The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-11-24
TaE FARMERS ALLIANCE.

the second annual convention OF the
National Farmers Alliance recently
held in that city:
The States of Iowa. Wisconsin, Kan
sas, Nebraska, Illinois. Indiana,
Minnesota, Michigan and New York
were represented. w. J. Fowler, of
New York, presided.
The Secretary. Mr.. J. g. Wilson, re-
ported that the Alliance was in q favor
able condition. There were nearly
1000 subordinate Alliances in exist
ence, with a membership of 24.500.
The Alliances were distributed as fol-
lows: Nebraska, 2y1; Kansas, 245;
Iowa. $50; New York, so; Wisconsin.
81; Michigan. 10; Missouri, 19; In
diana, 10; Illinois, 10; Minnesota, 80.
The presid NJ officer made a brief
speech, in the course of which he
stated that certain changes in the
constitution would be recommended,
more particularly referring to the ques-
tion of life memberships. The Alliance
had so extended its field of usefulness
and its capacity for work that it could
take hold of questions which a year
agoit was unable to grapple with. The
Alliance would nOw be able to go for
some of the patent monopoiies, such as
the barbed wire sw.ndle, in instance.
There was money enough to carry the
barbed-wire cases up to the higher
courts, and thus much material aid could
be given to the farmer.
Mr.. Mu.holand reported that the
prospects OF the Alliance in Kansas
were fourishng. A State Alliance had
been organized. and they were thor
oughly organized and progressing
finely.
Mr.. Williams. of Iowa, said the situa-
ton in his State didered good deal
from that in most of The others. A State
Alliance hal been formed at Des
Moines, and the only objection raised
TO coming into the National Alliance
was the membership rule. He
thought that the voting should rest
with the active members, and that
men should not be allowed in on the
strength of their money.
Mr.. Anderson said that Wisconsin
had not had farmer representative in
Congress during the twenty years in
which he had been n resident of the
State. He thought the ia mers should
unite 10 support the Alliance. The
Wisconsin State Alliance was well oili-
cered and was doing well
Mr.. Williams, of Iowa, said that
documents were good, but that
speaker WHO could awake the farmers
TO sense OF their own interests would
be even better W here no State Lect-
urer had been designated he thought
speakers coud b. secured 10y guaran-
tee OF their expenses
MIR. Wood. # Illinois, reported q
very enc uaging ing tn ioughout
this State and a rm de erm nation ON
the part OF farmers 10 join in the move
ment. IL the two great political par
es contin lie, to neglect the interests OF
the producers the latter would swing
loose and vote indie evidently. They
would go into their own POLITICAL con-
ventions anil vote for their own men,
and ii they ould not cary their point
they won d support independent men.
| The farmers of illino had voted long
enough against their own Interests, and
| had been led like lambs to the slaughter
every time the ballot-box was passed
| around. The Alliance was not designed
to form a new party, but to encourage
| independence among the members of
the existing parties.
Mr.. Norton, of Wisconsin, said that
~ long rs the farmers were content to
| be led by the ears by the leaders OF the
two old parties it suited the managers
| well enough. When the farmers we're
satisfied there was no hope from either
| side they would come out and act for
| themselves
Mr.. Wood OF Illinois, said il was a
mistake to think that nothing could be
got from existing political organiza-
tions. The trouble was that farmers
stuck to their fields and barns. and al
lowed the moss back politicians to run
the caucuses and conventions. He did
not think it necessary to form new
party, for experience had taught them
that they could secure their ends and
yet remain in the existing parties. The
farmers formed fifty per cent. of the
voting population Of the country, and,
by influencing nominations, could com
pei the legislation they wanted.
Mr.. Williams said the farmers could
not control nominations. The politi
clans put up the conventions and freely
distributed drinks, lunches and money
if necessary. The combined influence
of the whisky and railroad interest:
were brorgit to bear, and the farmer!
got le l.
Mr.. Root said the great trouble il
Nebraska w.s with the machine,
which had run the State until thu
meanest men in it got all the offices
He proposed that members of the Ali
ance shou Il nominate their own men
and if Republicans or Democrat
cIouse to vote for them, so much tn
better In Nebraska the farmer
sought to ret equal taxation. and tina
monopoies should treat all men an,
all places al ke, and not pull down o
set up men ut their pie Isure. Rail
roads should not be allowed to freez
out men by system OF rebates
another name for robbery. Nebrask
4 farmers wanted no legislation to pyo
tect the interests of the producer, an
only asked such legis alton as woul,
r prevent other men from stealing. Th
matter of rails ng funds had bothere
the Nebraska Alliance more than any
! thing else. The speaker was Opposes
= TO life memberships, for this move
ment must inevitably lead to the fol
] nation Of an independent politics
, party, and 10 man ever heard of life
memberships in such n party. lie wer
on to say that Nebraska had never ha
{ a represel tative of the agricultural il
:, terests in either branch OF Congress
and had been m srepresented by III
i sters in and out of the State. He dt
q nounced United States Senator Saur
ders as false To his promises, and th
i men who elected him, but was incline
g to believe that Senator Van Wye
would, when Congress assembled
u December, redeem his prom ses.
If The Secretary read the followir
telegram:
"YoRK. Pa, October 3.
W. J. Fowler, Esq, President National Al
auce:
lam prevente by a serious and painful @
edent from being with you to-day, but be
sused thnt MS long as | live shall give wn
feeble aid can for justice to land and lahC
hope you will speak freely to-day, and let
Or the world know That YOU do not lack gall
D. make oppression bitter
:. JERE. s. BLACK.