The morning news., 1891-11-21
The Alliance and the rhird Party.

me a lla0Ce ana the 1DlEU Z oAtJ-
The national alliance is not in as good
shape as it was at the Ocals convention.
Then it was united. Now It is divided.
Then it did not favor a third party. Now
it looks as If it would encourage the third
party movement
As soon as the delegates TO the alliance
convention began to assemble at lndianapo-
lis 1t became evident that there was want
Of harmony among them. The third party
delegates were numerous and aggressive,
and they made it clear that It was their
purpose to sever the relations Of the order
with the two old parties and
make IL the backbone OF the
Peoples party if they could possibly do so.
They have sucoseded thus far in carrying
out their programme.
Col Polk has been reelected pres
ident. and 1t is believed that he strongly
favors the Peoples party. In his annual ad-
dress he condemned the two old parties and
clearly indicated his preference for the
Peoples party. In re-electing him. there
fore, the order indorsed his views as to the
course the order should pursue with res pect
to political parties. Mr.. Louks, who has
6oOAA N-~C9oA
the national committee Of the Peoples
party. If the order did not look
with favor upon that party it would hardly
have made him its second officer. The
leaders of the Peoples party express them
selves as entirely satisfied with the election
OF Col. Polk aud Mr.. Louks.
The election of Col Livingston would
have meant that the order was not yet
ready for independent political action, and
might never be. He understands the senti-
ment Of the southern people much better
than either Col. Polk or Mr.. Louks. aud he
knows that they cannot be induced to leave
the Democratic party in any considerable
numbers. That he is opposed to indpsend-
ent political action is shown by his opposi-
tion to the resolution offered by Jerry
Simpson, that alliance congressman be in
structed not to go into the caucus OF either
the Democratic or Republican party. Mr..
Simpson showed clearly that he favors the
Peoples party, although when he was
making, speeches in Georgia last summer
one would have inferred from what he said
that hs had no desire to lead alliance demo-
Gratis out Of the Democratic party. But
even then he was trying to open the way
for the Peoples party.
1t can be safely assumed that Col. Polk,
having been elected with the understanding
that independent political action is desired,
will openly favor the Peoples party. In
deed, t would not be surprising If he should
pledge the alliance to support that party at
the meeting Of its leaders which takes place
| at Cincinnatf IN Februarv
The refusal Of a part of the alliance 70
indorse the sub-treasury plan was not unex-
pected. Opposition to that plan among
alliancemen in Texas, Mississippi, and, in
| fact, In all the states in which the alliance
has much strength, is very great. And it
is certain to grow. The more the SUBJ
| treasury plan is discussed the more clea rly
do thinking alliancemen see that it is i'm
practical and dangerous, and would bring
disaster to the farming as we'll as the in
dustrial interests of the country.
A national convention OF alliancemen
opposed to the sub-treasury plan will soon
be held. 1t will emphasize the fact that
the alliance has split into two factions and
will have a tendency to weaken the or
der. Indeed, the order has not been gain
| ing in members recently. The announce
| ment at Indianapolis that in quite number
OF states there is great delinquency in the
payment of dues shows, beyond doubt
that the order is losing its members.