St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-10-02
No Denying the Fact That the
Alliance Candidate Is Very
Popular.
A Group of Counties in Which
His Vote Promises to Be
Large.
It Is Certain That He Will Get
More Than the Alliance
Strength.
Nelson Says a Wave of Unrest
Is Sweeping Over the
State.
Staff Correspondence of the Globe.

Staff Correspondence of the Globe.
ALEXANDRIA. Oct. lit seems most
appropriate, here in the home of Knute
Nelson, who. worthy or unworthy, has
always been sort of fetish to the Min
nesOta farmer, to says something of
the farmers movement in politics. 1t
passes comprehension. Down in the
Twin cities we hear occasionally that a
revolution is afoot; but in hearing, hear
not. Travel through this great double
tier of Republican counties and your
eyes will begin to open as your ears ex-
pand. 1t is indeed revolution. Laugh
1t you can, sneer If you must, when |
tell you that the revolution passes be-
lief. What the queen of Sheba said of
Solomon's dominion is equally appli-
cable to the situation here. The half
has not been told. Democrats and Re-
publicans alike are actually standing
aside to allow the farmers cyclone to
pass: In political headquarters in st.
Paul we hear the common expression
that the actual Alliance Strength is saw
$4,000, and the vote will be such and
such percentage of this. Do not doubt
my sanity when [ say that the general
feeling all through this country is that
the number of Alliance men does not
begin to measure the Alliance vote.
The Alliance itself is simply a. nucleus
about which the farmer vote will rally,
The county Alliance is but the SNOWFALL
rolling through and gathering strength
and bulk as it proceeds. The move
ment itself Is the boulder started at the
mountain top; it moves slowly at first,
and its course is scarcely noted, but it
0nthQrC M frrrN On, n ina i
until at last it sweeps away ali OBJ
stacles, and with Irresistible power
crashes headlong toward the plain.
The Alliance organization furnishes the
machinery, but the power is that great
feeling Of unrest and dissatisfaction
under which the farmer of Minnesota
has chafed for years and which, though
finding frequent expression in a small
way, has at length burst all bounds.
This feeling is general, and 1t is won
derful. 1t does not begin to be appre-
ciated in the Twin Cities. 1t is not
known-or at least does not appear to
beat the s9mptuous headquarters over
which Joel Heatw0le presides in the
Endicott block, or at the working rooms
of Chairman Campbell at the Mer-
chants; but take trip through Grant,
DOuhlas, Otter Tail, Polk or Wilkin
counties and draw your own conclu-
sionS.
Knute Nelson sat in railway coach
the other day en- route to his home from
another end of his county. To his seat
mate he said: $50 many of my Nor
wegian friends have come to me to
serve notice that they intend to quit the
Republican party this year that l am
overwhelmed. They say they will vote
with the farmers this time. They are
not lost to the party necessarily, but
this year they say they will cast + vote
for Owen. There is a great wiSye of
unrest sweeping over the state.N At
Alexandria Mr.. Nelson got out, and
gentleman near him said: ut is not
alone the farmer who will quit the Re-
publican party to vote with the farmer.
In my section it is the exception to find
a man who will not vote for Owen"
"Why is it SOP" inquired the travelling
man.
''It is beyond explanation" was the
reply. 'It is one of those singular up
risings that may last but season, but
in Wilkln 1t is like magic, and am told
the same is true of Otter Tail and Polk
counties particularly"
l have found this literally true in all
the sections | have visited. Itseems an
Infection. 1t is not an Alliance move
ment. but farmers uprising, pure and
simple. Whether the moving SNOWFALL
meets Democrats, Republicans, OF Pro-
hibitiOnists in its onward course. it alb
serbs them with equal facilities and
impartiality. The solid anti-monopoly
and anti-tariff shots of Owen on one
side. and the electric eloquence of Bill
Erwin on the other, have Smoothed the
way, and the farmers ball, with growing
NJ n ic
ing forward. 1t Is inevitable that the
Republican party must be the sufferer,
as in these farming communities Demo-
Gratis are scarcer than Greek roots: but
that all parties will contribute, accord
ing to their strength, to the farmers
movement, is the earnest and we'll
supported claim of the farmer leaders.
For example, if the Farmers ticket
does not win in Otter Tail. Polk. Doug
las, Clay, Wilkin and others OF these
ponderous western Republican strong
holds, the weather will be dry and there
will be general failure of all signs.
and now, for example, if the Farmers
ticket were suddenly withdrawn. there
would be such farmers rush to the
arms of Democracy as would fairly
frighten that good dame. / mention
this little Impossibility merely to show
the limit to which these monopoly-rid-
den and tariff-cruShed tillerS of the soil
have been forced. Merriam is forgot
ten, and not syllable of Doodle is
heard. The sure haven of Democracy
is overlooked. The Alliance itself is to
the farmers merely the means to an
end, and that end they believe firmly is
in plain sight. 1 do not overstate the
situation. and you may draw your own
conclusions as to effects and results. 1t
may be different elsewhere, but haz-
ard my political reputation that in these
counties have mentioned neither Mer-
riam nor Comstock is in it. though the
former has gained ground. and the lat
ter is personally popular.