Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-03
FARMERS ALLIANCE.
NATIONAL CONVENTION OPENED
AT OCALA, FLA.
Blue and Gray Meet on Common Ground
-Sectionalism Abolished.

Associated Press Dispatches
OoALA, Fla, Dec. 2.-The National
Farmers Alliance and Industrial Union
met here at noon. President Polk de.
livered his annual address, which con-
graduated the alliance on its achieve
ments since the last meeting. He re-
viewed the agricultural depression, and
declared that this depression was an
anomaly to the student of industrial
progress. "Retrogression in American
agriculture" he said, "means national
decay, and powerful and promising as is
this young giant republic, yet its power
and glory depends on that Of the Amer
ican farmer"
The harm incident to the centraliza-
ton OF money power, and the upbuild,,
ing of monopolies, was then pointed
out. Both political parties were con-
demned for encouraging this condition.
President Polk urged that additional
organizers be sent at once into Oregon,
Washington, Ohio, New York, New Jer-
sey, Arizona and other states. Among
other recommendations was one that an
organization be formed, to be known as
the National legislature, composed OF
the national president and the presi-
dents of all the state alliances, to look
closely after legislative reforms demand
ed by the alliance, both in state legis-
latures and in congress.
In his remarks upon the proposed ma
tional legislative council, President Polk
said an organization of this kind would
WELD the power which would enforce
the respect of any legislative body to
which it might appeal.
Touching upon political action OF
the alliance, President Polk said:
"While our organization is political,
it cannot be partisan or sectional in its
action. In support of this declaration
we proudly point to our whole past record
and to the recent popular election
In outlining the future financial policy
of the alliance, Polk said it would de-
mand the restoration of silver to all the
rights and equalities of legal tender
which gold possesses; the issue OF gov
ernment currency direct to the people;
the equalization of taxes; the prohibi-
ton of the alien ownership of land; the
ownership and control of transportation
lines by the government; the limit of
the public revenues to the economic ad-
ministration of the government; the
graduated taxation of incomes, and the
election of United States senators by di-
rect vote of the people.
President Foulkes, OF the South Da-
kota alliance, made short address,
speaking forcibly upon breaking down
sectional lines. An old union soldier
from Indiana moved that all the ex-
soldiers in the hall who endorsed those
sentiments, rise. Forty or fifty stood
amidst the widest enthusiasm. Then
an ex-soldier from Wisconsin called
upon all the union men to give three
cheers for the old confederates in the
alliance. They were given with will,
after which the confederates returned
the compliment in manner that left
no doubt as to the genuineness of their
feeling.
Expressions of dissatisfaction are
heard with reference to the conduct of
DR.. Macoune, editor of the National
Economist, in taking part in the recent
sensational fight in Georgia. 1t is also
charged that he had violated the policy
of the alliance in the advocacy of the
Conger lard bill, and opposition to the
Paddock pure-food bill, and in several
other ways. This matter will come up
for consideration in a day or two, and
will likely cause considerable debate.
The alliance opened its first business
session tonight, and from now on all
sessions will be secret.
The annual meeting of the National
Colored Farmers alliance will be held
tomorrow. The organization embraces
twenty-five states, and has member
ship of over one million. One of it's
chief objects is to divide the negroes
politically, which, of course, means TAX
ing large numbers of them into the vot
ing ranks of the Democratic party.