The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1890-04-11
COMMENT.
ALLIANCE MOVEMENT.

|sre4a eNINA IL A1LAANSG MI 4-Hg=NEHfE
The farmers are making themselves felt
more just at this time than ever before.
The spread and growth of the alliance
movement under an active and intelligent
leadership is resulting in a compact orga-
~nization of the agricultural interests that
will soon be able to hold its own with mo-
nopoly, and which threatens to inaugurate
a war of aggression against the heretofore
favored classes. Agood deal that is pro-
posed to be done by the alliance leaders
when the alliance has intrenched itself in
power is of a most radical nature, and, if
accomplished, will revolutionize all estab-
lished industrial conditions. It is posi-
BILE, however, that most of these radical
schemes, such as the Vance and Cullom
bills, will be abandoned, and more con-
servative veiws prevail when the. farmers
once feel that they are in position to die
tate a national policy. The Vance bill
embodies what is properly known as the
warehouse certificate scheme, while the
Cullom bill 70 poses to have the govern
ment loan money to the farmers at two
per cent, taking a mortgage on their. farms
us security. Both are long steps in the
direction of socialism and n~ationalism,
and yet it is not a surprise that what under
ordinary circumstances would be regarded
as visionary schemes should receive the
Endorsement of so important and intell;-
gent a body as the national alliance. 1t is
simply the swinging back the pendulum
from one extreme to the other. All ma
tional legislation for tho last twenty years
has been toward the other extreme, toward
the building up of monopolies under high
tariff laws, toward favoritism for the cap
i~talistic classes, and in all things unjust
and oppressive to the producers. It has
come to a point that organization must be
met with organization. Those who have
suffered oppression all these years are Or
ganizing against their oppressors, and the
fight promises to be n bitter one. There
is a prospect that tine war will be waged
under the black flag. The favored classt 9
have shown no mercy to the oppressed;
and, now that the latter are in position to
meet the former on ground approaching
equality, the probabilities are that the
anne merciless policy will be adopted OH
their side. The farmers are not expecting
any favors at the hands Of the present COD,
gress. They are not organizing for that
: purpose. But they do expect to conteoI
| the next congress, and to that end all theil
efforts will be directed. 1t is an oper
secret that the alliance organization in lht
various states, both north and south, have
for congress. This is to be lone regard
less of what party the alliance candidates
affiliate with. They are shrewd enough
not to attempt the formation of a third
party, but have adopted the Jay Gould
idea, with the slight variation that in re-
publican districts they will support a re-
publican, in democrat districts a democrat;
but, whether republican or democrat, he
must be an alliance man. TIT party that
fails to nominate an alliance man will not
receive the support of the alliance men,
bers. 1t is only where both parties refuse
to accept an alliance man for a candidate
that a third ticket will be put in the field.
This course of action has been agreed
upon in all the states, and in those whore
agricultural interests predominant and the
alliances are the strongest q very consid
cradle sensation has been created amops
. the politicians. The eastern press, partic
ularly the New York papers, express
t good deal Of alarm at the turn affairs hay,
S taken. They recognize that the allianc
movement is not to be sneezed at, an
they affect to see in it serious danger t
n the moneyed interests of which New Yor
is center. They congratulate themselve
o this congress is invulnerable to all grange
schisms. but they are not sure that tn
next one will be. In the meantime farm
ers are going ahead with their organize
tons, and in many localities. have effecte
a union with the labor organization, the
propose to give their enemies a trial Q
strength in next falls election,-St. Par
Globe.
e GENEROUSLY IN MINNEAPOLIS,