Hard times on the farm fueled the Populist movement of the late nineteenth
century. You can see the reality behind the political slogans of the
era in letters written by farm men and women to Populist newspapers
or Populist politicians. The first letter is from Minnesota; the second
from Nebraska; the third from North Dakota; the fourth from a Nebraskan
preparing to move to the Oklahoma Territory; and the fifth and sixth
are from Kansas. Although the spelling and grammar in the letters are
far from exemplary, the farmers' concerns--the cost of land, railroad
rates, credit rates, drought--are real and compelling. The farmers found
expression not only in the Populist or People's party, but in the 1896
capture of the Democratic party by the followers of William Jennings
Bryan.
HALVOR HARRIS
In the minds of the forlorne and the unprotected Poor People of this
and other states I might say I am one of those Poor and unprotected.
One of those which have settled upon the so-called Indemnity Land of
the Minn. St. Paul and Manitoba now the great Northern [Railroad]. I
settled on this Land in good Faith Built House and Barn Broken up Part
of the Land. Spent years of hard Labor in grubing, fencing, and Improving
are they going to drive us out like tresspassers. Wife and children
a sickly wife with Poor Health enough Before and give us away to the
Corporations how can we support them. When we are robed of our means.
they will shurely [sic] [sic] not stand this we must Decay and Die from
Woe and Sorrow We are Loyal Citicens [sic] [sic] and do Not Intend to
Intrude on any R.R. Corporation we Believed and still do Believe that
the RR Co has got No Legal title to this Land in question We Love our
wife and children just as Dearly as any of you But how can we protect
them give them education as they should wen we are driven from sea to
sea....
Halvor Harris to Ignatius Donnelly, January 29, 1891,
Donnelly Papers, Minnesota Historical Society.
W. M. TAYLOR
This season is without a parallel in this part of the country. The hot
winds burned up the entire crop, leaving thousands of families wholly
destitute, many of whom might have been able to run through this crisis
had it not been for the galling yoke put on them by the money loaners
and sharks--not by charging 7 per cent. per annum, which is the lawful
rate of interest, or even 10 per cent. ,but the unlawful and inhuman
country destroying rate of 3 per cent. a month, some going still farther
and charging 50 per cent per annum. We are cursed, many of us financially,
beyond redemption, not by the hot winds so much as by the swindling
games of the bankers and money loaners, who have taken the money and
now are after the property, leaving the farmer moneyless and homeless....
I have borrowed for example $1,000. I pay $25 besides to the commission
man. I give my note and second mortgage of 3 per cent of the $1,000,
which is $30 more. Then I pay 7 per cent. on the $1,000 to the actual
loaner. Then besides all this I pay for appraising the land, abstract,
recording, etc., so when I have secured my loan I am out the first year
$150. Yet I am told by the agent who loans me the money, he can't stand
to loan at such low rates. This is on the farm, but now comes the chattel
loan. I must have $50 to save myself. I get the money; my note is made
payable in thirty or sixty days for $35, secured by chattel of two horses,
harness and wagon, about five times the value of the note. The time
comes to pay, I ask for a few days. No I can't wait; must have the money.
If I can't get the money, I have the extreme pleasure of seeing my property
taken and sold by this iron handed money loaner while my family and
I suffer.
W. M. Taylor to editor, Farmer's Alliance (Lincoln), January 10, 1891,
Nebraska Historical Society.
W. T. McCULLOCH
As We are about to have our first great Battle in this State between
Corporate Greed, and the great Plain People, the Strugle [sic] will
be a Desperate one, and must be fought to a finish. Determining, whether
it shall be Masters, and Slaves, or a free People. in fact as well as
in Name. And few, Reading thinking Men in America, Deny the Slavery
of the Masses. to the Money Power of our Country, and a large Portion
of our People, having lost all faith in our present Political Parties.
for any Reforms. that would wrest the .Masses of our People from Corporate
Greed. Or give them any rights, that corporate Greed would have to respect
It does not appear, that we are Destined to Slavery of one Kind or another,
For the Slavery of to Day. Is but of a little different Kind from that
of old. While in former Days it was necessary, that the Masters Keep
within reach of their Slaves. in order to reap the Profits of their
Toil.... And there is no Denying. that the Masses have literally slept,
the Sleep that brings on Tenantry and Serfdom. and the Partizan Hireling
Press have depended upon our Ignorance, and their Power to fool us,
and have taken unto themselves. leases, for Prevarication. Missrepresentation
[sic] and Slander. which is a Menace. to the Moral. Social and financial
welfare of every Honest Citizen, and Bodes the Destruction of this Republic.
and our People must be put on their guard. Taught not, only the remedy
but how to apply it, in order to rid our Land of this Blighting. Blasting
Curse, which is undermining. Honest true Manhood in every Department
of Life. where they Will not be made Jumping Jacks, at their Beck or
call.
McCulloch to Ignatius Donnelly, April, 1892, Donnelly
Papers, Minnesota Historical Society.
M. F. BLANKENSHIP
I had a mortgage on my team, like all my brother farmers, of $64.50.
I was given to understand that this must be paid. To borrow money was
out of the question. Nothing was left for me to do but haul off corn,
hogs, etc., and pay it. I went to work, hauled off my corn and hogs
and sold my hay and paid it. I had made calculations and found I would
have no feed, seed, or even bread and meat.... I did not know what to
do. I received a letter from my uncle in Oklahoma, stating there was
plenty of work here at good wages. There was no work, as you all know,
in Custer county. After taking all things in careful consideration I
concluded I would come to Oklahoma where I could get work. Before reaching
this conclusion it cost me many a bitter tear and sleepless night.
M. F. Blankenship to editor, Custer County Beacon
(Broken Bow, Nebraska), March 24, 1892, Nebraska Historical Society.
SUSAN ORCUTT
I take my Pen In hand to let you know that we are Starving to death
It is Pretty hard to do without any thing to Eat hear in this God forsaken
country we would of had Plenty to Eat if the hail hadent [sic] cut our
rye down and ruined our corn and Potatoes I had the Prettiest Garden
that you Ever seen and the hail ruined It and I have nothing to look
at My Husband went a way to find work and came home last night and told
me that we would have to Starve he has bin in ten countys and did not
Get no work It is Pretty hard for a woman to do with out any thing to
Eat when She dosent [sic] no what minute She will be confined to bed
If I was In Iowa I would be all right I was born there and raised there
I havent [sic] had nothing to Eat to day and It is three oclock[.]
Susan Orcutt to Lorenzo D. Lewelling, June 29, 1894,
Lewelling Papers, Kansas State Historical Society.
W. R. CHRISTY
We are worried over what our Poor People of our county are to do for
fuel to keep them warm this winter.... there are at least 2/3 of the
People that have?to depend on Cow chips for fuel & as the cattle
had to be Sold off verry [sic] close that its been difficult to get
them. Some have went as far as 13 miles to get them. the thermometer
this morning was 16 below zero & .4 or 5 inches of snow on the ground,
under those circumstances what are the People to do. at this time our
coal dealers have not all told more than 100 bushels of coal on hand
& it cant be bought for less than 40¢ per hundred in Less than
ton lots.
W. R. Christy to L. P. Broad, December 28, 1894, Lewelling
Papers, Kansas State Historical Society.