, 1890-11-20
THEY MEAN BUSINESS
The Farmers Alliance Is
Stronger Than Ever.
LET The LEGISLATURE BEWARE
Freights and Fares Must Be Reg
ulated, and a Commission
Established.

FARMinoroN, Nov. 10.--Whether the
Farmers Alliance will remain factor
In the politics of the state is II subject of
considerable speculation, mingled with
anxiety, among professional politicians.
II Is generally conceded, at any rate,
that in the election just passed. tho or
ganiZation welded more influence than
was agreeable to several candidates, and
indications now are that In future con-
tests the farmers will be more effectively
united than they ever have been, espe-
cialy throughout the Palouse and
Walla Walla valleys.
OF course, Washington Is not exolu-
sively an agricultural state, as Kansas
and Nebraska are, but If anything,
other industries predominant, ana ul-
ways will, so the grangers will never be
able to control the legislature, however
strong they may become in other locali-
ties. II is q safe assertion, however, that
under the existing condition OF things a
majority of the farmers of Eastern
Washington will act independent of past
political affiliations. Farmers, as a
class are not extensive readers,
but they are close observers and
nuNe lucds VI tutH o"h' t"NJ
also have strong prejudices
aud when once they adopt belief they
become almost inseparable from IT,
They are hard to rouse, out when they
do get thoroughly awake theiroppressors
had better get out of the way.
That is the situati tion now between the
farmers and the transportation COM
panies, and the alliance as u body Is de-
termined to find remedy. Besides de-
manding q railway commission, which
is local in its scope it advocates
national principle in the elecsion of
United States senators by popular vote
instead of by the various iegis-
latures. 1t regards the national
senate as club OF milionaires,
who have secured their position
not by the expressed will of the people
but by the purchased support of corrupt
legislators, and having attained their
elections by Doodle they are necessarily
corrupt men, and, being corrupt, not
worthy of trust in shaping the affairs OF
the nation, whose welfare is the pros
perity ofthe majority, and not the pros
perly of corporations, whose interests
millionaires represent.
There is also another consideration
with the alliance why senators
should be elected at the polls. Legisla-
tors should be chosen for their fitness
and electors should be left free to vote
accordingly, without being Obliged to
attach political Significance to the re-
suits; the legislature enacts laws for the
good of the state, or is supposed to- but
the principles of political parties Apply
to national affairs.
Possibly If one Of the two dominant
parties should adopt the principles enun-
ciated by the Farmers Alliance 1t would
gain strength and respectability from
the standpoint OF the granger, but 1t is
very doubtful. The alliance is now
organizing as IL never did before, and
some of them have been prominently
identified with the party which they
lett. Many, in fact, have held response
they have severed those ties forever.
B. h. Totten, of Oaksdale, is an ex-
ample. He was "a republican until
year ago, but since then has adopted
the faith of the Farmers Alliance and
is now the state organizer. j. NJ. Reed,
also of that city, formerly democratic
county commissioner and more re-
Gently member of the constitu-
tional convention. has convinced himself
that new party is imperatively needed,
and has therefore embraced the alliance
cause. Those two men are farmers
thrifty and intelligent, who can not be
accused OF Topping to sooth sorehesds,
and they both are AS vehement IN de-
nouncing the party they so recently left
as they used TO be in denouncing the
only one which they opposed. They
find no good in either of the old parties.
But hundreds of others are following
their courses. Combinations between
railways and elevators are not helping
things, either. Extortionate freight
rates are just as bad.
The alliance Is strong now, but
whether it remains so depends upon the