Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-11-20
The Army of Farmers.

IySSSSN tSOvhS tShSNpSVEVE
American politics with enough ins
tensity to become q factor in the
next Congress and the dictator iii
several States, a review of the
growth of the Order may be Of les
pecial interest. The following sketch
of the Alliance from the Philadel-
phias Press q Republican paper, ia
here 2given: 5
The various organizations classed
under the heads of Farme:s'SA lliiance
that have become SO important q
feature of the body-politio. are about
as follows /: 81
1. The National Farmers Alliance
and Industrial Union was organized
Q year ago at st. Louis by q coali-
ton Of the National Farmers' Alli-
ance and Cooperative Union of
America and the National Agricnltn-
raj Wheel. "A membership Of two
million is claimed for this body.
z. The National Grange Of the
Patrons of Hnsbandry, which claims
nearly thirty thousand subordinate
Oranges scattered oil over the coun-
try.
3. The n Northwestern Alliance,
which operates liz the DaEntas ard
Kansas and other States.
d. The National Farmers League,
which is of recent origin, and as
serts that it has a membership in the
State of Now York alone of 10000.
s.. The Patrons Of Husbandry.
They claim to have 10000 members
in Michigan alcne and another 90
900 in other States.
8. Tho National Colored Farmers
Alliance and Cooperative Union,
with its officers, assert 100000
names enrolled.
Z. The Farmers Mutual Benefit
Association, pretending to a member
ship Of 100000.
These orders are particularly
strong in the South, Southwest and
Northwest, but as yet have little fol-
lowing in Pennsylvania or in the
New England and Middle States.
A careful Investigation made by the
Press some time ago in regard to the
Alliance movement in Pennsylvania
showed that it was practically in its
infancy in this State.
But, as regards the other portions
Of the country, the figures are start
ling and indicate an extraordinary
state of affairs. The figures mean
that between three and four millions
of farmers and persons engaged in
agricultural pursuits. of one kind or
another are banded together to Of
feet certain great social and political
reforms in which they, as q class,
are particularly interested. They
have, like other secret and semi
secret associations, their W ritual,
and work" their W signs, pass
words and grips, by which one mem-
Der is known to another.
Their proceedings are guarded
with as much secrecy as those of the
Masons, the knights of Labor or the
Federation of Labor. They have
their own newspapers, some Of them
with n circulation as high as 100, 900
copies annually. They have State
and national treasures from which
their expenses are paid, insurance
funds, cooperative stores and facto-
ries, where they purchase their own
supplies for the household and the
farm.
In the beginning these associations
disclaimed partisanship in politics.
Their influence was not to be cast in
favor of any man or any party.
They we're benevolent, social and co.
operative "Alliances," "Granges"
and "Wheels," having nothing to do
with politics or politicians.
But in the process of their evolu-
ton the original ideas upon which
they were founded seem to have van
ished, and in their. stead are substi-
tuted the most advanced aud radical
theories of the functions of govern
ment that, backed by a large and re-
spectacle support, have over been pre-.
sented to the consideration IF the
American people.
The origin of tho National Farm
ers' Alliance dates back to 1875. In
that year some of the first settlers
in Texas had serious troubles about
land. The wealthy cattlemen, who
are to-day called seattle. kings"
were in the habit, like ali ancient
and %nearl;: all modern kings, of
taking what did not belong to them.
These Texan potentates looted the
cattle of the farmers of Lampassas,
and to defend themselves and their
property the farmers formed what
they called an Alliance. Within
three years the organization had
spread over the adjoining counties
and become so powerful that design
ing men dragged it into politics and
thereby destroyed it,.
The order, however, spread all
through the South and became a
great industrial and political factor
in a few years.
1t is only three years since the
National Farmers Alliance held its
first national convention. This was
at Shreveport, La, October IL, 1887.
The States of Texas, Louisiana, Ar
kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennes-
see, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky
and North Carolina were represented.
"The body" said the President of
the Alliance in his address, "is the
first organization of tho real cotton
raisers ever i%naugurated on the plan