The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-06-26
THEFARMERS ALLIANCE
What 1t Aims to Ac~
COrnpliSh.
By Il. R. CHAMBERLAIN.

copyright. 1901. by the Minerva Publishing
Company, New York;
L
HISTORY AND PURPOSES.
A new power in the land is suddenly
challenging the attention Of the people
Springing whence it was least expected,
it is a giant at its birth, and already it
aspires to dominate our politics and to
direct with masterful hand the CONNER
cial and industrial machinery of the ma
ton.
In all the seeking after the power of
organization, which within few years
has marked new industrial and COM
mercial era, the farmer has been the last
to adopt the idea of union with his near
and distant colleagues. It has been per-
sistently said that no combination Of
farmers, in business or in politics, could
be effective, because the great army Of
yeomanry is so scattered that it would
have scarce more than the strength of
individuals, no matter how united in
sentiment and purpose its members
might be. The wrecks Of many old ex-
periments seemed to prove the truth of
the assumption.
All manner of combinations of skilled
and unskilled laborers, tradesmen and
manufacturers have with ease accom-
plished purposes quite beyond reach, but
for well organized cooperation, while
the farmer looked on for years envious
and respondent. But helplessness gave
way to confidence when a few months
ago there came to the farmers of the
land a sudden conception that they
might possess power greater than that
of any existing organization in trade or
industry. They began the experiment
of organization on large scale 1t
needs only a careful analysis Of the re-
suits of last November's elections to
prove that the movement is fast attain
ing the proportions Of political revolu-
ton.
1t will be in the nature of a revelation
to most people that almost since yester-
day about four millions of the yeomanry
of America have banded themselves to-
gether with a determination to become a
united and potent factor in the politics
and commercial affairs Of the country.
The new army struck its first blow last
November, and its sweeping effects have
not yet been recognized. The farmer has
not yet been given full credit north or
south, east or west, for the potency of his
influence and vote in the campaign He
accomplished far more within the two
parties than has been made to appear.
He toppled dominant parties from con-
troll in several states; he secured a re-
spectacle farmer representation in both
houses of congress; but that is all of less
significance than the local revolutions
he has wrought in thousand minor po-
Gtical districts. where change Of con-
troll has come with all the unexpectedness
Of an earthquake.
1t can hardly be said broadly that one
party has gained or suffered more than
the other; but one thing the farmers
movement has proclaimed thunderingIy.
namely, the sheet anchor, the chief re-
lance Of each party in the agricultural
vote, broke away last November. The
Republicans begin to realize this; the
Democrats have not done SO yet. 1t hap
pened that the revolt took the form of a
tremendous Democratic victory. The
measure Of Democratic success was as
great surprise to the victors as to the
defeated. But the directors Of all the
branches of the farmers movement de-
clare that the Democrats will make the
greatest mistake of their lives if they in
terpret the result as their own distinct
party triumph.
The average citizen has vague idea
that it is the Farmers Alliance which
has begun to work political miracles in
the land. THERE'S an impression abroad
that the movement signifies a craze,
sure to be short lived, even though vio-
lent in its manifestations, and bound to
go the way of the Greenback party and
other political heresies. Nothing could
be more mistaken. The farmers move
ment is not one idea crusade; it is
based upon broad policy of education
and cooperation. 1t is destined to be
permanent force not only in politics
but in the social, educational and COM
mercial affairs of the nation. It is not
to be judged entirely by the measures
which it champions today. Some of
them are radical and crude. But it is
results which are aimed at, and the
leaders of the new movement will not
be stickiers as to means if better meas
ures are offered in place of those now
put forward.
But what is the Farmers Alliance?
Its full title is the National Farmers Al
lance and Industrial union. The Alli-
ance is really combination Of older Or
ganizations A Farmers Alliance was
started in Texas in 1878, and another in
New York about the same year. The
Alliance founded in New York spread
westward as a non-secret order, and be-
came strong organization north of the
Ohio river and west of Pennsylvania
The Texas Alliance was. chartered as a
benevolent association by the state in
1880, and as secret organization it took
on its period of rapid growth and devel-
opment about the year 1888. In 1887 it
had membership in that state number
ing over 100000. and united with the
Farmers union, at that time organized
in Louisiana, 10000 strong
These two organizations associated
themselves together and secured an ar
ticle of incorporation in the District Of
Columbia as national trades union un-
der the name of ''The National Farmers
Alliance and Cooperative Union," and
this order completed its consolidation
with the National Agricultural Wheel
on the first day of October. 1889. At