The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-12-05
FARMERg ALLrANCE GROWTH
Three or Four Million Members
Shoulder to Shoulder for Politi-
cal and Other Purposes.

l e-H~@@4~A@ $780, =
Shoulder to Shoulder for Politi-
cal and Other Purposes.
Philadelphia Record.
Since the Farmers Alliance has
overwhelmed SO many Of the leading
politicians Of the country general in
qniry has arisen, "What is this great
Alliance, and how came it to be so
powerful?' The answer can be traced
in the quite recent history Of several
farmers organizations--the National
Farmers Alliance and Industrial
Union, organized year ago at St.
Louis, and now having 1000, 900 mem.
bers; the National Grange of the
Patrons of Husbandry, with 10000
subordinate oranges; the Northwestern
Alliance, confined mainly to the
Dakotas and Kansas; the Patrons OF
Husbandry, with 10000 members in
Michigan and 10000 more in other
States the National Colored Farmers
Alliance and Go Operative Union,
claiming 100000 members, and the
Farmers Mutual Benefit Association
claiming 100000.
Taken at their most modest and
probable showing of strength, is GER
tain that these various bodies of agri-
culturists comprise not less than
5000, 1000, and possibly as many as
1000, 900, tillers of the soil, banded
together at first mainly for social, edu-
cational and economic objects. but now
determined upon working a politico-
social revolution in the United States.
The proceedings of several of the sepa.
rate organizations are guarded with as
much secrecy as those Of the Masons,
the knights Of Labor, or the Federation
of Labor. They have their own news
papers, some of them with a circulation
as high as 100000 annually. They
have State and natioal treasures from
which their expenses are paid insur-
ance funds, co operative stores and
factories, where they purchase their
own supplies for the household and
farm.
| THE SOUTHERN WINGS BIRTH.
The original Farmers Alliance was
born in Texas in 1875, just after it had
become painfully evident that the cat
tie kings Of Texas had shown dispo-
sition to take everything in sight
whether it belonged to them or NOT.
The Order, seeking the advancement
of Southern farm interests spread
throughout the South and became a
gigantic industrial and political factor
and held its first national convention at
Shreveport, La, in October, 1887. with
delegates from ten Southern States in
attendance. Since then it has SO spread
and absorbed kindred organizations
that at the present Congress it induced
Senator Vace to present to the Senate
and Congressman Pickler, Of South
Dakota. to the House. bill now known
as the Sub.Treasury bill, which pro-
vides that the Government shall 90
into the business of advancing money
% the farmers. taking as security for
the loans mortgages upon lands or upon
growing or gathered crops. Senator
Vance, in introducing It, declared that
he could not vote for such measure
because he believed it to be not only
unconstitutional. but wildly chmerical,
The National Grange of the Patrons
LOT Husbandry is, in point Of age at
least, the chief farmers association the
West. It was organized in Washing
ton 20 years ago. Very little progress
was made until 1868, when about 200
oranges had been organized in various
parts Of the country. By 1872 it had
developed into formidable power, and
two years later it proclaimed that it had
nearly 1900 sub-granges. These
figures were soon nearly doubled with
an average membership of forty each.
Smaller in membership now than it wa,
some years ago, it is far more effective
IN every way and Yields a greater in
huence on current politics and State
and National Legislation. 1t has its
representatives at Washington, and its
position on the tariff is that if anybody
is to be protected the farmer shall be.
THE EASTERN LEAGUE.
The National Farmers League is a
comparatively new organization, which
was born in Massachusetts, less than a
year ago. The farmers of that State
had been yaiuly petitioning the Iegisla.
ture Of that State for years to pass an
Anti Oleomargarine bill. They speedily
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