Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-21
IT'S no BIZ AN ORGANIZED HUNT
AHd the sportsmen Of Both Parties Are
Beginning to Fear They Will Get
Left in the Chase.
GENERAL RENDEZVOUS AT COLUMBUS.
Buckeye Grsnger have Concluded Other People Hait
Had Sport Long Enough
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsrArca.i

Ohio intend 10 make their influence telt in
State politics this fall. 1t is now a week
since the call was issued for 8 State conven-
tion of delegates from all the farm societies
in Ohio, and reports from many different
parts of the State Indicate that the call has
met with most favorable reception, and
what at first seemed e1travsgant claims
made by the leading men of the movement
when they announced that they expected
an attendance of from 5000 to 5000 dele
gates and representative farmers at that con-
vention, now seems BY no means unlikely
of fulfllment. The date of the convention
is August Is, and the place, Columbus.
The call was issued BY the Ohio Farmer,
8 non-partisan farm journal of this city
with a wide circulation throughout the
State, in its number published July 8, and
was at the earnest request of some of the
most prominent farmers of Ohio, and with
the knowledge and hearty Endorsement of
the Farmers Alliance and Grange. 1t is
understood that the Grange, the Alliance,
the Farmers League, the Patrons of In
dustry and the Farmers Mutual Benefit
Association will all send delegates, and
from the inquiries that are coming to the
Farmer it is evident there will be a number
OF localities where none OF these organiza-
tions have branches that will form local
farmers clubs and send delegate.
STRICTLY NoN-PARTIsAN.
The assurance is held out that it is to be
strictly non-partisan movement; that is, no
separate party will be organized, but the
political influence of the farmers will be
thrown solidly in favor of such candidates
of the old parties as are farmers or are
known beyond question to be identified
with the farmers interests and are willing
TO serve them. This is wise for many rea-
sons. Ohio's rural population heretofore
has been slow to take up with political
movements, and an attempt to form a sep
arate political party, even if heartily sup
ported by all these farmers societies, would
encounter many very serious difficulties and
be more likely to fail than otherwise. The
Grange movement q few years ago illus
trstes how easy it is to fail in that direc-
tion. But this working like leaven within
the old parties will encounter less opposi-
tion, because it will have to overcome less
prejudice.
The movement is extending rapidly. New
townships are heard from almost every day,
and every report shows a strong tendency
on the part of the farmers to give the plan
a trial. The number of local divisions of
the Farmers Alliance in the State have
been steadily increasing. They now num-
Der over 800 and the total membership in
the State is probably not far from Is, 600.
The Grange is large also, though less strong |
now than five years ago. Besides these |
leading societies, the Patrons of Industry, |
the Farmers Mutual Benefit Association |
and the Farmers League are constantly or
ganizing new local branches in the State
and enrolling new members. The growth
of these farmers societies has been unprec-
dented within the last year, and has been
carried on so quietly that it has attracted
very little attention outside the class for
which they were designed and which they
strive to benefit
A eoMBIEAFIeN IN THE LEGISLATURE.
The only thing that has tended to draw
public attention to the movement hitherto
was the action of the members of the Legis-
lature from the rural counties last winter
in combining to protect the farmer and to
further his interests by legislation. But
the combination was not built in an endur-
ing way, and for some reason failed to ac-
complish much that would benefit its con-
stituents. The general impression was that
the combination was outgeneraled. Aside
from this, these societies have gone on grow
ing very quietly, and only now, when it be-
gins to become time to act, do the politicians
come to realize that q new political force
has arisen, and that it will have to be treated
considerably.
The convention at Columbus will prob
ably follow that held by the farmers organi-
cations of Indiana at Indianapolis recently,
in both platform and general spirit. The
platform will be framed from the united
principles of all these orders, and is likely |
to declare in favor of the united political |
action Of farmers in their own interests, the |
reduction of all fees and salaries of both |
county and State officers, the abolition of |
class legislations, monopolies and trusts, |
the amendment of the tax laws of the State |
so that Inortgaged farm shall be taxed for |
only its value, minus the mortgage, and |
so that manufacturers will be compelled |
to list all their finished product for
taxation in the same way that the farmer
lists the amount OF grain, etc., held over by
him. There may be other plsnks, but these
are certain to be adopted, and they will iorth /
the heart Of the whole declaration of prin.
ciples. i
THE POSSIBLE RESULTS.
1t is yet early to predict the results of
such a movement. The convention at
NAV possibly not prove success
and the whole plan collapse. But the
chances are good for success. The Farmers
Alliance is sending out blank pledges all
over The State containing the following
Questions:
viii you use your influence to secure the
nomination Of farmer for CONGRESS in your
party this year? Answer: Yes. No.
Ii your party refuses to nominate farmer
will you vote for 8 farmer if nominated by
some other party? Answer: Yes. No.
Name two or three farmers from each party
tor whom you would vote If nominated.
The idea is to test the stamina of the
voters and gauge public sentiment, and
there are ready responses from all sections
OF the State. In the Congressional districts
considerable activity is already being mani
Tested. A preliminary meeting has been
called IN the Twentieth district, which in
cludes the townships of this county, the
eastern wards OF Cleveland and the counties
OF Lake, Summit, Huron and Lorain. with
. view to nominating farmers candidate.
The district. as gerrymandered, is over 5000
Republican, and the only hope OF such a
tsrme.s movement as is proposed is in fusion
With the Democrats.
!. In Judge Ezra B, Taylor's district. the
Nineteenth, with its Il, 900 Republican ma
ority, Hon. Frank A. Deittrick. Governor :
Foriker's efficient Dairy and Food Com I
is being urged By the farmers ,
because ne is q farmer and a man of edr- I
;ation and ability as well. The movements
las little chance OF succeeding, however. as
Ar. DeIttrlck Is rather inclined 10 discour-
lge it In the sixteenth, Major McKinley's
district With It's 1000 Democratic maiority
he Democrats nave been 50 afraid OF the