The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-09-26

Campaign Committee Mr.. R. 81. Nc
Gee, of Wyoming, writes:
81 wish many more would say pub
licly what they feel, for in SO doing
many others would be made firm in
their now wavering convictions.
There is. one thing that 1 would
like to know about, and that is: Can
we proceed to organize under the Ma
tional Farmers Alliance and Indus
trial Union without first disband-
ing? If there is nothing in the way
of organizing l would be in favor of
making such move at once see
that the Farmers Alliance of Mime
sofa is a branch of the ''National
Farmers Alliance" 1 have under
stood different. Now, Iwould like to
get right on the subject.
1t may possibly be the Industrial
Union, that l have got confused in
my mind with National Farmers Al
lance.
But there is one thing certain, that
we must get rid of so many wire-pul-
lers and political tricksters, and the
most available way that I see would
be to reorganize.
There are two national organiza-
tions: LIST, the National Farmers
Alliance" This comprises the Ali
ance OF Minnesota and Iowa, and
three or four other states in part.
I'd, The recently organized dec. 3D.,
1880 "National Farmers Alliance
and Industrial Union" This COM
prises a union of seven different Or
CARNATIONS, mostly in the south,
and includes the K. of L. and labor
societies. The constituents, other
than the alliances, keep their separ-
ate orders as distinct as ever, but
send delegates to national and state
conventions. 1t has a membership
of about three millions. At the great
St. Louis Convention last December
Nebraska signified willingness to
unite in time. The DakOtas waited
for their state bodies to act, and
united. Kansas, with 13O, 900 men,
bers united. Iowa was kept out by
a political cabal run by the CLONE
stead" Our state alliance was in a
semi-disorganized condition then.
But four or five men, under the Schef-
fer dynasty, met at Austin and sent
two or three delegates to st. Louis.
One OF these was Sprague, one was
10 keenan,, though 10. had the good
sense not to go, as he is no farmer in
any sense and never has been one.
Sprague, Furlong, and Mr.. Geo. W.
Day, OF Mcleod county, were there.
Sprague brought his quarrel with the
Dakota people to the surface, gave
Wardall the lie, ETC., got into a row,
most of them thought purposely, and
kept Minnesota out OF the Union.
The apparent reason is because the
local state ring then in power, and
still in power, would have surrender
ed their grip to stern and more re-
sponsible national government. Hi
nois and Wisconsin are with the l.
US also. A rather singular phase OF
the matter is that Mr.. Loucks is
President OF the National Farmers
Alliance" what there is of it now
while he is not only in favor OF
joining the one great body of IN. f.
A. and l. u" but he himself a mem
Der of it-and is President of the Da-
kota Alliance which did join-so that
really the IN. F. Ais in a struggling
condition, and the en- F. A. and l.
u" is assuming wonderful proper.
tions and developing great power. 1t
is in part a secret organization, hav.
ing slight ritual.
A very unfortunate thing is that
the same Scheffer ring which kept
Minnesota out OF the ~. u" has
now, as campaign committee
named the state party, or state
something-no one knows what-tht
"F. A. and Industrial Union" a bare
fraud and deceit. Every honest mar
ought to resent such a move-as but
few farmers know that the genuine
Il. u" would not permit bankers
paid minions to run their campaign
In regard to Mr.. McGee's question
Any alliance can reorganize as an
Z. by addressing Hon. L. L. Polk
Washington, D. c., for aid and in
struction. 1t would be better, now
however, to await the action of thu
State Meeting, Dec 3Oth.
NJ. d II Stuc,,,a ,G Dill