New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-03
THE FARMERS ALLIANCE.
A MAMMOTH LITERARY
BUREAU IN WASHINGTON.
A PROMINENT SOUTHERN CoNGREssMAN's UN'
COMPLIMENTARY SKETCH or THE CAREERS
OF SOME OF ITS LEADERS-THEIR
OBJECT IN PUSHING THE
PRESENT MOVEMENT.
-fpY IT., FGRArH TO TUE TRTPryE.

the organization. The bureau IS In an old dishah'eu
church In Nnth-st and although the church IS largo
and roomy II has been found necessary TO secure aou
tonal quar- crs in an adjoining building. In the Ga
church the official organ Of the Alliance. "Ihe Ma
tonal Economist is printed. More than looooo
copies are issued each week The subscription price
j. Al per year and the circulation IS confined to those
who pay for their paper
In December, 1880, a convention OF the FARMERS
Alliance was held in -. Louis, which named Inc
Economist as the Official organ Of TIE order, ana III
roceut issue Tho Economist" stated that bona IN
the sum Of 900 had been given to the president
Of the Farmers Alliance to Insure the faithful per
ormance Of all contracts and agreements entered o
by the publishers Of the paper The value Oh th'S
bond In law questionable nasmuch rs the publishers
Of the paper include not only tho president OF me
Alliance to Whom the bond was given. but also the
secretary the chairman Of the Executive board ana
one or two other leaders Of the organization Ihcsc
officials also receive salaries ranging from S-ooo 10
$50. 900 per year.
The southern Congressman are much worried by inc
new organization. They now have hunted looH'
and many Of them feel that the security they
have 30 long enjoyed is thing Of the
past Il don't know how 1t Is In the
Vest -aid southern Congressman. but In my
country these blatant dcmagogues that the Farmers
Alliance send have raised the very deuce have
not left Washington since came here last december
but the letters | get from home convince me uat
am not going TO have an easy time AT Jo '"hNc"'l""
10 be held neAt month The primaries have been
held. and all tho delegates 70 the convention We're
elected with instructions TO vote for me as long a.
nv name WAS presented. However he said with a
,lcb and an lmprcation, q am in the hands OF my
friends but II l am not nominated am not too old
TO make II very hot for those who will play me false
Another Congressman, who was gallant soldier
OH the Confederate side during the late war, ana VINO
Ia, acquired a reputation one OF the few able men
| int
organization Of tho Farmers Alliance. lie sa'd
When those theories Of the Farmers Alliance hrss
GAINED prominence received nun cvcJ part OF my
district app,as from the most Intelligent men ASKING
me TO support the sub ITJs,sury BILL Nu oil deercco
10 them tried reconcile the principles OF my parry
incnlcatcd by Jefferson with these radical ideas adj
vocztod by the Farmers Alliance. wanted TO please
my constituents and still maintain my self respect hut
found that to do the had to forfeit the other.
don't want 10 attack the integrity Of their motives
for believe that my people arr sincere IN their
ll.i although not realizing the danger of the theories
they advocating.
Tho arglm,nt, presented by the head officers Of
The Farmers Alliance extremely aurnS, ahou-h
,peclou, and soph,tical. and, as knew they all had
their orlrn here determined to hnd out the incn-
tlou a. well as the character OF the men who are
welding th, powerful influence knew that could
not get al the bottom II the plans self. - secured
m, services Of q man whom could trust 10 do tho
work f)r ne. From my agent ! learned that the
Whole movement is nothing more or less than hugo
money making scheme. run by SCI Of aiyrniui'r'.
sho have had their political aspirations almost lr
tno-hlv damaged by the great parties 10 which they
belonged.
The Official organ which is published 10y these
fellows viii bring IN about $4,000. The rcvenne>
derived from tho establishment Of suballianoe' are
great All this money is handled by these men, "h'
receive large salaries. What they do with II don't
efeufE
making a urupcr accounting ~ H. suppose. Oi
course tho money they get from the paper must De
thcirs But the popularity OF the paper was sA'heH
through the ind ,rscmcnt Of the Farmers Alliance
Whose members wcn, induced 70 pledge ucm'c'c" 10
take 10000 copies Of II annually
I can't character. the meth.ds Of these men 10
.tr,,p.y Thcy have taken every occasion ana every
Nom. ~ cr,,t. dt,,cn.lon among the farmers. From
Wa,hlnrtgn they send ont lecturers whose EXPENSE
arr. paid By TIC people they Ucw.dcr They present
In glowing term, the great advantages 10 = "eiNc'
by the combination 81 farmer, and the ma Nehi
Of the theories Of the Alliance. The result - t'"'
IA, farmers All over the south arc wond r!ully cA
cited These lectures aided by WORKOUT po"-
rcisns. who seize tho opportunity 10 come 10 the
froot again and who hope & hoat into Office on the
,ormo.t wave Of THIS movement 30 far os hive
hec able "a learn. II Is not tie object OF th'c men
10 work Al independent movement Their pan D.
10 concentrate all their energies ID crcah"s '"Pl"'
IN the ranks Of the dominant party In the N,uih II
J. In fine Democratic party and IN the West IT Is In
Tho ucuuhlicau marty No one ovcrrnte ;I>
nouuI,r,t, Of this movement. 1t is extremely power
ful and far-reAchlng
"Do YOU think II Is a lasting movement J.
40. do not Your history Will tell you that
the Know Nothing party WA not long liyei' but
wihlc II was In existence II created the grrat'st
| revolution In politics. Through 1t many VohsnsN-
mca were elected. apd President was almost seated
IN the White House"
"Do you feel at liberty 70 say what YOU learned
about the past history Of these leaders ?"
Yes. BY making public the record OF these men
| feel that doing service 10 the honest and IN
tellgcnt men Of the country. To begin with. th,ro
h inc president Of the Alliance, Colonel L. l. Polk
Of Nortn Carolina lie IA supposed 70 be a pllnter.
although he has been IN minDr political Ollie" ever
since the war lie Is shleWd, designing man OF
great capabilities, who organized twelve years ago the
movement In that state Of which thi' !; inc ougIo"th
He Is All accomplished persuasive taiAer ana l. IN
cessantb lccturing. l understand that ne Is now
1'., dong senator Gs 0ei nsu to OT Pix 'lSss
| = Dcmo,rAt and under the last Administration was
Applicant for the place 81 Co %a h IF Ag
failure to senator Nsncc. North Carolina Is purely
oghIy imbued with the ideas and theories advocated
BY HE Alliance would not be surprised to p see
Is the pnrest Of the whole lot. but perhaps That Is
because he IS fanatic ,.,., 800,
zaton' however, Is one Dr. {. W Macnnc. IT, IS
The chairman OF the Executive Board and nlso Of Ia"
/
| be studied medicine for a short time For some rea
son lie eft that state and settled In California lie
did not stay long but finally drilled down into
| Texas For time this alleged doctor practised his
profession at a small place In Mr. Mlls's district lie
! aftcrvard went to Dallas and made custodian OF
the Farmers Alliance warehouse there. which was an
enormous In an unaccOuntablc and peculiar
w1v the establishment failed. and IT. failure proved
dlsa4trons patrons The matter Is now IN ltgb
| ton. Macune had always been Republlcan, but
h- quickly embraced the theories OF tho Alliance.
suppose that the members Of the Alliance consider that
| Iaunc's Integrity In tho failure of the warehouse al
! Dallas was fully vlndicated when he made chair
man Of the most important committee Of the Alliance
nlacune is the who lnyents the vile reports nut
| are sent ont from Washington, and who keeps the
Alliance In a state Of frenzy by putting false co0ring
on every piece " legislation
| "Tcrr,ll OF Texas Is the chief lecturer. lilo s
| another disappointed politician, who haN not bccn
recognized by the party to which he belonged,
| Lellrve that he was a Republican. Ierrlu Is
| Inc man who promulgatcs the vicious reports that
/ cmanato from Washington General Humphreys IS
| nnntlcr lcctnrnr He he a brlgadItr general