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THE LIVING ISSUES. official ofthe f/lelim: je fls’ TuLLiA-isroE ijst:idxjst:r,ia.l Vol. I. NO. 52. What Atlanta Needs. An open letter to the workingmen of Atlanta: As a workingman and a student of the labor problem, I address ydu this letter in the interest of justice, peace, prosperity and good government. In good government, especially a re publican form of government, justice to all men is the most important stone in the foundation of the “temple of our liberties." You have seen this city which labor has built, controlled and dominated by a few for their own benefit, with an utter disregard and contempt for your interests, or the general welfare. You have seen foisted upon you can didates for your suffrage, in whom not one spark of patriotism existed; with no concern but for themselves and the “ring bosses” who have chosen them to do their bidding. You have seeh the oppressions of this “ring” in every phase of your daily existence, not only curtailing your means of living, not only reducing your efforts to a mere "strength of exis tence,” but rendering the efforts of the homeless futile, in their honest endeavor to obtain homes, through the “special privileges” granted to “land sharks.” You have seen the different trades of the city organized into trades assem blies, and the efforts of politicians, press and pulpit to destroy them. You have seen patriots, who dared to show yon the difficulties which con fronts you and the remedies you need, howled down in public halls and arrest ed when speaking at a public place on the streets. You have seen a resolution offered in the city council which would result, if enacted into law in preventing arv pro test whatever from emanating from »tie ranks of labor. Y6u have seen published by the daily press epithets and slanders from Up- lips of politicians and statesmen, so called. Even the pulpit has been used to howl its anthems at the heads of those who were trying to educate the people as to the causes of their suf ferings and the remedy for their relief. One “learned and gifted” pastor,” less than a year ago, denounced the principles for which the Living Issues is still contending as “agrarian, com munistic , nihilistic, and born of infi delity. But with all this unwarranted abuse, it is nevertheless true that “Ho works with God who works for man.” But listen to what he now says: “There is not a church on the face of the green earth which would keep in its service a minister who would dare to go to the limits of Christian obliga tions.” “He would be ostracised from society if he dared go those lengths in the matter of helping and uplifting the poor which Christian character pre scribed." Yet with this confession as to the moral cowardice of the pulpit, what apology can be made for the rot tenness of our political condition. Yet when brave men not fearing “ostra" cism,” but with the fear of God alone in their hearts, dare go- to any honor able “lengths in the matter of helping and uplifting the poor,” his efforts are characterized as "the dirty work of a dangerous agitator, demagogue and agent of the devil himself.” You have seen and have heard expos ures of this corruption in your organi zations; you have had held up to your gaze this corruption in high places; your speakers nave pictured to you what might be accomplished by an or ganized effort at the ballot box; they have theorized upon the many import ant reforms to be inaugurated, when you win, but they have never thought of the impossibility of winning under present conditions. The army of poli tical “scabs” are more numerous than the army of organized labor; we must first consider “our brother in black.” His vote, with but few exceptions, is bought and sold for a small sum of money or a few drinks of mean whis key. We next find a large and ever growing number of our own race, whose votes are a purchasable commo dity; lastly, we find great numbers of honest workingmen in the employ of soulless corporations, who always at tempt and sometimes succeed in forcing their men to vote as they dictate. From this you will see that your chances to win are exceedingly small. But there is a remedy, which, if need •will purify the atmosphere of politics, THE PEOPLE DEMAND—"EQUAL RIGH I'S TO ALL, SPECIAL PRIVILEGES TO NONE.” will abolish the cesspools of corruption: will obliterate the traffic in votes, and will render the employer powerless to control the votes of his employees. Seek this remedy; study the justice it provides, the equity it promises, the safeguards it furnishes. Study this xeform, which is the keystone of the whole political fabric, until yon under stand it perfectly, then propagate the idea in your “Trades Assemblies," in your “Federation Hall,” and upon the platform of your “Industrial Council.” The remedy I refer to is the Austra lian Ballot. In it you will find success attainable; under its provisions you will find the voter alone with his God, with a lead pencil to mark his ballot according to the dictates of his own conscience, “and none dare molest or make him afraid.” The ward politician and “heeler” will become back numbers: the “ring” will like Othello, “find their occupation gone;” the professional politician will no longer buy votes which he can no longer see delivered; it is a wrecker of “machine politics;” it enables justice and truth to again lift their august heads; public spirit and patriotism no longer trodden under foot, will become more than mere words for the hypo crites of party to compare with, and class hatreds must disappear as class legislation tends to vanish. Study this question, debate it in your assemblages; circulate a petition for signatures among the citizens of Atlan ta, asking the legislature lb so amend the city charter as to allow the Austra lian system adopted ; vote for no candi date for any position, who will not agree to work for its enactment into law. A little more than five years ago. Louisville, Ky., adopted this system to free her«elf fr n ro the control of corrupt rings. Massachusetts, the first state to adopt it, soon followed, other states followed in quick succession, until now nearly half of the states of the union are using a modification of the Austra lian system in their elections. It is use less to wait for the state to adopt it; as goes Atlanta, so follows the state in her march of progress. The cities of Ten nessee first received the authority to vote in this way, now the entire state has adopted the system. It is useless to say more on this sub ject: “Organize, educate, agitate.” “A word to the wise is sufficient.” E. Wittich. Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 29, ’93. Postmaster General Bissell and the Alli ance. It is reported that Postmaster Gen eral Bissell has declared his purpose to appoint no allianceman to even a fourth class post office. This determination, if true, verifies the judgment of the alli ance in doubting the friendliness of Mr. Cleveland to this Order and tends to show error of judgment in voting tor him in the last election. This conclusion on the part of Mr. Bissell should stimulate every alliance man to greater exersion in the interest of the organization and a stronger de termination to stand by the alliance first, last and all the time, ever refus ing to kiss the hand raised to smite them. The farmers have nothing to hope for from the present national administra tion, as manifest in this announcement, and the action heretofore, especially with reference to our congressmen and this matter of postoffices. Our mem bers of congress as well as the alliance should stand firm, let the consequences be what they may.—South Carolina Cotton Plant. The alliance can now see how they are to be treated by the present admin istration. No allianceman need apply even for a fourth class post office. This adminis tration does not think a farmer has sense enough to hold an office. They are only fit, in the eyes of the million aire boodle cabinet, to raise six cents cotton and support the fellow with the silver spoon in his mouth, j Can the sale of an inferior article con stantly increase for 24 years? Dobbins’ Electric Soap has been on the market ever since 1865, and is to-day as ever, the best and purest family soap made. Try it. Your grocer will get it. Subscribe for the Living Issues. ATLANTA, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, OCTO BEE 5, 1893, South Georgia, Editor Living Issues: I am a subscriber to your newsy ItHle paper, and it always finds a hearty wel come in my house. Its a useful politi cal guide to the country at large. Now if space admits I will write something of interest to your many readers about the finances of this section of Georgia. As lands are rising in market value from time to time. I will first tell you something of the lai ds of of this section. South Georgia is unsurpasse: by Florida as a land of flowers, *d in many respects preferable to the great west with its stock farms and cattle ranches. South Georgia is destined to come to the front. You can get real good land here at $2.50 to $3 per acre that’s just as good or better than north and east Georgia land that cost from $lO per acre up, and it is much easier to put into a state of cultivation and takes much less fertilizers to the acre here than in north and east Georgia. Thir.ty acres can be cultivated here with one plow, as the land is free and easy of cultivation; the average crop here on uplands are 750 pounds seed cotton to the acre or 20 bushels, oats 200 bushels sweet potatoes 300 gallons of syrup and ample crops of other products with an average of 100 pounds of guano to the acre. Saw mills are fortune makers in any favored land and its no trouble to get plenty of yellow nine timber. Her stock roam at large in the woods and hogs sheep and cattle require but little care to yield immense profits if properly managed. Terms can be mede to suit purchasers of land, where parties can’t pay all cash. This is a new and growing country with splendid and constantly increasing railroads and oth er enterprises. Land that can now e bought for $2 or $3 per acre will as things now| look sell for sls per acre, and upward in less than ten years. A id above all this is as healthy a county as can be found anywhere in the United States; it is acknowledged by all - are acquainted here to be ext.a g i I am sorry I can’t give all the advan tages the country has, but we have a I land and business director for this whole section of country. Dr. J. M. McNeal, Mcßae, Ga., to whom if you write with stamp for reply, will give correct an swers to all questions asked. He is bound by the public not to misrepresent anything. Churches and schools are plentiful and we have pure freestone. Now, I have not one foot of land here for sale, I only write the above for the good of the brother alliancemen and subscribers of our paper intending to move somewhere. J. R. Gilleon. From a Democratic View. The Washington Sentinel, a demo cratic paper takes this view of the sit uation at the capitol: “The Stewart resolution censuring Mr. Cleveland is widening the breach between the president and senate. As a consequence, it is now said that vari ous important executive nominations pending in the senate will be held up - and Mr. Cleveland will hold up nomi nations promised and expected until the senate relents. The prospect of its re lenting is not as good as it was last week, and is constantly growing less. Tj say that many democratic sena; tors sympathize with Senator Stewart in his speech arraigning Mr. Cleveland would be entirely true. Mr. Stewart had the whole attention of the senate when he read Mr. Cleveland’| letter de clining to attend a college meeting be cause he would “have congress on his hands about that time.” In its impli cations and suggestions the Nevada sen ator’s speech was effective. Among the nominations that are men tioned as likely to be held up are those of Minister to Italy, Collector of Cus toms at New York, Justice of the Su preme Court, with others of less im. portance in character but of superior importance to politicians, senators and the president.” Alliance Growing. Editor Living Issues: We had a very interesting alliance meeting at prospect sub-alliance, Mon roe county, Sept. 9th. Had a good lec ture from the Hon. T. J. Barrett, county lecturer for Pike county and also brother Jones, of Pike, gave us a good lecture, reminding us that it will be by organization that we can expect success and it is by organization that we can be able to combat with the ene my. We must stand banded together as one in defense of right and justice to all men. There is work for all. The crisis is upon us and he that won’t fight nor contend for himself and household denies the faith and is worse than an infidel. The alliance has got to keep thor oughly organized. The oppression of the money power grows stronger as the days go by as proven by our representa tives in congress and in various other ways. We are asked now to dump our cotton on the market at the low price of 7 cents and take bank or clearing house certificates in payment for it; clearing house certificates backed up by a verbal promise of one or more men. A shame that we are asked to sacrifice our hard earnings in such way. But when we, the farmers alliance had in troduced a bill in congress in the form of a sub-treasury bill, asking the gov ernment to loan us (the farmers) money direct, proposing to secure them with the best security the world can afford, mother earth, and her non-perishable products, we were told by a democratic congress that that would never do in the world, unconstitutional, but it is allright to pay us for cotton in bank certificates, We hear no complaint at that, but the good part concerning cer tificates is they seem to not circulate worth a cent with us, somewhat under par, and will be next time you hear from them. I hope. We have been duped for near 30 years and are becom ing tired of such stuff. Mr. Editor, our lodge has been on gaining ground ever since you spoke for us in July. We would be glad to have you come again soon and give us in creased faith and hope to help us to press forward and onward until we push the alliance and reform to the zenith of its glory. Long may you live to help and lead us,.pever ceasing in ’our efforts till we are crowned with victory for equal rights to all men. W. L. Harris. Lamont, Ga., Sept. 25. tSßitov. ■ Editor Living Issues: As I see but little from Bartow coun ty, I wish to say a few words if you will allow me a little snace in your valuable and highly appreciated paper. I wish first to commend Mrs. Dr. Felton for her views on the situation and the causes. It does seem to me that all the thinking reading people ought to be thoroughly convinced of the causes of the oppression that our common laboring people are now having to bear. The most of the prominent democrats in this county show symp toms of being very sick, but they are like the hog that had the itch, he was too stubborn to scratch; they are two stubborn to yield to their honest con victions. I think a great many of them are about ready to confess their sins and come along with the people and be saved from everlasting ruin. May the Lord help them to come out boldly like men, and declare themselves with the people; we need their co-operation in this great and grand struggle for relief. Brother editor, lam trying to do all I can in my feeble way to educate the people and build up the cause of the people. I must say that we have been somewhat discouraged in our county since the last election, but the people see now what they did not see then, feeling is the nacked truth, and that is what it takes to convince some. The people are anxiously waiting, hoping to receive some relief from the state as we are ignored by the federal government. If our governor was in sympathy with the people he would call the legislature together immediately’ and stay’ the laws until the farmers could get a fair price for the present crop. Without something is done, and that speedily, the present crop will go for a mere song, as it has been doing in the past. I wonder if our governor has gone entirely blind to the interest of the common people of our proud and noble state. If so, we would like to know it. Just now we need a governor that is in sympathy with the common laboring people of our state. Now is the time we, the people, need his sympathy and co-operation. May he raise his glasses and look out in the rural parts of the state and see what he don’t seem to see. All public men make a record and it rests with him whether it is to honor or dishonor. I believe the people know what they want and what they need and what they are obliged to have, and expect from their representatives. If there is not something done there will be a powerful rattling of the dry bones. G. B. Lovelace. Subscription-One Dollar Per Year To the Rescue. Editor Living Issues: lam satisfied that the brethren do not know the condition of our paper, and therefore do not realize the neces sity for subscribing for it to a man; not only tnat, but to do all in their power to place it in the homes of those who are not in our order. I have received, and suppose all coun ty secretaries have received, a full statement of the cost of the paner, ex pense of issuing it, and number of sub scribers. It is not best to publish this to the world, but eacA county secretary should read his statement to his county alliance and thus show that the price this year must remain at $1 per year, in order to the more quickly put it on a safe, sound and paying basis, and in a position to reduce the price. Lej every secretary remember this and se cure all the subscriptions possible. The delegates will take the statements to their sub-alliances and make a full canvas for it. Each member will act as agent for it among his neighbors, and thus cover the entire field. The result will be to double this list of subscrib ers in 60 days, if each man does but half of his duty, lam not a newspaper expert, but know enough of the business to say to you that our paper must receive our individual support. The working capi tol is very small for the purpose. A large amount of the subscriptions nave several months to run, which is a large expense and no receipts. This will about eat up our capital unless many new subscribers are obtained. The present number on the books will bare ly pay actual expenses. A little more type is needed I believe; SSO worth prob ably. In a money point of view, we must increase our list by 6,000 to en able us to carry out our lecture system effectively and have a small sum to our credit in the state treasury for emer gencies. With our own paper on a paying basis, we can print and circu lar free or at cost, much valuable miscellaneous literature that will aid us greatly. . 1 SUpposi* no Gae IW’iK'Brihc 1- ; for an organ; but do you realize the power it gives us? Do you receive one single copy that does not give you much valuable information, fresh hope and courage, new zeal? Are you not being educated as to your duties as citizens, a part of this government; as to finance, effects of laws and bills, and the whole system of government? There you can see the advantage of getting others to read it. As a power for good or evil, I cite a fact that most speeches in congress are partly composed and aided by extracts from the papers. Our best minds speak to the public through the press. A campaign without a newspaper would be a flat failure. Our organ, our own paper, must be sustained, not merely kept alive, but fed. addivated, cared for, and made a power for good. Are you going to do your duty by your own? I want to speak to every sub-alliance in the country and the members. At tend your meetings: you are needed, every man of you; your presence gives courage to others. A good attendance is a spur and incentive to others. Let no man sat’ that he can do no good by attending, he cannot speak. Talking is as nothing against work. Work is the mainspring. Get through with the business as soon as you can and do it right, then sing, read some good short articles of any interesting character, some of them humorous, talk on various sub jects; make the alliance a pleasant place, as well as a school. In many places the sub depends upon its officers to see to it that they are al ways in place. Have drills on initiation and the secret work until all under stand it thoroughly. Co-operate iu buying and selling. Do all you can to make the order profitable, pleasant, in structive. In short, do your duty as a citizen and brother. W. H. Warner. Gainesville, Ga. Says the St. Louis Republic: “All members of congress have but to look at the unemployed workingmen, the anxious merchants and the perplexed bankers of the country to realize that a settlement is demanded. Hard sense, not sentimental sympathy, calls for action. If they would stop the spread of socialism, they must put an end to idleness.lf they would ward off a contest over printing press money they must provide promptly a currency system that will satisfy reasonable winds.”