Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-28
ALVEY FIGHT.
THE CONVENTION OF THE FARMERS
ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
cratic REPRESENTATIONS
. Made.
rspceIal telegram to tho Dispa,ca.l

CHARLEsroy. s. c., March T.-Captain @.
m.shell, Of Laurens. president OF the state
FARMERS Association, by order OF its Exc
cutlve Committee issued January 23d
manifesto TO the South Carolina Democra-
~, calling convention to meet March
zith at Columbia. Captain Shell charged
tnat the State was ring-ruled-the Demo-
c,ratle party was controlled by the state
University, the Agricultural Bureau, the
Columbia Club, and the Charleston dele
CATION; which rings intended IN the future,
as IN the past, 20 get oil they could and
Keep all they got; that the Department OF
agriculture. which controls the large phos-
phate royalty, was sustained by the fertill-
ger manufacturers; that the Legislature
had been bamboozled and debauched"
by the railroad magnates; that the State
senate wes dominated by the Charleston
rich politicians, and, in short, that the
state government was q failure, and that
the state was now and had always been
controlled by an oligarchy in which the
people had no rights. Captain Shell an
nounced the object Of the convention to
be TO nominate a ticket for every State of
nee from Governor down, TO be afterwards
ratified or rejected by the State Demo-
cratic Convention.
CAUSED EXCITEMENT.
The manifesto caused wild excitement.
Farmer 1illman, brother of the present
congressman, and who is known as tho
brains Of the farmers movement, denied
the authorship of the manifesto. Many
branches Of the Farmers Alliance. winch
must not be confused with the Farmers
ASSOCIATION. opposed -, the movement.
WhereupOn Captain Shell on February
7th boiled down the original mani
festo in letters 10 newspapers, avoid
ing Misrepresentation and abuse and
stating briefly the demands of the Farmers
Association. Nevertheless in response to
the manifesto farmers meetings were held
all over the State on March salesday and
delegates elected from twenty-one coun-
ties. thirteen counties not holding meet
iDgs. Since then several of the thirteen
counties have had meetings of malcontents
and independents, notably Charleston,
which two days ago sent twenty-seven del
egates headed by w. Z. Russell. not three
farmers among them. Late last night and
early this morning there was heavy work
az Columbia for ard against nominations,
the all-important point before the conyen-
ton. Shell, Tillman. lrby. Crews, and
their lieutenants were exertlng themselves
to have nominations made with the pur-
pose OF putting up TIllman for Governor.
Every one believes that while the farmers
have promised to abide by the regular
nominations of the Democratic Conven-
ton 10 be held later, the fact OF the nOmi-
nations will doubtless result IN n serious
split in the Democratic ranks, which will
| crystalline IL o few years into Wholesale
break.
TIE PLATFORM.
Tho Farmers Executive Committee wero
AZ work last night preparing platform,
which rec'tcs the value OF the platform
adopted. They demand primary nomina-
L ffanc f,tr oil nfHrna. fDn QhIlltT0n
of tho Board Of Agriculture, and that the
| South Carolina University be supported
only as a classical and literary institution.
/ This can only be regarded as revolutionary.
! 4 demand is made for rigid economy
| in the public expenditures: the abOli-
1 ton OF useless Offices; tho reduction
OF salaries. etc. The platform calls Tor "a
/ constitutional convention 10 relieve bur
/ densome taxation. Greater power Is de-
manded for the railroad commission,
| which shall bo elected by tho people. A
survey Of the phosphate ueds is called for
with view TO leasing them at auction.
! The platform demands that the candidates
| for Governor aud Lieutcnant-Governor
| canvass the State and that the candidates
! for the General Assembly canvass their
several counties. A reorganization OK the
| free schools is demanded.
] Tho convention assembled at the State
D HOUSE AT noon Allt tIH4IlLfn Win vi =
! Talbert. OF Edgefeld, as chairman. He
| delivered n stirring address on the rights
! Of the farmers to assemble and on oconO-
my in public affairs. 49,,
| The convention then adjourned until
evening.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The convention met again at o'clock.
| The question Of nominations or no nOmi-
nations came up. After a number of warm,
/ bitter. and some eloquent speeches. OF
/ which Chairman Brayton, of the state Re
publican party. was on interested aud con-
| spicuous auditor. the vote was taken,
and to everybody's surprise resulted III
| to against 1l6 for nominations.
! Before the official announcement Of the
result two members changed their votes,
! and two new members from Beaufort came
| in. turning the tables completely and
making I2l votes for nominations. Mean
while parliamentary law was hooted at.
| 4 perfect pandemOnium relgned, and such
noise and uproar ensued as has never
been witnessed IL any white convention IN
this State.
Nominations were then called for, and
amidst tremendous excitement b. Il. 1lll-
man was nominated for Governor and j.
c. Colt for Licutenant-GOvernor
Tillman is radical Ggrarian refOrmer
whose attempt TO cause disafectlon wa
checked on the stump two years ago by (
w. Dawson. The outlook for the future Ii
/ I