The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-07-03
THEFARAERS ALLIANCE
What 1t Aims to Ac-
COr11pliSh.
By H. r. CHAMBERLAIN.
lCopyright, 1891, by the Minerva Publishing
Company. New York;

-.
~.
THE ALLIANCES FIRST BLOW AND ITS
EFFECTS.
The first years work of the reorganized
Alliance did not promise important re-
suits until election day was almost at
hand. Not until midsummer did the
leaders of the order make any serious
impression upon the officials and legis-
lators of the old parties, either at
Washington or at any of the state capi-
tails. The sub-treasury scheme was
hardly given patient hearing at first
and the claims to recognition were grant
ed only in patronizing spirit. 1t was
not until members Of congress from agri-
cultural districts in the south and west
began to be overwhelmed by letters of
caution and demand from hundreds of
constituents that Democrats and Re-
publicans alike began to realize, first
that a political storm was brewing and
finally that it portended revolution.
The passage of Alliance measures was
persistently advocated at Washington
during the long session of congress by
the legislative committee of the order,
but without any direct effect. Nothing,
in fact, was expected of the ifty-irst
congress.
The st. Louis convention had placed
the executive work of the Alliance in
most capable hands. President l.. L..
Polk, of North Carolina, is an able and
careful leader. His administration has
been eminently honest and unselfsh, and
he has commanded respect and recogni-
tion wherever he has represented the AL
lance. Dr.. G. w. Macune, of Texas,
the chairman of the executive commit
tee, has been one of the most prominent
men in the organization from its incep-
ton. He is the editor of The National
Economist, the official organ of the Al
lance, and no man has labored more ar
duously than he in behalf of the cause
he has espoused.
Upon these men and Secretary j. w.
Turner, of Georgia, fell the brunt of the
work in making the up hill fight at the
national headquarters at Washington.
But while they zealously kept the ALI
ance demands before congress, they la
bored still more arduously to carry on
the campaign Of education within the
Alliance itself, which is the secret of its
growth and strength. This is the foun-
dation which guarantees the permanence
Of the new force. The situation was
well described by Secretary Turner at
an interview I had with him at Wash
ington just after the November election.
He said:
sour methods in developing the order
so far have been solely educational, and
to be successful they must continue SC
to be. Therein lies the secret of the
growth and power of the Alliance. II
has been distinctly a business organiza-
ton SO far, and it is in politics only in SO
far as the business interests of its mem
bers make it necessary. We have en-
deavored to educate the farmers in eco.
nomical and financial matters. Every
political move which has resulted has
been spontaneous and natural, not forced
or artificial. We have no agitators in
the order, and will tolerate none. One
of our most difficult tasks has been tc
suppress and silence agitators among the
local leaders of the order. We don't be
ieve in the policy of some labor and
semi-political organizations, which is
simply to incite discomfort among the
people for the purpose of gaining some
definite political end. We are seeking
no partisan ends whatever. We en-.
deavor to educate our people in sound
economic and business principles. When
they come to apply those principles tc
public affairs remedies will be spontane.
ously applied by the people where they
are needed
IF 1T requires new party to accom-
plish necessary reforms, new party will
be promptly forthcoming. But if the
Alliance leaders should be SO foolish a:
to attempt to create such party they
would fail ignominiously, and the whole
order would suffer disintegration as the
penalty for the folly. Our whole expert
ence thus far has proved the truth o.
what say. In South Carolina and Kan
sas, for instance, the situation made 9
third party necessary, and it was spon
taneously forthcoming. In Georgia
where we are equally strong, man who
advocated the formation of third party
would be hooted out of the state. We
must stick to this policy of education and
political neutrality or we shall lose al
we have gained. The situation today il
full of menace to us on account of thu
measure of our success
eff the conservative men in the order
are able to prevent the adoption of any
radical and erratic political measures
we shall continue to grow and prospel
until our organization becomes tn,
greatest power in the land. The com
ing national congress of the order al
Ocala will be the test. Our entire pol
icy and platform will there be revised
Some changes in it will be made. AL
manner of propositions will be made, n,
doubt. Some delegates, for instance
will probably urge US to adopt prohi
bition plank, and they viii be much dis
appointed if we refuse. Others will asl
us to indorse woman suffrage. Person
ally, hope such propositions will fail
The Alliance, as said, is a business OF
ganization, and if it goes outside to dea
with sentimental questions believe i
will make mistake"
The ballot boxes on the 4th of Novem
Der showed how potent the policy of ed
ucation proved to be. That the Allianc
controls several state governments ther
is no doubt. Only in South Carolina, Il
be sure, did they elect their governor OF
a distinct Alliance ticket, but they con
trolled the nominating conventions il