The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-07-16
POLITICS IN LOUISIANA.
A Partisan Account Of the Conflict That
Has Agitated the Farmers Mind.

|
Has Agitated the Farmers Mind.
In August the Farmers Alliance OF
Louisiana met in convention in Baton
Rouge to decide upon the part it would
take in politics. The convention showed
the organization to be very strong, par
ricularly in the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth
districts of the state, where it probably
has enrolled majority of the white
voters. At the same time that the white
Farmers Alliance met in Baton Rouge
the colored Farmers Alliance met in
Alexandria. The two organizations ex-
changed congratulations, and the ne:
groes adopted resolutions expressing
their willingness to be led by their white
brethren The Baton Rouge convention
decided that it would be inadvisable to
organize new political party. but that
it was best that the farmers should act
within the Democratic party. and. as in
Georgia. capture its organization and
adopt the Alliance platform. AS the
farmers probably contributed a major
ity Of the Democrats in half the districts
their plan seemed practicable enough.
Somehow it did not work in Louisiana
u.s. it had done in Georgia. The farmers
had actual majorities in three of the dis
trict conventions. but failed to utilize
them The sitting members from the
Fourth, Fifth and Sixth districts all re-
fused to approve the Alliance proposition
or to support the sub-treasury bill. They
were threatened with defeat if they
would not accept this bill, but they
maintained their independence. In the
Fourth district Mr. Blanchard was
waited on to express his views on the
subject. and again declared himself
against the bill. yet when the conven-
ton met he was nominated from his per
sonaI popularity and following, while a
very remarkable platform was adopted,
which asked him to vote for bill some
what like the sub-treasury bill, if a
measure similar to that could be framed
which in his opinion would be constitu-
| tional
In the Fifth district it was the same;
in the Sixth even worse. The conven-
ton there was Farmers Alliance con-
vention, and had no trouble in adopting
resolutions in favor of the sub-treasury
bill: yet after doing this it renominated
the Hon S. III Robertson. the sitting
member from the district, who is op-
! posed to the sub-treasury scheme. The
resnlt of its campaign, therefore, was to
carry the conventions and adopt its res.
olutions. and then to nominate men op-
posed to these very resolutions. A great
many of the farmers were very much
dissatisfied with these barren victories,
and insisted that. as they were in a
majority they should control the Dem
ocratic party. Several Of the Alliances
determined not to accept the action oi
the conventions, and farmers conven.
tions were called to consider the situa-
ton, and decided upon the advisability
of placing independent candidates in the
field In the Fifth district majority Of
the farmers decided that it would be un
wise to nominate an independent candi.
date
In the Fourth district, however. in
which the Hon. Il. W. Blanchard is the
Democratic nominee, the farmers con
vention at Nutchitoches decided to bolt
and placed #. J. Genee, state lecturer ot
the Alliance, in nomination as an indie
pendent candidate. This created the
greatest stir in the Alliance camp. Near
ly half the delegates to the convention
walked out. They were earnest in theil
support of the sub-treasury bill, but they
were not yet prepared to antagonize the
Democratic party. A majority remained
however, and determined to support
Genee on the Alliance platform. The
contest would have been an exciting one
as there is no Republican candidate II
the district, and Genee would have prob
ably received a majority Of the negro
votes.
The pressure. however, was too great
and after few days deliberation MIR
Genee decided not to run. This actor
was regarded as very strange, as he wa:
a strong advocate Of the farmers putting
up independent candidates of their ow!
in most of the districts. The president o.
the Alliance, however, and most Of thu
leading men in it opposed the bolt, ant
pointed ont that it would bring ruin to the
organization. All its members are Demo
Gratis. and if they found that it was fight
ing the Democracy their party feelings
might cause them to desert the order. Mr.
I Genee. therefore, came down, and the
Farmers Alliance as consequence find:
; itself without Il candidate for congress:
in the state, although it is in a majority
in half the districts, and its member:
are compelled to vote for men who re
pudiate Il measure (the sub-treasury
; sche,ne) which the Alliance convention
in August declared must be supported
at all hazards Considering its great
membership the Alliance has done very
:.c:c.~!!y in its first political campaign.-
! New Orleans Associated Press Dispatch