The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-13
The Farmer In Politics.
New York Tines

first 10 organize a monopoly OF general -
nature.
The Farmer In Politics.
New York Tines
That the farmer is rapidly becoming a
power in politics, especially in the South
and West, admits Of no dispute. The Farm
ers' Alliances. originally established with
the understanding that they were not TO
take an active part in politics, have grown
so strong numerically that in many cOun-
ties of the States they are in position 10
dictate nominations and 10 hold a balance
of power i'm elections, and, having secured
this enylable position, they have not been
slow TO take advantage Of it. In the agri-
cultural West and the cottOn-g growing
South the farmers, with the men they can
control, have only to act unitedly in order
to make themselves both feared and felt,
and slowly but certainly they are strength
ening their organizations and preparing TO
WELD the power which their numerical
strength places within their reach.
That the politicians have hitherto either
| ignored the farmers altogether, or cheated
them by promises which they never intend
ed to fufill,is also "A proposition that cannot
be denied: and II is because Of their syste-
matte double dealing in the past that the
farmers have at last awakened to the fact
that they must make themselves respected
or their claims will continue TO be made the
playthngs Of the politicians. The Farmers
Alliances have done and are doing great
and important work in educating their
members on the subject Of politics, and
| il is not at all surprising that as the educa-
ton proceeded the farmers began to realize
that they had been dupes for years, and that
| as consequence of this awakening to the
| logic of facts, they determined to take a
/ ..,1 tho.npalxag in that HpEarunnppf Gf fla
people by the people. the benefits OF which
were guaranteed to them. but OF which
| they had experienced little in the past. And
| so the Farmers Alliances gradually became
/ power in politics which 1t was unsafe to
ignore.
The farmers are undoubtedly on the right
track, but there seems to be some danger Of
their losing their way il the proceedings Of
the GreensbOrOugh IN. CD Congressional
| Convention are 10 be taken as a sample OF
| their intentions. In this convention, which
was called by the Democrats, the farmers,
through their alliances, succeeded IN elect
ing IA large majority Of the delegates. Then
the- went into the convention with far
mer for a candidate, and in nominating him
the spokesman declared that the CONVEX
! ton was not composed of LAWYERS, doe
tors, and merchants and suggested that
the farmers had no use for people OF that
kind. Such a declaration was as unwise as
il was insulting. and if the Alliances pro-
pose to manage their political campaigns
| on any such principle as this, they viii
probably decline in power and prestige as
rapidly as they have risen. They need the
/ LAWYERS and the merchants and the doctors,
| as badly as the politicians need them, and
| to begin by insulting such an influential
| body of citizens argues little political saga
city, on the part of the farmers Of North
Carolina.
That farmer, provided ne knows some
thing besides the details of managing a
farm, IS as proper a candidate for Congress
as a merchant, or a lawyer, or a doctor,
will not be disputed, but that everybody
else must step to one side when the farmer
| appears is absurd. Such clannishness a
this has no proper place in this country,
and il the Alliance insist on maintaining
IT, it will surely drag them down 10 the dust.
What t.ey should do, to solidify and utilize
their power, is TO secure the nomination of
good, able men, who will study their inter-
ests, and a clever lawyer. or doctor, or mer-
chant will serve them much better in Con-
gress than stupid farmer.
David and Isaac.
lChicago News
Governor David b. Hin, of New York, and
Ex-Governor Isaac T.. Gray, of Indiana, are
1 HAVING lNllkt tIl intli OMu WAY iutNA MOI
July DAYS. But it is to be observed that
Governor Hill has never undertaken TO eN-
plain that little deal in his state in 1858
whereby Mr.. Cleveland was defeated, and
| Mr.. Hill elected. the New York Tribune.
/ in a moment Of reckless yeracity, referred
! TO this interesting transaction i'm terms that
left no room for doubling that Governor
Hills friends had traded MIR. Cleveland of
wherever they could for the benefit of Gov
ern0r Hill and General Harrison. The IL
mira statesman has never denied the
charge OF treachery, and 1t is TO
BE- inferred from Ex-Governor Gray's
present carryings-0n thai he indorses
| IL. No other conclusion can be log
ically drawn from the indianians Alliance
| with the willy Newly Orker. lie cannot be
| ignorant of the New York deal which
wrecked the hopes of his party in the nation.
and put the enemy in full possession of the
governments; vet he takes the earliest OPP
pOrtuuity for signiying his approval Of the
/ traitOrous act OF Governor Hill and his
| friends by entering "combine" which he
expects and they expect TO be winner in
K ls92. when the people OF Indiana happen
! think OF ell this, as they Will before long,
the ex- governor hay find his position rather
awkward, and not easy 20 explain. In any
event, il is pretty safe TO say that he will
1 moi head The Democratic ticket in 1892, and
il he should persist in his present attitude
be may not get even the SECOND place.
Insurance of Children.
FAN River Herald.
Asa result Of the agitation for the adop.
ton OF laws 10 regulate the. insTance 81
children. committee Of the English Par
lamont Is now considering bill that was
prepared by bishop. The large number
OF deaths OF inssreJ children aroused the
suspicion that parents eitser neglected
their offspring or put them TO death In Or
der 10 recover on the policies. About co.,
laws and The cheappess Of the system Of.