The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-06
BOOSTED BY THE BULLS.
The Hold-Back- Your Wheat Circular
Was the Child of Grain
Spectators.
Not q Gent of the Great Ex-
pense Paid by the
Alliance.
Anything to heat Sherman Is the Platform
Of the Ohio Farmers-Hc Must
Join ingalls,.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5.-There is no longer
any doubt that the farmers hold-bsok-
wheat circular was inspired by grain specu-
lators and that the ccst'of its issue and dis
trihution throughout the country was paid
for by these spectators. The Minneapolis
Journal correspondent to-day has been
lucky enough to get at some important
facts in connection with this matter. It
can be stated without question that the cost
of the issue and the distribution of the cir
cular was $50, 900 in round numbers; and,
furthermore, the Farmers alliance has
never been called upon or requested to
stand any of this amount.
President Polk, of the National Farmers
alliance, was seen by the Journal CORE
spon6crt this afternoon and questioned
c'ossly. lie admitted that the circular had
never been sanctioned by the alliance or
any Of its officials, and asserted that the
alliance had never boon put to any cost in
tho distribution of the circular. He was
asked as to the rumor that the circular was
inspired and paid for by speculators. He
laughed sarcastically when he replied Yam
kee fashions: Twill you tell me what earthly
reason wheat spectators would have in is
suing such a circular? Don't know? Well,
I wan to say to you that this rumor is
foolish. This circular was mighty good ad-
vice to farmers. This is the reason, I sup
pose, why it was distributed and why it has
created such a furore in every part of the
couatry. 1t was not issued by the alliance
nor was its issuance sanctioned. Neverthe-
less it was mighty good information to be
placed before them"
Polk became irritable when additional
questions were put to him and turned the
correspondent over to II. W. Ayres, his pri-
waite secretary, whom ha introduced as the
manager of the reform press bureau. HAyres
was very talkative. and something tangible
was obtained from him. He said that the
wheat circulsr was first submitted to him
by Mueller, of st. Paul, or an agent of his.
This man wanted to have it sanctioned
BY the National alliance officials, but Ayres
replied that this could not be done. He
was told. however, that the matter would
be given to the public through the hannels
of the press bureau, and Ayres says that
copies OF it have been printed in several
thousand Alliance papers. Circulars have
also been sent out from this bureau. Ayres
the National alliance. He admits it is a
vehicle for the distribution of alliance doc
trines, however, but says the wheat circular
was given notoriety because he thought it
contained information that the farmers
ought to know.
Ayres admits that neither the alliance
nor the bureau has stood any coat except
that of having tho circular printed in al
lance papers. Ee has been informed that
1000. 600 copies of this circular were issued
and distributed and that the total cost was
$4,000. He processes to have no knowl-
edge that ths SPECTATORS paid for it's is
suance. He doesn't know, he says, whether
Minnesota men connected with it sold out
to spectators or not. The fact is he does
not care, and this seems to be President
Folks position in a nut shell.