The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-11-18

| Al O'CLOCK IDe AlllaDce went INTO exec
utive session at the board of trade hal
aud the national Farmers Mutual Bene
fit association at the court house, bott
discussing the third party movement.
THE EVENING MEETING.
| The opening meetings today were some
thing of a disappointment to the Alliance
leaders and equally so to the third party
men. The attendance has not been what
was expected. The enthusiasm is not
great, and conflicts OF opinion have arisen
on important subjects which threaten
seriously to interfere with the work of the
organization. While the numbers in at
tendance ara small, the fight for and
against the third party movements is none
the less bitter. The third party people are
making the most noise and are indulging
in the greatest claims, but the antis are
doing effective work, and nothing but the
! final acts can determine the relative
strength of the factions. The attendance
/ at the open meeting tonight WAS some
| thing less than 1000. President Polk de-
livered his annual address.
PRESIDENT PoLK'S ADDRESS.
President Polk impressed upon the del
egates the wei9htY respOnsi bility attach
ing to their positions as the accredited
representatives OF the farmers of almost
every state in the union No greater re-
SpOnSlO4llte bdl ldlLCu upOu CDuNSL-
tion since the meeting of the Continental
congress. The demands of the latter for
equal rights were no more just than were
the demands for the removal of the in
equalities which threatened to undermine
the liberti as of the people and to destroy
the agricultural interests of the country.
The most sacred functions of government
had been usurped by the few, to the detri-
ment and ruin of the neglected millions.
The grievances OF the farmer were many.
From 1850 to 1860 farm values increased
l0l per cent, but from 1870 to 1880 the in
crease was only 8 per cent. From 1870
to 1889 the aggregate wealth of the coun-
try increased 45 per cent. The ten staple
crops of 1884 brought less than per cent
more than the crops Of 1866. During the
last decade agricultural lands decreased
in value from % to 40 per cent. Two
thirds of the cOuntry's wealth was not as
sessed for taxation; yet the farmer, possess
ing only % per cent. of it, paid so per
cent of the taxes. The farmer was
compelled TO sell his products at prices
barely covering the cost of production.
Farm mortgages were frlghttully large.
In Iowa the mortgage Indebtedness was
Sl04 per capita; in Kansas. Sl65;lin Illinois,
slOO, and everywhere the farmer was over
burde0ed with debt. The gross iniQuites
and determinations against the farmer
have caused rapid decline of agriculture
in the face of period of wonderful devel-
opment. These were the causes that had
led the farmer to appeal to the supreme
tribunal Of public opinion and to ask a
just decision through the ballot box.
President Polk then took up the de-
mands of the farmers. He first gave a
history OF the reform bill introduced in
the last congress by the members of the
Alliance The billion dollar congress had
given it no consideration. The farmers
demanded its passage. The bill would
arrest the alarming tendency toward the
of the money power of the
country. 1t would have supplanted the
iniquitOus national banking system by
securing TO the people an adequate amount
Of money direct from the govern ment at u |
low rate of interest. The sub treasury
idea, however had grown until it was the |
sentiment of this order in thirty-four |
states.
The government was not regulating |
commerce among the states as the consti- |
tuition allowed it to do. Money, transpor-
tation aud the transmission of intelligence |
were the essential clements in commerce |
Organized capital had secured control of |
The volume of the currency, which result |
I'd in fearful augmentation of the cen
yrallzed money power, to the lmp0verish-
nenG and robbery of honest industries. I
The government should control the rail-
-OduS, I6Jdll buo puDliC QOuldtu LOT Amer
cans, prohibit gambling in futures, coin
al the silver offered, provide for the elect
on of United States senators by a direct
Tote of the people. and also for a gradna-
ed income tax.
The greatest of all the farmers demands
was the demand for the addition of the
banking system and that the
direct to the people. Neither
# the great parties would effect this finan-
,al reform. In this crisis every true
member of the Alliance should stand firm
y by Alliance principles, and demand of
III asprant for their suffrages an uneQui-
-ocal definition of their position of those
,reat principles
The Alliance, continued President Polk,
vas thoroughly harmonious and had
teadily enlarged its territory Since the
asst meeting the states Of New York, Ohio,
Owa, Wisconsin, Delaware, Oregon,
Washington and New Jersey had been
dded to the rolls. The speaker closed
With some remarks upon the political duty
f the Alliance. He said that the organi-
alton must be kept free from entangle-
nent with any party. 1T would utterly
all In its high purposes if it should be de-
raded into a mere party machine. to he
by designing men. When it
hall fail to elevate its membership above
he arrogant domination of party man.
ates, the hour for its decay, dissolution
nd death will have come.
GENERAL NOTES.
W. S. McAllister of Canton, Miss.
hartman of the national executive com
littee OF the auti-sub-treasury wing of
he Alliance, heads Il committee which
rrived in the city today Its mission is
, induce the Alliance to steer clear of the :
Ib-treasury scheme and third party idea 7
lcAlllster was one of the most noted :
armers' Alliance leaders in the country :
nd became more widely known through =
IS Impeachment for opposition TO the :
lb-treasury idea, which led TO the organ
,ation of the 8nti-sub-treasury Alliance
lctlon. Mr.. McAllister says that if they
D not get hearing, or if their grievances
re not respected, the orgauiztion of the =
lti-sub-treasury Alliance will be ex- !.
nded to every state.
The air was thick With rumors today,
ndlng to implcate certain Alliance lead
: IN connection with certain combina- :,
onS and relations with the National In +
lStrial Union company formerly known c
the Union Cordage company. j
The state agents held 4 meeting this II
oruinG AT the Bath house Ii is with c
e state agents that this alleged scandal G
As 70 deal and the Alliance men who are II
IRE for that purpose state that they viii G
axe charges that viii create a tremen-
,us sensation. A former state agent OF
e Florida Alliante. il is said. domic iciled
mself in New York, and became the u
,ent of the cordsge company. The plan =
as 10 get monopoly of the Alliance j
ade, and, as a means to that end. seduc- -
re inducements were held out TO state :,
,ents 10 get them to procure the !,
dorSement 10y their Alliance Il
the Union cordage company. H.
Following is the substance of a circular :,
ut TO the Georgia state agent as il was ;,
lhlished ana exposad. d.