The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-11-19
Admissions Made That Fully 80 Per Cent
of the Membership in the West and
Northwest Has Fallen Away.
Wrangles Yesterday Over the Sub-Treas-
ury and Railroad Control 3lanks.
Politics in the Shape Of Some Lively Resolu-
tions and Proposition-RepOrts Of the
F. u. B. A.-A Last Venture.
pEcADENoE OF THE ALLIANCE.


Heavy Losses in the West and Northwest Ads
mitted-sub-Treasury Endorsed.
The first work of the Supreme Council Of
the Farmers Alliance after the call to
order yesterday morning was TO hear the
report of the credentials committee. This
committee was in session until late hour
the night before. having the difficult prob
lem of the best basis of representation, in
face of heavy loss Of membership and O
depleted treasury. The number of dele
gates present, it is said, had
been apportioned on the returns
of the State secretaries, who had been in
structed early In the summer TO make as
large showing as possible in reporting to
the national secretary. and not to show
the loss in membership. The truth came
out when the amount of dues in the form
of per capita tax was reported. The new
credentials committee. consisting of Kerr
of Maryland, Stokes of South Carolina,
and Belden of Michigan, decided to take
the bold stand of recommending o
reduction of two fifths in the
apportionment of delegates. This
was not quite so bad as the suggestion Of
the former credentials committee to make q
reduction of one-half. but when the
recommendation was read before the
convention it created CONSERVATION.
The vacant space about the speakers .
desk was instantly filled with delegates
desiring recoRnition In opposition TO the
report 1t is supposed that many OF the
delegates came provided with expenses but
one way, depending upon the national
treasury for money with which TO re-
turn home. There was also the less
personal reason for opposition that the re-
port woula deprive such as should be cut
Off of their vote, and much of the accoms
panylng prestige and influence.
REPRESENTATION CUT DOWN.
The report, in spite of all opposition, was
adopted, and the credentials committee
was again burdened with the lrksome task
of parting the elect from the non-elect The
action was found to be a necessity i, the
treasury was expected to be in q condition
to supply the fund for the salaries of the
national officers. The falling off in
membership, which is estimated in
candid moments by some of the Alliance
men themselves TO range from 80 10 6o per
cent, Is said TO be accompanied by diff
culties in the collection of dues and per
capita tax from those who remain. This Is
not uniformly true Ia all sections or the
country. for the reports from the South
that the Alliance Is growing are generally
considered correct. 1t Is there that the de-
mand for independent political action
thunders loudest in the index. Whether
the noise will prove TO be warranted can
not be positively known until after the
next election. which. except in Mississippi,
where elections are held In April. will oc-
cur in November, 1892. The principal losses
in membership have been in the West and
Northwest.
This matter being disposed of. President
Polk amour ced that communication was
on the table from w. s. McAllister. Mr..
McAllister represents the COMMITTEES from
the antl-sub- treasury wing Of the Alliance,
which at the st. Louis meeting In Septem-
ber appointed a committee TO come to the
convention and present q protest against
the sub-treasury scheme. The communica-
tion was regarded with intense SUSPICION
by the Macune element, it being feared
that something affecting the character or
their chief might thus be sprung upon the
convention. Objections TO reading the
communication were beard IN clamorous
chorus from a number of the delegates.
President Polk said it was very brief. and
could not contain anything that wouid
cause trouble. lt was then read by the
secretary. It merely asked the council TO
appoint time for the presen tation OF the
protest against the sub-treasury plank.
LIvINGsToN's FLAG OF TRUCE.
Colonel Livingston, of Georgia, then
moved that o committee of five be ap-
pointed to confer with the "anti's" commit
tee with instructions to learn what the
protest was, and what complaint the
.antis" had to make. The motion started
another long and acrimonious debate.
Mcdowell, of Tennessee, moved TO table
the motion of Colonel Livingston and ig-
more the "antis" entirely. McAllister was
attacked by the speaker as representative
of Wall-street influences and an agent OF
the Eastern partisan press. Ben Terrell,
of Texas. supported the motion OF
Livingston, saying that the opposition 20
the sub treasury plank Is too strong and
contempt. He argued that the council
could not afford to ignore those
who are opposed TO this plank.
Burkett, of Mississippi. bitterly opposed
the Livingston motion. denonnclng Nc
Allister as the organizer of the Bourbon
Demoorcy of the South, and the paid
emissary of those who desire the Alliance
TO be destroyed. Wardall. of South Da-
kota, member of the national executive
committee. warned the conncil TO be
cautious in it's dealings with the Mo
Allister wing. The Alliance might lind
itself. he SAID. holding an electric battery
which it could not let go
The motion TO table was lost and on the
vote upon the original motion IL was sns-
tanned by two-thirds majority. The
chair then appointed a committee or hve,
with Livingston at its head, and arrange
ments were made for a conference with the
McAllIster committee at the Occidental
Hotel in the afternoon.
sUB-TREAsURY PLANK INDoRsED.
Immediately after the appointment OF
this committee the convention turned
about and hit the eanti-sub-treasurye element
singing slap squarely IN the face. 1t was
proposed that a resolution be formulated
by Secretary Turner, in which the faithful
support of the Alliance. in so many words,
should be pledged TO the sub-treasury
scheme. Accordingly. the secretary very
| shortly prepared q resolution upon which
there could be no other construction
placed than that II was a square,
| toed unqualified, iron-clad pledge
of the friendship and support of the AlIi-
| ancs TO this plank of the Ocala platform.
| The reading of this resolution was scarcely
concluded when the convention, TO a man,
broke into vigorous aud prolonged roar
| of applause, the enthusiasm being rendered
| none the less distinct by the numerous hato
which were thrown toward the ceiling.
When the resolution was put upon lts pas
/ sage lt went through with whirl The
/ committee of tve delegates was then ap-
pointed by the president. Judge
| Livingston being made chairman and
! Marion Cannon. OF California. aud j. III.
| Mcdowell, of Tennessee. being included
in the committee membership. The State
] Agents Association. which, in reality,
is a standing committee OF the Alliance
| Council. was by resolution youchsafed the
privilege of voting IN the convention. Ihis
simply meant another vote for Judge Liv-
| ingsfOn in hia race for the Allinnes nresl-