The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-12-12
PRESIDENT POLK TALKS.
The Alliance Will Annihilate
Unfriendly Parties.
WHAT THE FARMERS ARE AFTER.

The Sub-Treasury Scheme Is n Popular
One-Dealing In Futures Disapproved
Of-A Third Party Inevitable Unless
Other Parties Do as the Farmers Desire.
OCALA, Fla, Dec. 9.-Having reiterated
the st. Louis platform the Farmers ALI
ance convention formulated the demands
through which they expect to see those
privileges brought into practice. Among
the most important features Of the de-
mands are the abolition of national banks,
the adoption of the sub-treasury scheme,
the prevention OF dealing in futures on agri-
cultural and mechanical productions and
tariff reform. The people who have been
trying to manipulate the convention for a
modification Of the demands to suit the
Democratic party made a hard and shrewd
fight, but early yesterday it became patent
that the delegates had awakened to the fact
that there was something in the wind and
that they were defeated. The alliance now
stands free from party entanglements of
any kind and is practically united.
Third Party Inevitable.
President Polk does not believe either
of the old parties has attempted to shape
the policy of the alliance. He said today:
"If the Democrats in the Fifty second con-
gress do not manifest a willingness to
grant our demands a third party is in
evitable and the southern Democratic alli-
ance men will be in. They are determined
to gain the ends they are striving for and
they will smash any party which opposes
them"
No Sign of Weakening.
Speaking of the discussion today he said:
"We reiterated every one of our demands
and there were only three votes against
the financial plan. The question was dis
cussed in every possible bearing for four
hours and there was no sign of weakening
in the ranks.
"Yes, it is true that the sub-treasury plan
does not contain the 80 per cent. clause
but it retains the vital principles of loans
on farm products. 1t is true, too, that the
demand for the government of railroads is
made conditional instead of peremptory,
but that was by no means the result Of
Democratic influences.
The Blaine Story Unimportant.
II don't see much significance in .hs
Blaine story. What IL Rittenhouse die
call upon himf Hadn't he right to Il
hC ", uuu lOtS IL utCtsSdTJ slRUlll
corrupt purposes on his part that he did
sot / consider that l have a perfect right
to go to Blaines house or to Harrison.
house to see any public man please"
Private Secretary Rittenhouse acknowl
edges that he called at Blaines house.
He says he was asked TO call by Col. Rich
ard Hinton, who asked him If he would
not like to be introduced to Blaine. Th,
interview, however, he says, never tool
place, and he has never spoken to Mr.
Blaine
The Sub-Treasury Scheme Discussed.
The sub-treasury scheme was discussed
at length by the convention. Mr.. Louks
OF South Dakota, moved to make the sub
treasury scheme apply to all merchantabl
| products instead of those relating TO tn
farmer alone. Mr. Perdue, OF Texas, sug
gested that Louks' amendment protectet
the manufacturing interests, which wer
amply able to protect themselves.
Mr.. Hall, of Missouri. made stron
| speech against the whole scheme of amend
ment. His principal objection to the sui
treasury scheme was that it was class legii
lation Of the most Objectionable type. Cor
gressman-elect Jerry Sampson, of Kansas
strongly favored the measure. Kansa
raised last year, he said, a big corn croT
which was sold at less than fourteen cent
bushel, Chicago grain gamblers raise
the price there to forty-five cents II tn
government had protected the farmers q
IL had other classes the farmers could hav
had the forty-fve cents 1t would hav
made difference of $4,000, 900. Half c
this could have gone to pay mortgages an
the other TO permit the United States farm
ers to live like human beings.
Mr.. Clark, Of Texas, denied that the sui
treasury scheme was class legislation G
for the farmers alone, 1t was simply
plan to change the method of issuing cul
rency.
A Flexible Currency Wanted.
Mr.. Livingston, of Georgia, the daddy
of the scheme, as he says, objected yer
strongly to the proposition to loan none
on land. The great desideratum was I
have flexible currency which would
governed by the law Of supply and demanS
Based on land the currency would renal
fixed because land stays. Based on con
modities it would be plenty only whe
needed, because pig iron and corn com
and go. Then as soon as you make Ian
the basis of currency the money loaner
will simply buy land, control the currenc
and leave us as badly of as ever
Mr.. Carskadon, OF West Virginia, sal
the government had no right to take hi
property from one man not in fault an
try to make up the wants of others.
you reduce the value Of the currency of ii
country you will reduce the values Of a
property to the same level.
An attempt to reconsider the action o
the force" bill came up, but the motto
was tabled
The decision 10 hold the next meeting
Washington was reeonsidered, and the el
ecutive board instructed 70 select som
place in Indiana or Illinois. The eonveI
tion decided to send delegates TO th
Knights OF Labor conference TO be Galle
In February.