The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-17
THE TWO ALLIANCE.
From the Iowa Homestead.

ing on measures before congress IN
which farmers are interested, that we
think it is high time to draw clearly and
distinctly the line between the two
great bodies that are evidently regarded
by the political press as one. 1t Is
specially important to do this at this
time. because one of the Alliances Is
pressing, with great energy and zeal,
certain measures before congress to
which the other Alliance has never COM
mitted itself, and to which so far as we
can learn, it is earnestly and sincerely
opposed The Alliance to which al
fusion is made in the Washington
dispatches, at least nine times out OF ten,
is the Farmers Alliance and Industrial
Union, which we have been in the habit
of designating as the Southern Alliance,
not because it is confined to the soueh.
but because it is exclusively the farmers
organization in that region, and because
it is controlled and directed almost en-
tirelv bv southern men. In addition TO the
southern states it has state organizations
in Kansas, Indiana and Pennsylvania,
whilst the South Dakota Alliance Is be
twixt and between" 1t is quite probable
that some southern state organizations
NAV not be organically connected with
this body, but if so they are acting indie
pendently and do not belong to either
national organization. The following Is
the list of officers of the Southern ALI
ance and Industrial Union:
President-L. L. Polk, North Carolina.
Vice president-B. H. Clover, Kansas.
Secretarv-J. II. Turner, Georgia.
Treasurer-W. II. Hickman, Missouri.
Lecturer-Ben Terrell, Texas.
Executive bOard-C. W. Macune.
chairman; A. Wardall and j. F. Iilman.
President Polk, Secretary Turner and
Chairman Macune are located at Wash
ington, ID. &.
The other national organization Is the
National Farmers Alliance. 1t has state
organizations in Iowa, Nebraska, Min
nesota, North Dakota, WASHINGTON, ONO,
Wisconsin and Indiana, and Its officers
are the following:
PRESIDENT. II. Powers, Cornell, Neb.
Secretary-August Post, Moulton, La.
Treasurer-C. T. Powell, Centervllle,
Iowa.
Lecturer-N. B. Ashby, Des Moines,
Iowa.
These two organizations while alike
the outgrowth of what may be termed
the farmers movement, are different III
their origin, different in their govern
ment. and different to a certain extent IN
their doctrines and policy. 1t could not
be otherwise. Organizations are largely
moulded and shaped by their leaders,
and they in turn shaped and moulded by
their environment. If they have been
practical farmers, the organization Will
devote itself largely to improved methods
of farming, if merchants to cooperative
work, if politicians to political comblna-
tons. Not only that, but in the latter
case the spirit and policies OF the polltI-
cal parties in which they had their beng
will crop out in the new organization.
Human nature being thus shaped and con-
stituted, it is inevitable that the
dominating and controlling influence OF
an Alliance originating and controlled IN
the south must be different from that OF
one originating and controlled III the
n, nth. and that without reference to
which has the better spirit and policy,
much less to anv difference of opinion as
to measures and policies prevailing be-
tween the two sections in the present or
in the past.
Leaving the pedigree and environment
of these Alliances, it is apparent on the
surface, to anyone acquainted with both,
that the northern Alliance has but a
skeleton organization, that is, 1t depends
for bond of cohesion, not on rigid laws
or rules. but on the common attachment
of the members to certain central ideas
and principles set forth in its constitution.
1t has its general officers, whose COM
pensation is mainly clerical expenses and
very moderate per delm with travel
ing expenses for time actually expended
in the service. None have a stipulated
salary.
On the other hand, the southern ALI
ance has an elaborate system of govern
ment. supreme council, an executive
council with the same man president Of
both, a judicial tribunal which may
veto but cannot reverse the decision
of the president, i'll fact con-
centration of power In very few
hands. which makes the organization
exceedingly effective in carrying out the
will of its management. As will be seen
from the official list of its officers, the
president, secretary and treasurer reside
in Washington, where they have every
opportunity to effect legislation, an ar
rangement which cannot be made with
out salaries conforming to the necessary
expenses. Another distinction lies in
this: that the southern alliance is a Sc
cret organization, while the northern
Is entirely open. there being no secret
work in connection with any of its
meetings. In so far as it enters upon
cooperative work, its business affairs
come under the rule of all business mat
tiers. Naturally the southern Alliance
draws the color line. allowing, however.
state organizations in northern states 10
do as they see fit about admitting ne
groes. but, as we understand it, no col
ored man can be admitted from any
state into the supreme council.
The southern Alliance is disposed TO
recognize certain newspapers as official
organs, the opponents and advocates of
the views Of the leaders, aud it has been
proposed TO create a ready print" sys-
tenn of state and county newspapers with
a national organ at their head to serve
the Alliance in the capacity of official
organs, all official matter or articles
bearing upon the policies of the Alliance
to pass through the hands of commit
tee of censors. The northern Alliance
is not disposed 10 recognize any news
paper As an official organ, but encour-
ages free discussion of its policy and
views by the public press, not willing to
be bound by the views or opinions Of any
member or official, and shaping Its policy
by the consensus of opinion as expressed
IN its national conventions.
1t Is, however, in the measures now
advocated before congress that the
widest difference between the Alliances
appears. The rthern Alliance IN bring
ing It's influence TO bear on several meas
ures, prominent among which are the
silver bill. the Butterworth bill for the
control of gambling in options and
futures" the Conger lard bin for the