Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-11-19
SLOWLY DYING.
The Farmers Alliance that Made a
Great Splurge is
NOW IN A MORIBUND CONDITION.
There Bas Bean Great Falling Of in Member
ship All Over the Country, and the Or
ganizatOn Seems to ba on Its Last
Legs-A Shortage Of Funds.

sion the further apart grow the various
factions, appears to be the situation
this morning. 1t seems impossible TO
settle the various organizations down to
any definite plan of action, or to any
united policy. The Third party fight
Is In bitter earnest, and every move is
made with more or lesS direct reference
10 this main issue.
A split in the Alliance on the SUBJ
treasury and land loan principles now
seems inevitable. The open meeting Of
the Alliance this morning was CON-
plete iZzle, and lasted but few mtn-
utes. When the executive sessson
opened the trouble over the sub-treasury
matter began.
communication was received from
the executive committee of the anti
Sub-Treasury Alliance, asking hear
ing for the protest prepared by w. Pope
Yeamans, OF Missouri, under inStruc-
tionS from the st. Louis convention of
last September. The McCune faction
opposed any hearing, but Livingstone,
of Georgia, moved the appointment of a
committee OF five to read the protest
and report to the Alliance whether or
not it should be read. On this motion,
which was finally carried by two
thirds vote, bitter fight was made by
the McCune men, who made the charge
that the Georgia faction had attempted
to assassinate McCune in Mississippi.
The committee will call on MeSSrs. Nc
Allster, Hall and Yeamans, of the anti
Sub-Treasury Committee this afternoon.
These gentlemen will refuse to let
the protest be read except in the full
Alliance. Mr.. McAlliSter will leave for
Fort Worth, Tex, and from there will
formulate call for a national meeting
OF auti-Sub-treasury Alliance men. A
special organization will be maintained
all over the country.
Before the adjournment of the execu-
tive session, a significant action was
taken, which shows that the protest OF
the anti-sub-treaSury people will re-
ceive very little consideration. A reso-
luton was adopted almost unanimously
reaffirming the adherence of the ALI
ance TO every plank in the Roachdale
platform. Mr.. McCune's resolution TO
reduce the representation one-half is
likely to pass, and is causing no end of
uneasineSs 10 the delegates who have
come here with narrow allowance of
funds.
1t has developed that the treasury is
nearly empty and unless the representa-
tiOn is reduced there will not be enough
money TO pay all the delegates. The
Alliance has been falling off in many
ha Wn
been unable to furnish their quota of
assessment 10 the National body. At
the Reform Press Association meeting
this morning it was decided TO permit
members who gave their adherence to
the main principles TO the Alliance to
advocate or oppose whatsoever minor
ideas they please. The f. NJ. b A. was
in secret session till one o'clock this
afternoon on routine business.
The State agents this morning adopt
ed Roachdales plan, which contem-
plates cash sales at Alliance stores and
a division of profits among the patrons.
This is regarded as black eye for the
Union Company. RumOrS of scandalous
revelation in regard to the action of
certain Alliance leaders are still float
ing around but no publications have yet
been made. That portion of the eXecu-
tive committee OF the Peoples Party now
here is in almost continuous session.
Its efforts are mostly directed toward
a consolidation of the various industrial
bodies in hope of getting finall en-
dorSement of the third party idea at the
February meeting. The Peoples Party
men are still confident Of carrying their
point. The T.. NJ. B. A. is having
hard time over the matter OF funds.
About half of the organizations are de-
linquent, and there is no money for the
delegates.
As consequence, the Ohio delegation
left for home at one O'Clock, and many
more threaten to leave this afternoon
and evening unless the matter is adjust
ed. AS no means of adjusting the mat
ter has been presented, it seems proba-
BILE that the +. II. b, A. part of the
proceedings will soon come to an eni.
The first business before the eXecu-
tive session Of the Supreme Council to-
day was to decide the question Of the
representation, which created so much
disturbance yesterday. The whole
difficulty arose from the failure of the
State secretaries to report the falling
off in membership which has occurred
in various States.
A unanimous neglect to pay the asses
ments of backSlders is the cause Of
deficiency in the treasury and the cut
ting down OF representation two-tifthS.
Had not several States agreed to make
up their deficiency the number OF dele
gates would have been still further
reduced.
As the matter stands, 100 delegates,
including State Business Agents and
Presidents, represent thirtyfour
States. 1t is matter of COM
ment here that whereas the
original Farmers Alliance in thirty
four states has only eighty bona iide
delegates at its annual convention,
their national organizations national
economist conceded seventy delegates
10 the anti-sub-tressury convention at
St. Louis, when only five States were
represented.
Early in the morning session President
Polk laid before the convention the Off
cjal letter addressed to him last night
nv Chairman w. s. McCailiSter, of Mis-
sissippi, requesting 20 be heard in be-
half of the complaints and protests of
the anti.Sub-treasury Alliance men.