The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-05
THE ALLIANCE MOVEMENT
The Growth and Strength Of This
New Factor in Amer
lean Politics.
a Sarcastic Statement of the Aims
Of the Organization
In Kansas
Activity Among the Farmers Of the South,
West and NOrthwest-The
Several States.

vest SnO NOTInW0SG-4no
Several States.
The Farmers Alliance, north and south,
seems likely to have some considerable In
f1uence in the autumn elections. Nobody
can now predict how much mischief it may
do the great political parties, or how this
mischief will be distributed between them.
That the Alliance can have any permanent
existence, or can ever accomplish what 1t
aims at, is simply impossible. Its aims, so
far as they have been formulated, says the
New York Evening Post include the follow
ing:
a. The sub-treasury bill go called, be-
cause project for the government to take
farm products on storage and advance legal
tender notes on the same to the producers.
This is the prevailing Alliance craze in the
South.
f2) Abolition of the supreme court, abo-
lition of laws for the collection of debts,
the seizure of railroad property in behalf Of
t'the people," the revaluation of mortgages,
and the defeat of Ingalls,. These are among
the avowed objects of the Alliance in Kan
sas, or in Minnesota, or in both.
kilt is unnecessary to say that the Evening
Post has no sympathy with any of these
pranks, not even with the defeat of ingalls,,
If it is to bring into his place anybody rep
resenting any part of the political pro-
gramme here sketched, 1t is a part of the
tasks of journalism, however, to keep the
run" of all kinds of organized voting move
n,ents, and we have accordingly noted the
following facts relating to the spread of the
Alliance. 1t should be stated that the dec
larations of the Alliance are more rational
in some parts of the country than those
specially enumerated above.
In Virginia, North Carolina. South
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi,
Tennessee and Texas the farmers under
one Of the several designations by which
they are known. are very active. In
Tennessee they have for the first time in
the history Of the state made themselves
felt as a political power. Although they
did not come together until August 1888,
they have made such effective use of their
time and opportunities since, that they cap
ture the democratic state convention at
Nashville and nominated their man for
governor. In Alabama the old-line demo-
Gratis have sought self-preservation in the
same way. Colonel Thomas Hartman,
their candidate for governor, has with
drawn from the canvass, leaving the field
clear for Colonel J. W. Northern, the ALI
ance candidate. Judge Jim" Brown, a
OIOGQOf 10 SSuuUOE OO0 DTOWu. VI
Georgia, who hoped to enter congress
as the regular democratic representa-
tive from the Ninth district has
given way to an Alliance man. Gov. Cor
don, candidate for Senator Browns seat,
sought to make his calling and election
sure with the legislature that the Alliance
hopes to elect by subscribing some time ago
to its numerous and whimsical articles OF
faith. The democrats of Missouri have, in
measure. followed the example of then
brethren in Alabama. At their recent state
convention they surrendered to the Alliance
the railroad and warehouse commissioner
ship and the superintenuency of public IL
struction. In Arkansas however, it is tn
republicans who have decided to cast thei
fortunes with the Alliance, having indorses
Mr.. Filter, the eubernatorial candidate
But nowhere else, even in the west hay'
they followed this example.
In the Carolinas the democrats have no
been willing to give up their party identit,
or surrender their political principles. A
a consequence they arc engaged in one o
the most bitter contests ever known in thos
states. There being no governor or othe
state officers to elect in North Carolina, a
in Alabama and Tennessee, the battle is 70
legislature, and for county and other loca
offices. Having refused to indorse the sub
treasury bill, Senator Vance is no longe
fitted, in the estimation of the allianc
men, to represent the state of North Caro-
lima at Washington, and If they can cleo
pose to displace him. Those members 9
congress Who like Mr.. Vance, refuse t
sign the pledge that the alliance ha
sent each one of them, will
similarly treated. The same polio
is being pursued in Georgia, where it
believed that eight of the ten members c
congress from that state will be retiret
Bnt the bitterest contest anywhere wage
ia in South Carolina. There the Demo
Gratis are moving heaven and earth. to pre-
vent the nomination of Tillman. They az
striving, too, with all their might, to saw
as many members of congress as possible
The farmers of the eastern and middl
the agitation. The Alliance has hard
obtained q foothold in New York or il
Pennsylvania. The only state in New Eng
land where it has made Roadway is Con
necticut. In the western states. however
the movement is widespread and earnes,
at first, even the discussion of politica
questions having been prohibited. But thi
restriction has now been removed, anu wit
it has come contest for political suprem
acy.
In Michigan, Ohio and Iowa there is sti
plunginR into politics, and convention
will soon be held in each of these states t
decide upon a course of action. But Their
is little doubt that in Michigan stat
ticket will be nominated. The .Allianc
there is we'll organized, and Mr.. Partridg,
it's president, has already announced tina
he is candidate for governor. In Ohio
the farmers have been more reluctant I
break away from party ties; only 800 all
ances have thus far been organized, br
even this small number is attracting til
attention of the politicians Of the old pa
ties. Less conservative than their Obi
brethren, the Iowa farmers have organize
nearly LOO alliances. 500 of which hay
come into existence within the past 81
months. In Illinois, the Alliance hs
been still more active; it has been
operation for three years, and, az
cording to the Chicago Times, it has
membership of $1,000, and is actiyel
engaged i'll putting forward legislati,
and congressional candidates. It vii
hold no state convention and make n
state nominations. In Nebraska a stat
convention will soon be held in obedienl
TO the Alliance petitions, which bore nearl
10000 signatures, and state ticket will |
named. The Alliance ticket has alread
been named in South Dakota and in Wi
consin, where the farmers have for the tir
time in the history of the state, taken ind
pendent political action. This ticket is b.
fore the people, and nominations for col
gress are IN progress.
The situation that most resembles q
campaign in South Carolina exists
Kansas. Such momentum has the NOV