St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-04
A BIG FIGHT IS AfOOT
In the Farmers Alliance
Which Will Convene This
Afternoon.
Will Donnelly Regain Control
Of the Body for His
Ends
A Singular Damage Suit Pre-
ferred Against a Rail-
road.
Governor AuStin'S Trust Ideas
Raise a Storm of Pro-
test.

"Wilkin county's alliances did the
square thing when it came to electing
delegates to the convention," said eX-
Representative E. Mattson, of Will
kin county, to a GLOBE report
er, at the Clarendon, last even
| ing. 1--WE elected two Norwegians,
two Germans and two Americans, and
| three are Democrats, while the other
three are Republicans. The alliance
work in Wilkin county is taking new
| turn, and if we can keep out of these
petty fractional fights l am satisfied
| that we can do great work
in the way of settling up our
county and advancing its interests. But
aspiring politicians will work into the
alliance, and there's no way to prevent
it: is there, TOOmbS?" and the juvial
Eric nudged Tom ToombS, the somber-
ViSaged hustler from Grant county, who
Sat by his side.
The alliance convention which will
assemble in the hall of the house Of
representatives at the capitol to-day is
in many respects destined to be. If
rightly managed, the most important
convention ever held by tue organiZa-
ton in Minnesota. The past year has
been one of remarkable growth, and
the farmers alliances of Minnesota
now number about 766, with member
ship of over $4,000. OF this number no
less than pa new alliances have sprung
into existence during the year past. add
i'm upwards of 10000 names to the en-
rollment. Of the new alliances, Polk
county has the largest number, while
Douglas county leads in the matter OF
-
organizations. Otter Tail stills leads in
the number of q lianceS within her Dor
derS, while Fillmore is good second in
this respect.
But there'li be music by the full band
before this convention is over, and
row of colossal proportions is sure to
develop i'll the course of its delibera-
tiOns. There are two well-developed
factions in the alllance-One led by the
reuoubtable IgnatiuS Donnelly and his
followers, while the other may be called
all administration party. This latter
faction is led by President Sprague,
Senator HiXon and f. G. Hodgson. Both
sides have been doing some herculean
work in the way OF organizing new al
liances and securing delegates who will
support them in the coming fight.
The OStenSible cause of the trouble
is over the matter of organizing an
alliance Insurance company. The Don
nelly-Great West faction insist on Or
ganizing branch Of the Dakota com
pany, which has headquarters at HUI
ron. The other side, headed by PreSi-
dent Sprague and I. &. HOdgsOn, de-
clare that they don't want to be tail
to a Dakota kite, and have gone into the
newly organized Hekla Insurance conf
81 "a - IA ,h -
Albert Schefer. =. This latter fact gives
the opposition ground for the claim that
the HekIa is a part of
GIGANTIC POLITICAL SCHEME,
to be utilized by Prince Albert in his
race for political h0n0rs. Whether
there is anything in this or not, there is
going TO be lively row when the inSur-
ance question is reached.
But the real trouble lies away down
deeper than this quarrel about inSur-
ance matters. 1t is really a political
squabble. As one of the delegates re-
marked last evening, Its Donnelly's
latest scheme for political power. He
realizes that there are a great many
alliance men who are opposed to his
course in the campaign Of 1888 who
dOn't propose to allow him to lead them
into any political camp the coming fall.
But 1t VIII be a hard hight, as D0nnelly
has been doing some tall organizing,
and has been preparing for the fray"
In short, will MIR. Dnnnelly he able to
control the organization for Gov. Mer-
RAM next fail, is the real question to be
solved at this convention. There is no
MISLEADING the fact that large number
of the delegates to this convention are
determined to oppose the peanut politi
cal methods that have characterized
the organization in times past.
and it's altogether likely that
this element will control the conven-
ton. President SpraguP, it is under
stood, will seek a reelection. and so the
presidency may go up north to the Fifth
district again. Secretary Haigh, after
serving as secretary for five years, is so
well acquainted with the business that
he will probably be reappointed, who
ever NAV be elected president,