The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1891-01-29
THE TWO ALLIANCES.
Essential Points Of Difference BetWse
the Two organizations and the on
GERS Of Each aud Their Aims.


Essential Points Of DIFeraHCs Between
the Two organizations and the on
GERS Of Each aud Their Aims.
So much Is being said from day to
day and week to week concerning
the Farmers Alliance by the pOlitI-
cal papers that we think II Is high
time to draw clearly and distinctly
the line between the two great bod
les that are evidently regarded by
many as one. II Is specially impOr-
tant to do this at this particular time
because one OF the Alliances IL press
ing with great zeal and energy GER
tain measures before Congress-, to
which the other Alliance has never
committed itself, and to which, so
far a. can be learned, IL IL earnestly
aud sincerely opposed. The Alliance
to which allusion 10 made in the
Washington dispatches, at least nine
times out Of ten, is the Farmers Al
lance and Industrial Union, which
we have been In the habit Of desig-
mating as the Southern Alliance, not
because Its membership Is confined
to the south, but because II Is exclu-
sively the farmers organization In
that region, and because II IL con-
trolled and directed almost entirely
by southern men. In addition TO
the southern states il has state or
ganiZations in Kansas Indiana and
Pennsylvania, whilst the South Da-
kota Alliance Is "betwixt and be-
tween" IL IL quite probable that
some southern state organization
may not be organically connected
with this body, but IL 80, they are
acting independently and do not be-
long to either national organization.
The following is the list OF officers Of
the Southern Alliance, known as the
National Farmers Alliance and In
dustrial Union:
President-L. L. Polk, North Car
Olina.
Vice President-B. II. Glover,
Kansas.
Secretary-J. II. Turner. Georgia.
Treasurer-w. II. Hickman, Mis-
souri,.
L ecturer-Ben TerrilI, Texas.
Executive Board-C. w. Macune,
Chairman; a. wsrdalI and J. F. Till
man. President Polk, Secretary
Turner and Chairman Macune are
located at Washington, ID, &.
The other organization is the Ma
tlonal Farmers Alliance. II has
state organizations In Iowa, Nebras-
ka Minnesota, North DakOta, Wash
Ington, Ohio, Wisconsin and Indiana.
and its officers are the following gen.
tlemen:
Presidsnt-H. l.. Loucks, Clear
Lake, South Dakota.
Vice President-J. II. Powers, Cor
nell, Nsb.
Secretary-August Post, MoultOn,
Iowa.
Treasurer-Hon.J j.. Furlong, Aus
tin, MINI.
Lecturer-N. b. Ashby. Des
Moln es, Iowa.
These two org SniEations, while
alike the outgrowth Of what may be
termed the farmers movement, are
different In their origin, different In
their government, and different to q
certain extent In their doctrines and
policy. II could not be otherwise.
Organisations are largely moulded
and shaped by their leaders, and
and they, in turn, are moulded aud
shaped by their environment. II
they have been practical farmers,
the organization will devote itself
largely to improved methods Of farm |
ing; II merchants. to cooperative
work; II politicians, to political COM
blnatIons. Not only that but in the |
latter case the spirit and policies Of
the political parties in which they |
had their being, will crop out in the
new organization. Human nature
being thus shaped and constituted
IL 10 inevitable that the dominating |
and controlling influence Of an Ali.
ance, originated and controlled In
the south, must be different from
that originating and controlled Ia
the north, and that without reference
10 which has the better spirit or pol
Icy much less to any difference Of
opinion as 10 the measures aud poll.
cies prevailing between the two sec.
lions in the present or past.
Leaving the pedigree and environ
meat Of these Alliances, It is sppa-
rent on the surface, to any one &C.
quAlnted with both that the North.
ern Alliance has but q skeleton or
gAnlEatiou, that is, It depends for @
bond OF cohesion, not on rigid laws
or rules, but on the common attach.
ment Of the membeps to certain Gen.
trail ideas aud principles set forth In
Its constitution. II has lite general
officers, whose compensation Il
mainly clerical expenses, and q very
moderate per diem, With travelling
expenses for time actually expended
In the service. None Of them has q
stipulated salary.
On the other hand, the Southern
Alliance has an elaborate organize
tea and system Of government, q
snpfsms council. an executive coun.
Aaaaa.-. -