Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-12
FARMERS ALLIANCE
CONVENTION OF A DISTRICT AND
InE STATE ORGANIZATIONS
To Meet at Neutrality-suspicious.. Objects and
Plans ExpiAined-wha' Ihey Propose
to Discuss and Accomplish.
Of tn. Richmond Dlsps,ch.I

co,respondeoce Of tho Richmond Dispssch.I
LYxcHBURG, Va, August IL, 1890.
Two conventions of the Farmers Alliance
are to be held here on the 18th and 18th OF
this month. The first is the convention OF
the James River district, comprising thir-
teen counties. the second the State organi-
yat;on Of the alliance The State alliances
are divided into district alliances, similar
to but not identical iththe congressional
districts. These districts are further sub
d;v,ded into county alliances and they IN
tnrn INTO precinct lodges. The divisions
are similar to State divisions-viz. hrst,
State; second, congressional third, coun-
ties; fourth, precincts. The Farmers Al
lance is an organization OF the aeiicu,i-
turists--that is. those VINO are practicaily
tiIlers of the soil. The prime opJec. VI
this organization is to secure the greatest
amount of benefit and protection to their
class.
WHAT THEY MEET FOR.
This they hope to do in various ways. In
view of the small profits accruing TO the
farmers on account Of what they believe To
be adverse legislation. formation of trusts:
corners in breadstuffs, etc, they. feel
that the need OF an organization OF THIS
great body of people has become ne
cessary in order to obtain as great reduc,,
ton in the prices of all wares, goods. ana
merchandise as can possibly be secured.
and TO that end they have brought the TIL
ers of the soil together IN solid BODY 70
devise come scheme to remedy the evils
that confront them.
THE PLAN.
The plan laid out by the alliance is this
In every city, town. and village they Will
select a certain merchant Cor merchants)'
and by uniting their patronage on them
they hope by the increase of trade TO get
their goods at a very low price or small
commission In the tobacco counties. IN
order TO reduce warehouse and commls-
sion charges on weighing and selling To-
baccos, the alliances contemplate renting
or erecting warehouses. since the puonc
and private warehouses which they now
patronize have declined to accede TO the
terms proposed to them some time ago
and they will be operated under the a.
rection Of board OF directors OF the ALL
ances in those sections.
TO REDUCE COMMISSIONS.
They also propose forming some scheme
whereby they can reduce the commissions
on all farm products and thereby effect
SAYING 10 IDt luulNiuuul iitl.
scheme that will be tried and which
promises a great saving is in the district
and precinct alliances buying guanos and
fertilizers of all kinds by the wholesale
have it shipped to some convenient
point, and distribute it out to the
individual farmers at wholesale prices
SO far as politics are concerned they are
very reticent. They say it is hoped and
believed that they can secure such legls'
lation by concerted action III county
State. and national government as tho
agricultulists desire. Their professed
aims and intentions, however, are moi
to 90 into politics except in so far as Il
may be necessary in securing and main
tanning their rights and their interests.
WILL NOT ANTAooNIzE.
They say further that they do not pro-
pose TO antagonize as body any candi:
date or representative who will REGARD
their interest and aid them In securing
such legislation and reforms as they desire
In this State they claim that they have
alliances in ninety-six counties. the tota
mum bering many thousand voters, and al
the coming State convention they vii
have one hundred and seyenty-five repre-
sentatives.
STRICTLY PRIVATE.
Their deliberations will be strictly pTi
vate, and they will only allow the pres:
such matters as they think proper to give
out.
POLITICAL INTEREST.
The politicians in this section of tb'
State of both parties look forward TO tn.
coming convention with great deal of III
terest, but the Democratic leaders say th'
great body of the farmers of the State hav'
always acted with the Democratic party
and they are satisfied that they do no
sympathize with a third-party movement