Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-23

farmers ALLIANCE,
Inis long session of Congress means q great
deal more to the members of the House than
II does to the members OF the Senate. To the
Senators, as rule. the question IL merely that
OF working hard all summer, but to the Repre-
sentatives. without exception, there is added
70 the hard work the sense of uneasiness lest
! while they remain here discussing and voting
on public measures the ambitious men at
nome who are maneuvering to succeed them
here may be making the most dangerous
headway. There il no ceremony about
running for Congress. Tho man who wants to
come here Is never restrained from Offering
himself to the people and pushing his canvass
III the absence of the sitting member. The
sitting members only salvation therefore in
SUCH an emergency as the present one Is either
| to snatch a short leave now and then when he
can, or else by engineering to make some
happy hit here which will render it unneces-
sary FOR him to 30 home aud engage in q con-
test for denomination.
THE MOVEMENT OF THE FARMERS
While this sort Of danger always confronts
the members Of the House. it is Of more than
ordinary gravity now by reason of the disturb
ing element in national politics that has been
introduced by the movement Of the farmers.
The Farmers Alliance, indeed. has grown SO
rapidly that nearly every agricultural dis
trict IN the country is more Or less
been such promise of the shaking
mp OF the old parties and Of Wholesale chang
Ing OF men i'll the important representative
places. In the south particularly this spirit is
rife. In Georgia. Arkansas, Alabama, Tennes-
see. North and South Carolina and even in
Kentucky the farmers movement has created a
profound sensation. and it, only one-half of
what is promised should be realized
the next House will contain an un-
usually large number of new faces.
House are threatened with alliance opposition.
The discomfort expressed applies not to any
specific act of these men, but il based upon
the general statement that new order of
things must be brought about, and new men
will be necessary to insure the movement
thorough success.
But the movement is by no means confined
to the south. 1t ID being felt in Indiana and in
the republican states Of Illinois, Minnesota,
Wisconsin and Iowa, aud in Minnesota particu-
larry 1t Is said to be making astonishing pro-
gress. Ex-Congressman Knute Nelson q low
tariff advocate, IL at the head of il, and this IL
is asserted, will be felt here when the McKin-
ley Dill Is taken up in the Senate for amend
men:. The Nelson people insist that the bill
has been drawn too exclusively in the interests
OF the manufacturers and that the Senate must
make provision in it for the farmers.
WHICH IS BETTER TO DO? +
With 80 hot fire in the rear it is but nat.
ural that members at this distance from the
conflict should be uneasy as to the result And
them as 20 just what the wisest course to pur-
sue H. II the member desires to 90 home and
look after his fences in person. he has no diff
Guilty in getting of. His simple request for
leave read from the clerks desk
s aSonsIp hsc.n.. that purpose Nobody
with him. The very length Of time de-
sired testities to the gravity of the situation
with him. But once he arrives OH the scene he
hnds himself in the clutches Immediately of
local committees pulling in opposite directions
and at his first appointment on the stump he
receives, with the request that he answer it
specifically. a copy of the Farmers Alliance
platform, subtreasury clause and all II he
puts himself squarely on that platform he
loses stralght-out party votes and II he refuses
TO do so he is cut by the alliance The man
who stays, therefore, and attends strictly to his
public duties and looks ont in the legislation
pending for all OF his constituents. farmers and
merchants and manufacturers alike, is thought
to stand as good chance as any to succeed him.
self. There u number of members too,
beginning to take this view of the case.
WHAT REPRESENTATIVE ELLIS SAY,
One OF them is Congressman Ellis of the Dis
trio: committee, who represents the second
AANseAy NiotiSs icPieseuts IL we'll ne
said tu a representative of TIE STAR today in
reply to question: Yes, the farmers are or
ganized in my district. and represent good
round numbers. So far they have put IN no
candidate for Congress against me, and am
in hopes will not do so. My attitude on both
the tariff and the silver question is, 1 believe.
entirely satisfactory to all of my democratic
constituents. whether they belong to the wheel
organizations or not. should. of course like
to so home and meet my people. but feel /
shall best serve their interests By remaining
here, even il it should be al summer, and Civ
ing my vote for such legislation if enacted
into law would rebound to their benefit That
l shall do"
But no matter the view taken of what the
exigency calls for on the part of members
seeking reelection. the fact remains that Con-
gress will be in session all summer. The vote
on the tariff blll is not expected before the LIST
OF September. and then If the national cleo
tons bill or the new apportionment bill should
be pressed, as has been threatened. at least
another mouth, and the most intense excite.