The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-16
STRIKE AT MONOPOLISTS. "
President Polk Talks Of The Farmers AIIi.
anCe Objects
EXPECT TO CONTROL IN VIRGINIA.
A Chinese 0ucstion-strange Coincidence.
Insurance Statistics o her wash
ington City News.

Ia Washington - that now being conducted
by the National Farmers Alliance. At the
head OF the National body is Colonel J.. l..
Polk of North Carolina. man OF undoubted
executive ability, who gives most of his time
20 the work of organization. There are no
mysteries about the political movements which
are planned and directed in Colonel Polk's
Office. The visitor who comes seeking infor-
nation can get it without the necessity of
applying diplomatic inquiries. The head Of
Che farmers movement will frankly and un-
Teservedly name the men in each state whom
the Alliance has selected for ret rement from
public life. He Will state how they expect 70
accomplish It, and whether or not the outlook
"a favorable 10 the success OF the Alliance. In
that respect this political headquarters is a
novelty.
STRIKE AT MoSoPoIIsTs.
"0ur campaign at present" said Colonel
Poll to-day lis not 70 eects President or 20
secure governorsEips Of States. We are
striking At the mOnOpolists IN tho Unit
States Senate So far We have landed three.
The first was Senator Hampton of South
Carolina. then John Ingalls, OF Kansas,
followed by Gideon c. Moody Of South
Dakota The next one TO go into retirement
will be John Sherman. Of OHIO. Matt. Ransom,
Of North Carolina, viii also bc retired. Ihe
fate Of these two Senators is Just As certainly
sealed as tldt Ol JtAu =. lLEdlh.
we made two mistakes that will not he re-
peated" continued Colonel Polk. With
complete control of the North Carolina Legs-
latuTe we allowed Senator Vance 10 be re-
elected on the strength Of his promises that
he would be a faithful. political servant - the
interests of the people The election Of Gov
ernor Gordon of Georgia. was also mistake,
as he has shown himself TO be far more in
terested in his own personal success than
that Of the Alliance. Hereafter no promises
OF the politicians of the old parties Will be ac-
cepted."
AFTER SHERMAN.
How do you propose to defeat John Sher-
man ia OhiO.'
We have him defeated In the legislative
districts the Alliance will support candidates
pledged TO vote against Sherman. The voting
strength of the actual organization rs 10000.
Our members. however are doing missionary
work among the farmers generally. and thou
sands Of voters not connected with the
Alliance itself will be rallied against Sher-
man. If you would look over the correspon-
dence from Ohio you would be convinced
that IT Is now an impOssiblllty for him to sue
ceed himself"
rs the fight being made on Mckinley also?"
1T is not As / stated. we are now cleaning
out the United States Senate. Governor
ships are not valuable 10 us at the present
time. 10 wOuld have good moral effect 70
elect State officers merely as an evidence OF
the strength of the organization. but our
primary object is 20 secure the balance OF
power in the legislatures, which enact the
laws and elect United States Senators.
Pro ably many Alliance members will support
the peoples ticket in OHIO. but there ls no
movement TO have them do SO. Consequently
the Alliance is not fighting Mckinney; but do
not infer from that l think he Will be
elected.
FIGURING IN IOWA.
Can Senator Wilson of Iowa be returncdS"
I'VE are not figuring much on results from
Iowa. replied Colonel Polk. The OrganiZa-
ton in that State is weak, though the popular
assumption ls that we are making great hght
there That idea IS amistaben one. The most
we expect to get out of the contest IL Iowa IS
70 determine what strength the movement IS
developing there No scalps are expected. In
the Northwest however, the voters seem to
be more ready to break away from the old
parties than in other sections of the country. -
win the Alliance undertake to dictate the
successor of Senator Quay in Pennsylvania"
As matters stand now / think not Ihe
State is not yet sufficiently organized How
ever. the work Is progressing rapid Y. You
dOsnOt see much about It in the newspapers,
but about twolocal Alliances per daS are being
organized in the State. by the time senator
Cameron's term expires We will probably be
ready TO supply his successor. In New York
State the situation is much the same. Never
theess Senator HiscOck viii be retired IN
1898 though other causes will operate 10 that
end besides the spread Of the Alliance move
ment"
cONToOI. or VIRGINIA.
The reports from Baltimore are to the effect
that Senator Gorman has captured the Mary
land Alliance"
THAT is an invention / was present
throughout the recent convention. II the
Maryland Alliance l. true tOits principles TWO
Alliance SenatOrs will be elected from tnat
.pta At German Ill
not be one of them. He is too much OF q
straddler on the silver question to SUIT our
principles and Is unacceptable IN other ways
The two Alabama Senators must also be re-
leyed from further service ma the mted
States Senate Mr. Morgan viii come first,
then Mr. Eugh. COngressmen Oates. VINO
has openly declared against the Alliance, VIII
head the procession OF those who 20 out oi
public life from that State. lhls faii we e4-
pect TO secure complete control OF Virginia
You have boon mentioned as tho probable
Alliance presidential candidate ia 4oJz Noi.
one Polk have you not,
'Weu the NEWSPAPERS said some time ago
that wanted 10 be Governor of North caro-
lima. and whom that did not trauspire was
announced Es desiring 20 come e. the senate
10 Gil VAnce's old shoes. That statement h6o-
wise turned out 10 be incorrect. GA can draw
your own conclusion about tho report now
going around. DO not forget though. mere
will be an Alliance National ticket ~ the held
next fall. "
WORK Al HEADQUARTERS.
The Alliance headQuartersI not maintained
on mere talk There 10 apparently plenty Ok
money at command. At the principal oihce
there are stacked up hundreds OF huge pack
ages If printed matter for distribution. The
tVpoeTaphic work is FIRST class anu there IS
nothing cheap or shOddy about II. On North
Cspitol street. almost within the shadow OF
the Senate wing. a four-st0ry printing house
Lag been established and within 1t IS IS busy AZ
d beehive. A large force Of women are EN-
ployed in the mailing department ana in clef-
fcsi work showing that there - no prejudice
against the softer sex ln short. one or tho
sscre.s If the success of the Alliance has been
the interest taken in II by the women. An e1-
tensive literary bureau is also maintained IN
All these departments there Is a spirit "t on
terprise and enthusiasm which may give tho
kew 10 the success that has been attained ia
Alliance undertakings. and which has caused
such q fright In old political circles.
Washington News Generally.
Secretary Foster, who has Just returned
from Ohio was busily engaged Ia tho Treas
ury Department to-day IN catching up WIN
current business. He devoted considerable
time consulting with the various bureau ON
cials on financial matters. This evening hs
talked cutie freely about Treasury matters
and the financial policy Of the department
IL - a. A A. of