The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-05-05
THE NEW YORK ALLIANCE.
THE POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF
THE MOVEMENT.

Steady Accessions-Represen Farm
ers-Substantial Increase--PoliticaI Et-
feet Talked About--Tho President of the
New York Alliance.
HoMELLsvILLE, N. Y, April 27.-
The state convention of the farmers
Alliance in New York has created a
great stir here among the politicians.
While the body was in process of or
ganization, a friendly delegation from
the Knights of Labor was received.
President Polk, of the National Farm
ers' Alliance, was present and addressed
the convention, advising the farmers to
give the politicians among them back
seat. 1t is said that ID. G. Allen, the
state organizer, can have the state presi-
dency Ii he wants it.
The political significance of the Farm
srS' Alliance movement is beginning to
be Appreciated.
A striking feature of s;Scthering is
the earnestness of the men taking part
in it.. They talk of nothing else and
think of nothing else, but in cold, con-
servative way, devoid of claptrap or en-
thusiaSm, and they are real farmers, too,
and not professionals.
Mayor Day, of this city, was asked
what he thought of the movement. at
Is going to run things in this end of
the state" he said. 1T is composed of
the very best men of the farming COM
munity. the solid old farmers who work
their own soil, pay their debts and
don't make any more until they have
calculated all the chances"
President Arnold Is generally con-
ceded to be the best man in the conyen-
tion for the position to which he was
elected. He is about 65 years old, tail
and slender, with full gray beard and
rather sandy gray hair. He was born
in Wyoming county, where his father
came in 1872 from New England, bring
ing family and his belongings in an OK
cart. Mr.. Arnold now lives on the
homestead, near Arcade, which his
father pre-empted, and is regarded as
one of the most solid, substantial farm
ers in the neighborhood. In politics he
was an old line whig and later Repub-
lican as lie says, however, Of late years
he has been rather independent in local
affairs. The only Office he has ever
held has been that of supervisor. He
was one Of the first men to join the
Alliance in his county, the first sub
Alliance being organized there Janu-
ary q.
Before he was elected he was closely
questioned as to his opinions on
the Ocala platform. He was found to
be all right, but when asked how he
stood on the silver question he an
swered: II favor the free and unlimi-
ted coinage of silver. rs l understand
it,"
He was asked how he understood it
later. He said: II believe in the free
coinage of silver dollars with dollars
worth Of silver in them" lie is rather
favorably inclined toward the SUBJ
treasury scheme and the other planks
in the Ocala platform.
He was also asked his opinion of the
third party movement. at is too early
to talk OF that now," he said. Our en-
ergies for while will be devoted to
the work of organization and educa-
tion."
National Lecturer Willetts says that
New jersey is organizing rapidly, and
he expects to organize the State Alli-
ance in week or two. 1t is said that
there is u scheme on foot to send out
all over the country pledges similar to
those used in the Henry George cam
paign of 1886, binding the signers to
support third party candidate on the
Ocala platform. Ifs million signatures
are obtained convention will be called
and nominations for president and vice
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