Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-16

OFF1CE OF L. Il. FOLK,
President NATIONAL FARMERS ALLIANCE AND
INDUSTRIAL UNION,
Sill 9TH STREET N. W.,
WASHINGTON, March 8, 1891.
PRIVATE AND PERSONAL.
lis Ercellency Lieut.. Coz. Jones, Ne,o York:
DEAR SIR: You are aware of the power Of
the reform movement. Secret semi-political
organizations are controlling the votes Of the
common people. therefore submit the fol-
lowing facts:
The "IndepOdent Order of American Citi-
zens," to which any person over twenty-one
years Of age, and an American citizen, who signs
our declaration of principles may become a
member, teaches as follows: THAT the govern
ment should not purchase either silver or gold
any more than it should purchase the iron or
lead mined in the United States; but that it
may coin silver or gold mined in the United
States and presented for coinage by a citizen
Of the United States free of cost, at a ratio es-
tablished by Congress. The ratio to be such
that the coins in either metal shall be of equal
value to thei: bullion value" Again, they
teach that all goods upon which there is a
tariff duty, the duty shall be paid in gold the
gold SO received to be deposited in the United
States Treasury, against which certificates shall
be issued dollar for dollar, not redeemable for
twenty years"
center of the world. Foreign manufactured
goods shipped to this country would have to
pay duties in gold, and import duties have
averaged over $500. 000. GOO for many years. In
ten years this would put $4,000. 100000 OF gold
in our treasury drawing the reserves in other
countries to us, or hey would have to cease to
tax our commodities. and give us, practically,
free trade. In reference to taxation, we teach
that ali manufactured products used for
food, medicine, or soil improvements shall be
fraa Of l,,xxy xlofx I, xo~, Al
Of life be freely reduced, while the tariff on
lu1uries shall be increased to prohibitory
point.
We propose to enter your state and organize
1t. If you desire our aid you will assist US in a
financial way. Our literature will be spread all
over your state. If you desire our aid write
me at once. If you do not desire our support,
perhaps some others will. A failure to hear
from you will be considered inimical to U.S. and
We will act accordingly. Yours,
ID. H. RITrENHoUsE, Lect. l. o. A. c.,
FOL Massachusetts avenue northeast
Inclosed in this remarkable epistle was Rit-
tenhouses card. Below his name was printed
''Secy. to President l.. L. Polk" Through the
latter line had been family drawn an almost in
visible line with pen.
perhaps. to say that all between the first and
last paragraphs might as well have been omitted.
1t Is simply one of the rankest possible at
tenpts at political blackmail. 1t is scarcely
disguised attempt to sell the support of the
Farmers Alliance to Brother Jones in his
gubernatorial canvass. Who ever heard of the
independent Order of American Citizens?"
The letter was written upon the official paper
of the president of the alliance and by man
who endeavOred to convey the impression that
he was the secretary and representative of that
gentleman.
Rittenhouse has appeared in a somewhat
similar light before. There was the biggest
kind OF a row at Ocala in December because it
transpired that Rit tenhouse, who was then in
fact the private secretary of President Polk,
had been discovered trying to establish conf
dental relations with Brother Blaine under
the escort of Col. Dick Hinton. Other sins
were laid at Rittenhouse's door, and he almost
became the cause Of a serious feud between
some OF the national officers OF the order He
ceased to be Folks secretary on the first of
the year, but he still lays claim to that gentle
mans confidence and support. In the light
OF Rittenhonse's last exploit, President Polk
will probably feel called upon to specify lust
what his relations are with his former secre-
tary. The alliance delegates who meet at
Hornellsville next Wednesday to organize a
state alliance will naturally be interested to
hear from headquarters about this remarkable
political correspondence. For it is said that
The letter received by Jones is not the only one
OF similar import which has been sent to sup
posed gubernatorial candidates in New York.
1t Is said that Roswell P. Flowers mail con-
tanned one not long ago.
Brother Jones did not answer his