
swift; in winter there have been ice
jams; tho railway had to deviate about
six miles: a bridge was impossible, owing
to the nature of tho ground and the op
position of the marine interests. The
St. Clair River bears the most commerce
of any stream in the. world.
In 14 preliminary surveys were
made. Iiorings found the rock eighty-
MEETING OF THE SIIIKI.D.S IV THE
Six feet below tho level of the water; tho
river's greatest depth 4.4T feet, and its
width nearly half a mile. The strata
were yellow sand about two feet; with
sand and blue clay mixed about twelve
feot, thence to the rock about twenty
one feet 'of blue c'ay. Plans and draw
ings were made. The St. Clair Tunnel
Company was organized in lSSti. At
first tho company thought cf starting
from immense shafts on the shore, and
then working out-ward to the hind ap
proaches. In ISsr, test shafts were sunk
on eah side of tho St. Clair Kiver;
drifts at right angles were started under
tho liver; water and gas stopped work.
In 18S7 theso shafts were begun. Tho
American one will bo used as a ven
tilator. Tho tunnel plants were erected back
from tho river; in Michigan about 1,S0J
feet, in Ontario about l.'.ioo feet. Each
plant contained a boiler house, hoisting
or winding engines a ventilating en-
pine, an air-Mower with a capacity of
lo,ooo cubic feet of air per minute, a
machine shop with machines for tunnel
work, a water pump for the. pit, and an
electric light plant. The tunnel will be
lighted by electricity. The electric plant
Is in Sarnia, where permanent brick
boiler and eiiuinc rooms have bixn
erected.
The great cutt'ngs for the approaches
were -commenced New Year's, ISS'.t.
Each cutting was made about sixty feet
feet deep at t! o poita'. The Canadian
cutting at its broadest portion is 200 feet
wide, tho American about L'o:) feet, wide.
Into each pit inclined tracks were laid
for engines to ha il out the dirt. On the
banks derricks wore erected for hoist inr
tho soil. In September, lsW), steam
shovels began work on the cuttings. n
each side o.' the river two shove's were
used, each attended by an engine and
train of Cat cars. Several hundred men
wer. employed night and day, linv
lights being used at night, and the soil
was removed in layers. The work of
the:o shovels was greatly hindered by
rains and numc:ous landslides occurred.
The tunnel walls are made of cast
iron, suggested by Chief Engineer Hob
son. In the circle are thirteen seg
ments and a key. Each segment is 4
feet 10 inches long. IS inches wide, and
2 inches thick, with llaeges inside of 1
Inches thick aud 0 inches deep. In each
segment were cast 3! holes. 4 in each
end flange and 12 in each side flange.
Through these holes passed steel bolts
seven eighths of an inch in diameter.
In each sect'on of tho tunnel the cir
cu ar joints required 157 bolts and
ihe longitudinal joints required 5(5 bolts.
Tho flanges took in a circle of -0 feet
and 5 inches in diameter. The edges of
the p'ates were planed in the machine
shops near the tunnel entrances Each
plate was then heated and dipped in cold
tar. This bad been found better than
to dip the cold Iron into hot tar. For
merly the tar would not dry quick
enough; later the tar was dried by the
time the segments were cool. The seg
ments were lifted to place by a circu'ar
crane revolving on a spindle in the cen
ter of the shield. This spindle had a
vise at one end and a counterbalance
weight at the other.
When the bed of tfie river was reached,
quicksand and water made great trou-
' ' fyqAiR tunnel!
j A SI11KM) READY FOIl THE CHAPE.
bis. For some time It was thought fir
tunnel might have to bo abandoned.
Compressed air was found a sure reme
dy. At the river lino on each side,
brick and cement, air tight bulkheads
were built across tho tunnel. Each
bulkhead had two air chambers, one on
each side. 7 feet in i.iameter and 17 tcct
long, with air-tight doors at each end.
Through each a'r chamber i assed a
car track. Inside tho tunnel, beyond
the bulkhead, work was begun under
an air pressure of o pounds to the
square inch. Fiotn time to time the air
pressure was gradually increased, until;
the men worked under an artilicial
pressure of pounlsier s jt:are inch,
a total atmospheric i ressure of tiT pound
per square inch, or about 2'j at
mospheres. On the Canadian side the
highest air pressure was used because of
quicksand Cn tho Ameri'-an side com
pressed air was used from April 7, lsw;
on tho Canadian, May :.t), isim.
He-cause of water and quicksand the
St Clair t inncl could not have been
constructed without the aid of hydraulic
mining shields. Such shields had been
used successfully in E ndon, Chicago,
Hnffalo, Jirondwar tunnel. New York
Ci'y, the Hudson River tunnel, and in
other works. This shield is a cylinder,
iike a headless barrel. Its front end
has sharpened edges to cut into the
earth. The thin rear end is called the
hood. Tho in-ide. is braced with iron,
both vertical -and horizontal. Around
the main walls are sets of hydraulic
.ia.'ks. Each jack has a valvo whereby
it may be cut o!t' at any time from tho
pump that supplies the jack. The ma
sonry, or iron p'atcs, of the nmnel, be
ing built up within the thin ho id of the
shield, air is supplie.l to the Jacks and
the shield is forced ahead, usually the
length of the pistotis of the Jacks, or
ab iut two feet.. Tic shield having ad
vanced tho men remove tho soil from
the front of the shield. Everything be
ing in readiness the shield is again
p: -h d 'it. war I. the tunnel walls built
up, and the excavated soil removed.
Each of tho St. Clair tunnel shields
weighed eighty tens.
The American shield was started .Inly
11. lsv.t, the Canadia S pt 21. 1S!', and
they met at 11:: o p. m., August .30, 18'. (.
The shields" shells were left in the tun
tunnel and the tunnel walls laid up in
them. ri he American had done the most
work, and the easiest progress was to
ward Canada, the average being ten feet
each day.
The tunnel approaches hav. the same
genera! appearance of solidity as the
tunnel itself. On each side of the gn at
cutings are high and deep stotio retain
ing walls. Each portal is 3: feet high
and US feet wide, about 10 feet thick
over the entrance of the 'tunnel, and
about half that wid h at each end. Like
the retaining walls the lortals are made
of rough, heavy lime-tone blocks. Over
the entrance of ach portal is inscribed
"St. Clair, ls;0. " The diameter of the
BIO BORE VMiElt THE 11IVEH.
cirelo Is 20 feet, and flush with tle
tunnel.
The average number of men employed
was 700. In the tunnel eight hours
made a day's work. The tunnel was
estimated to ost 8".500,0:o, including
plants, materials and la! or," and it re
quired about that sum It is likely that
a second tunnel will be built near this.
The present plants and experience will
then bo of additional value. The second
tunnel will be of cast iron, as it is supe
rior to brick and cement for similar
tunnels.
The St. Clair tunnel Is i'.ooo feet long.
To the river's edge on tins American
sid'i it is 1,710 lcet; o;i the Canadian,
l.'.i;4 feet: under tho river, 2, '.".to feet
Tho out id.) diameter of tho tunnel is
-1 feet, the inside i; feet 10 inches,
tunnel nearest the river iss.l.'i feet from
the river. At its lowest point the top
of the tunnel is :,i. s:t feet below- the
level of the river. From each portal to
the r.ver the grade is 1 fo.it down for
every 50 feet; undo;- tho river, 1 foot
d )Wn in every 1,000 feet toward tlie
Canadian side to that drainago shaft.
Over 2.oo;),(KiO cubic foet of soil was
taken from tho tnnnel itself. The cast
iron lining of tho tunnel weighed
r 1,000, 000 poinds. To fasten th s lining
H-.'S,150 steel bolts seven-eighths of an
inch in diameter w.-ro used. Tho Cana
dian open cutting is 3. loa fet
long; tho American, 2,5't2 feet long.
The total length of the tunnel and its
approa -hes is 11,725 feet.
In I'ort Huron Aug 20, I8!i0, was re
corded or.e of tlio large t mortgages ecr
given in Michigan. It was for 2,500,00 J.
The St. Clair Tunnel Comimny ga e it
to set tire bonds running lifty years and
hearing 5 per cent, annua! interest, cov
ering all the present property of tho
company. Kent aud tolls can be col
lected for allowing other railways thin
the (Jraud Trunk system" to use the
t uiim 1.
It is believed that tho Grand Trunk
route, as thus improved, will offer fa-iii-tics
for through ommunlcation between
( lucago and all points in the East which
will be appreciated by pas engcrs and
shippers. There will bo no more trouble
from ice bio -l-.s or other obstructions in
the river and the best time will lo made
lor traflic of all kinds.
In digging out the colossal statue
of Kameses II. nine feet and four
inches of consolidated Nile mud had
to be removed before the platform
was reached. This platform was laid
1.3C1 years before Christ, in the reign
of Harnesses. Hence, three and one
half inches of this consolidated mud
represents a century, there having
lapsed 3,215 years since then. Under
the platform a depth of thirty feet of
Xile mud had to bo penetrated before
sandy soil was reached, and, according
to this, 10.000 more years must have
elapsed, rieces of pottery were found
there that show the Egyptians to
have possessed enough civilization to
form and bake vessels of clay 13,000
years ago
Sax Fbascisco has 4,500 saloon.
no compromise;
We dare not waste our time to hear
What the unthinking world may say; Esi
Where (lut y points, we will not fear, "?
To follow where It leads the way.
And If this same unthinking world
May deem our language harsh and strong,
We only know truth's shafts are hurled.
To smite whate'er is base and wrong.
With ais to hear, shall we be deaf?
With eyes to see, shall we lie Wind?
With power to aid. uive no relief
To help our wronged au,j suffering kind!
Lot truth forbid such be'the rase.
To mar our life lines with its curse,
Lost we forbear to take our place
For right, through better, or the worse..
Where'er we look o'er all the earth.
We see the poor on every hand.
Doomed from their very hour of birth,
And branded with oppression's brand.
Compelled to work for wastes scant.
With little hop- from year to year,
To pass beyond the Verne of want.
Where gnawing doubt will disappear.
And if we see how human laws
Have helped injustice by their aim,
For seeking to remove the cause
Words should be neither weak nor tame.
The basest form of human life
That ever trod the human stage
Is reproduced amid the strife
That marks this biwtling, seltish age.
And from this eause has grown a elan
of human monsters, modern ("aius.
To prey upon thflr fellow man.
Hy use oi their abnormal brains.
The factory lords and corporate kings,
I'nlteil in their several ways.
Through combines, trusts and robber rings,
Are experts in the part each plays.
With avarice their brains are pipe;
Their college culture of the mind
Outranks their ancient archetypo
In cruelties that's more refilled.
The dubious means and thievish ways.
Devised with so much skill and eare,
Are footprints, in these, latter days,
Made by our modern millionaire.
It is the same old story told.
Earth's strong agaiiist its weak and least.
Assorted, as In days of old.
Hy ermlued judge aaid sitrpllced priest.
No matter how the tolling poor
Have shadows poisoning their lives,
Wealth adds to its ill-gotten store.
The plutocratic harvest thrives.
The plutocrats, they try to crush
The rights that freedom has declared;
For those they cannot bribe or hush
Their cross is raised, their ax Is bared.
And not until the people stand
As one united force to meet.
Will thts. our modern bandit band.
Face justice and its sure defeat.
We represent the tolling poor.
e aim to seek for tr.em and theirs
What is their right, and nothing more.
Through thought, and speech, and earne:
prayers.
st
And if our wards are not so choice
As called for by the cultured ears.
They truly represent and voice
Truths freed from any coward fears.
Vox., in Our Own Osiniou.
THE D1GMTV OF I.AIiOK.
The master of a trade may proudly sing:
I am a power on the earth, ami earn
The right to call myst-lf a man. I turn
The wheel of progress, and I feel a king
Among the useless drones. The shame and
sting
Of charitv I know not. for T learn
To use my gifts. The highest plane I yearn
To reach, to merit all that life may bring."
"Who earns not, steals his dinner," thus the
old
Proverb runs. We may laborwlth the heart,
If not with hand and brain. In every" part
The world is full of agony untold.
That cannot be assuaged by all the gold
(if earth: and yet. a kindness done may start
The tears that soothe all pain may pluck
the dart
From festered wound, which else might keep
Its hold.
All honor to the brown and skillful hand.
The swell of muscle and the nerve like steel.
That conquers obstacles, that turns the
wheel
Of progress roun 1 : they cultivate the land.
And build the mighty temples, vast and grand.
They labor for the good and common weal
Of mankind, arid bear the royal seal
Of mighty labor's Independent band.
Henry Coyle, In New Nation.
AN OPEN LETTER
John Seitz, the People's Cantlldato
for ;vernor of Ohio.
C. M. Fi lse. DunsoxviixE, Ohio.
My Dear Sir : Yours of yesterday is
just received, and seizing a passing
moment I hasten to reply. The ques
tion you ask is one raised by the peo
ple's party, and is stirring the gold
standard advocates to question the
correctness of our statements, "that
there has been a great contraction of
tho currency since 18G(J." Their organs
assert that instead of contraction
'there has been a gradual expansion"
and that ''to-day we have more money
per capita than in 18t6." Hugh Mc
Culloch's treasury report for 1803
says: The paper circulation of the
United States, October 31, 1805, was
substantially as follows :
U nited States notes and prac
tical currency
Notes of national banks
Treasury 5 per cent, notes....
Notes of state banks
Compound interest notes
Seven thirty notes
$454. 21 fl.OSs
05.000.000
;i2.5.ifi,900
fo. 000,000
3TR.Of2.140
fc50,000.000
Total S1.T59,TS,0T8
Gen. John A. Logan, in a speech de
livered in tho United States senate,
March 17, 1874, said: "I will give you
a table showing the amount of cur
rency in circulation in 1805 and '00:
UG.
National bank notes $171. 521. 000
I.egil tender and other notes.. OW.OIS.SOO
Ft ate bank notes 5s, 010.000
Seven thirty notes 80,000,000
Total
..?1,T5S,240,TC3
.. S2s0.25.-..siS
9.740.025
lsdfi.
National bank notes
State bank notes
Legal tenth r and other notes.
Seven thirty notes...,.
ffls.s";0,S2.-i
S10 0 MU'OO
Total S1.72S,S:2,6CS
"Since which time," said Logan,
"contraction has gone on until the
whole amount of currency of every
kind now outstanding is only $742,
000,000." You see from the above that both
Hugh McCulloch, secretary of the
treasury, and Senator Logan counted
these various kinds of notes as part of
the active, circulating currency of the
country. But here is anot her witness,
and I think more entitled to credit
than the partisan eloquences of to-day,
who are trying by false statements to
hide from the suffering people the
criie of the nineteenth century. Con
tractiondestruction of the means of
payment to fasten upon frqe-born
Americans perpetual debt slavery.
Gen. T. E. Spinner, United States
treasurer, when the above notes were
issued, including the 830,000,000 of
-30s, in reply to John Q. Drew, one
of the editors of the New York Trib
une, in a letter dated, Mohawk, N. Y.,
Aug. 17, 1876, said:
Sirs : Your letter of the 15th inst.
has been received. In answer I have
to say that the seven-thirty notes were
intended, prepared, issued and used as
money. Very respectfully yours,
T. E. Spissee.
Here is proof conclusive that nearly
two-thirds of the paper money was de
stroyed from 1863 to 1874. The people
were forced into debt and payment
made impossible. Now instead of re
penting of this crime against human
ity and joining the people in their
efforts to extricate themselves from in
dustrial bondage, they have the "gall"
to tell us farmers we have "produced
too much," or we "sit too much at the
street corners talking politics, instead
of pushing our work at home as we
hould do to be prosperous." Thank
God, tho people aro not consulting
these mendacious Wall street echoes as
they have done in tho past. They
simply lie when they say "we havo
more money per capita in circulation
now than ever before." The falsehood
is repeated by credulous partisans.who
believe anything from their old-timo
leaders. The truth i we have in
actual circulation little over one-third
that of 1800. It. Dunning, of the
Xalinnal Mononutt, shows that wo
have less than 10 per cent, per capita
in circulation. It is one thing to havo
$22 per capita in existence, and quito
another in its effect upon the business
of the country to have it in use. The
gold ring and creditor class can no
longer make the industrial people be
lieve tiiey "are prosperous," so by sub
terfuge and downright falsehood they
seek to divert their attention from tho
real cause of the general depression.
Let them impeach my witness if they
can. Fraternally yours,
John Seitz.
DUTY OF THE HOUR.
There Must I!o No Compromise With tho
IHutoerats.
The reform movement must go on.
It may, here and there, receive a back
set, but progress has come to stay.
Tins bandit trust plutocracy of the
nation to-day will force reform, and
therefore no treason to the cause can
destroy it. There are men in tho re
form movement, to-day, whose ideas of
reform must themselves be reformed.
There are men, few in number every
where, who got into the ranks of
organized labor to direct and control
to tell organized labor what it should
do, i. e., elect them to office. This will
do no good, because organized labor
will sit down on them heavily. Organ
ized labor will permit no fusion. It
wishes no fusion with eitherindividual
ism or plutocracy. Such a course as
lately proposed by some, a fusion witli
tho democratic party, is a social and
political death warrant. Ileformers
may be defeated, they will not commit
self-murder. Truth crushed to earth
will rise again. We well understand
the moral effect of a victory won over
principles. Men unless they have our
principles as their own convictions
also, cannot represent either us or our
principles. God knows proxyism is
bad enough in legislatures, in county
and slate conventions, but when it in
vades the very principles of the people
it is worse than the very devil. When
ever a people will consent to a sacrifice
of their fundamental principles under
the pretense of gaining a victory, they
are unfit for freedom. That is what
the plutes want whether they are
masking under the old party banner.
The Knights of Labor and the
Farmers' Alliance in all their
national declarations are in no
manner, in touch with either the dem
ocratic or republican parties, consid
ered both in fundamental doctrines
nnd party methods. Absolutely con
sidered, a man must be either a rascal
or a fool to propose to mix oil and
water. They differ in chemical com
position anil in specific gravity. The
present political machines of the old
parties are plutocratic beyond redemp
tion. What in common has the rank
and file of the toilers with plutocracy ?
Absolutely nothing. If there were
anything in common between them,
the toilers would never have revolted
against the machines and organized for
themselves. There is not a crime
against humanity that one political
machine has committed, but the other
is equally guilty. Fusion is the great
est victory that could bo won by the
plutes. Under the gniso of reform,
again the plutes will be on deck, and
placed there by the people. Ah ! it is
enough to make Ueelzebnb rejoice to
contemplate fusion with the democratic
party. An ajiostolate that makes an
alliance with evil is a false apostolate.
Don't trust such serpents. There is a
fusion that we would recommend the
fusion of all plutocrats, no matter
under what name. To be consistent it
6honld be done by the fleecers. Our
readers know that plutes differ only in
the amount of stealings ; only in the
length of the crip they take from the
producer. Such fellows might make
a splendid bandit camp. No! no fu
sion for us, but only an honest out-and-out
fight, with no policy man at the
head of the ticket. The candidate will
not hut the other candidates, this fall,
on the same ticket. Then let us send
a pair of cowhide boots to congress
this time; let us send a workman's
blouse to congress this time. Let us
send one who holds nothing in com
mon with plutes. Let us send a man
of brains and heart, a radical man. We
can do it. We are through with it ;
we have finished voting for men for
victory only ; for men who aro neither
fish, flesh, fowl, nor good red herring.
Overboard with tho half-plute hum
bugs called reformers; give us a radi
cal, but one who knows how to handle
a dissecting knife with consummate
skill, and also a butcher's cleaver, but
not recklessly. In the meantime, let
the plntes go on with their devil dance.
The industrial workers are watching
with great interest. Everything comes
at last to this : The industrial empire,
or the industrial republic. Which?
Aberdeen (S. D.) Knights of Labor.
The Nation's Wealth.
It is estimated that the total wealth
of the United States is $01,459,000,000,
exclusive of the public property, and
$3,0'.3,000,000 property invested and
owned abroad. Tho assessed value of
taxed property and our actual wealth
at different decades has ben :
Assessed Value. Aei tial YVealt h.
1S50 S 5,SST.fii:t.l4S 5i:i.ti.r2.40!.T.i!t
1SC.0 12.0M. 500.000
lfiTO 11.342,R80,:iCr,
ihso ir.002.0t:t.r4.t
1SS9 23,710,000.000
;ti.ioi.:ii.r7fi
.",!.( ts.51K.5(i7
4:1.02.000.000
i;i.4.v..ooo.ooo
The wealHi of the United States now
exceeds the total wealth of the whole
world at any lime previous to the mid
dle of the eighteenth century, and the
amount invested abroad is alone equal
to the national wealth of Portugal and
Denmark.
And yet this vast sum of wealth is
in the possession of less than 25,000
persons out of our population of over
sixty millions. Industrial lteview.
Money we are told will buy more
than it ever did before. And this is
said to prove that the demands of the
farmer are extravagant and unjust.
That is all right for the man who haj
pens to have the money, but how is it
for the poor fellow who hasn't got it
but must have some. He must sell
what he has got to get a small amount
of what he hasn't got and can't get
without a sacrifice. Scarce money
makes dear money, and dear money
makes cheap horses, cattle, lands and
merchandise. This is good for the
man tYjA buys but tough on the poor
fellon that has to sell. Give the poor
man a chance. Georgia (Ala.) Living
Truth.
CELEBRATING IX CHILI.
REJOICING OVER THE DEATH
BALM ACEDA.
The Feeling In London One of Relief Min
ister Foster at Washington Approve the
Snielde-Tlio Dead President's Letter to
tho American Press.
Wild with F.xeltement.
Tlie suicide of Ilaltnaceda is Ihe one
adsorbing and exc tiiiT topic of con
versation in Va'paraiso There Is a
mingled feel' 11 3 of savago re olcini? a
Irs death and of
bitter reprret tht
he should h'.vo
killed himse'f in
stead of tailing Into
the clutches of tho
infuriated cil.ens,
who would have
delighted to renl
him limb from
limb for -he loni?
list of crtn lties for
which thej ho'dhim
responsible.
l.Al.J i"hl'.
It is i'.npos iUle for any one not in this
co.intry or not a pativn to realize the
intensity of the hu.re i that was enter
t rtaineit toward the ex-l resident The
national holidays were prolonged by the
news of the su'.cid . Tl.e feasts, il!u'nin
ations, and otiier celebrations in honor
of t!:e success f the Congressional
arty were followed by the inarching of
frenzied crowds lr-stitfh all the street
shouting songs of triumph O'.cr tho
death of their former ruler.
The al arais i papers came out with
extias from J-'antiaco abo- t the stiicid
The Argentine Minister at !Sai '.iasro, in
win se house Italtnaceda kll'cl himself,
"lesolutcly refused to furn:sh a.iy of the
I n al 1 ap -rs with a opy of the pathetic
letter written hy Halmaceda a short
time previous to h:s -hootinsr himself, in
wlrch he defends his coin so i-s 1 "resi
dent. Itisth gener.il belief flat 1 al-mace-la's
death wl 1 hasten in a preat
degree the restoration of peace through
out Chili Now that th chief enemy of
the .Inula is no mors it is likely that his
followers will Ic shown mercy, since
without llalinac.-iia to direct them the
aro 1 ttle to lie feared. Half, Tra-ic
Sweden, Spain, an I Norway have fol
lowed the lea I of the United States in
ollieial lecognition of the Junta, tier
many, it will be renieml ero J, wa tho
second natio:i to do so. Xo ofiicial rcc
osnitio 1 has ct come from Kngland.
This creates considerable comment.
In London the news of l!aln;a"cdas
death made a marked Impress 'on. Tho
general fee ine in Fnglish commercial
circles is one of telief and joy. Vhilo
Halmaceda lived there ever could be no
assurance that ho intent not stir up an
other revolution to th? great detriment
of tlie English interests im co itrol of tho
nitrate tratlic.
The matter was th" news sensation in
Washington. It was as startling as it
was unexpected.
"So Jlahnaccda ha blown his brains
out." said Mr. roster, tnc t lnlean con
tidential agent. "I am :-orry ti hear of
his going o!T in that way, but it was prob
ably tlie best thing he could do. Ho
found a'l manner of escape cut off. He
had fallei in an attempt It cross the
Andes. He had not the physical strength
to endure tho hardships of a journey
through the mountain pa;ses in mid
winter, lie was cut o!T from his
vessels and fi.nnd it Impossible to
get out of Santiago without de
tection. Theso faets undoubted
ly preyed upon liis mind and all
hop,! left him. In his extremity
lie reorted to the pistol. Self murder
did not ha1. c as much terror for him as
It would have for others who believe in
a future state. v"hile Halmaceda studied
for the priesthood he gave up the teach
ings and traditions ef his fathers and
became almost an atheist To those who
knew the feeling aroused by I'almaceda's
acts of tyranny there is no surpriso at
all that the mass's should rejoice at his
d at h. He was a bad man. an I Chili is
glad to get rid of him in any manner.
Everything, however, will soon quiet
down, and with Halmaceda out of the
way peace is assured."
Halmaceda I -ft a statement to the
pn ss of the I'nited States. As almost
the last declarations of a dying man
they are of especial importance. Ho
says:
-I actel during th past eight months
with the firm conviction that I was right.
1 had no one in the army on whom I
could place my trust. My generals were
false to me. They lied all through the
war. 11a I my orders been obeyed I be
lieve that tho battle of Concon would
havo resulted in a de"isive victory
against the enemy. My heart a'l through
this trouble lias been with Chili. I
sought to rescue my country from for
eign domination. 1 strove to make her
the first republic in America. Myene
mic; say that 1 was cruel. Cir um
stances compelled me to sanction cer
tain acts, but n any ba l deeds that have
been attributed to my orders were never
known by me until they had been com
mitted. "Until the final tattle at llacilla I
had strong hopes of triumphing over my
foes. Victory was assured by my gen
erals, Alcerecca. Earl osa and Viel.
They all lied. I now know those who
pretended friendship for me only be
cause of the money that wis to be got
ten out of me. All tho money that I
have ia my possession is ?r',5oo. My
wife gave it to me on the night of
Aug. 2 A.
"Your minister, I'atrick Ezan, many
times offered mo good ad ice I'e urged
me to make peace with those opposed to
me a".d to n-t're from Chili. I d d not
heed his wise advice. f r I thought he
was under the inlluenco of the . unta's
orders, who were then refugees in the
American legation. -Ml throtizh the
trouble my clo-est advis -rs were always
opposed to any overtures for peace."
Newsy Paragraphs.
Ciiahoks w. ro made at Ottawa. Out.,
that several members of Canada's Par
liament are guilty id I 01 d ing by mak
ing false declara'ions as t salaries.
I'hkpah.7Hins tor t he microscopical eam
Inatinn of f urU for eii r - at Kansas i lly
are complete, ami work will beiin sit once.
Women will lie employed exclusively.
Wim.iam Evass, a fa-mer of New l.'oss,
Tml., found n strange man in p issession of
his horse and wagon. The man refu-oltj
suricnder it. and Mr. Evans shot him. in
flicting a fatal wound. The man (rave I ho
name of J. ,T. Khincm u, anil it is thought
lie was insane.
At Leavenworth, Kan., threj hundred
coal miners went on a strike, and three
hundred moie will probably join them. '1 ho
miners demand an advance of half a cent
per puhel. They arc now receiving 4 cent?
per bushel. This the companies deel 115
thu-i far to give.
TiiKMExnors fires have b?en raplni
west of Willmar, Minn., and large tracts of
prairie laud burnt over. A stroig wind
lias made it, Impossible to stay the fury ot
tiic flames. A gre::t deal of hay in stark
lias been destroyed, and three or four milet
of railioad track has been burnt and madu
impassable.
Servants of the Wealthy.
EttTi.Kirs must be over live feet ten
inches tall to meet tho requirements of
fashion
T.ik butler is answerable for the prop
erty put in his charge, and is hold re
sponsible for any articles missing.
Mits. W. W. AsToit is the forturati
possessor of a maid who was once one of
the attendants upon the (Jueen of Italy.
Iris said that a wealthy New York:
family has th'rty servants. About all
the average wo. nan ceres to.eAuro U
one.
a i -