Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-09-24
THEIR WORK OVER.
THE DISTRICT ALLIANCE LECTURE
SYSTEM MORE FULLY PERFECTED.
Fbs Legislative Committee Of tho Order
10 session Ncarly All Day Yesterday
Chats with Mcmbers.

3ournment on Tuesday night. met at Fords
Hotel yesterday morning and held two
lengthy sessions during the day.
President Mann Page, Of the State Al
lance. occupied tho chair and the follow
ing district lecturers were present: First
district. G. II. Pierson. of Caroline: Second
district. A. j. Rady. Of Nansemond; Third
district, 7. NJ. Parrish. Of Goochland
Fourth district. j. Haskins Hopson. OF
Powhatan: Sixth district, Thomas =.
Cobbs. of Bedford; Seventh district, ".
X. feathers. of Warren: Eighth district j.
Brad. Beverley, OF fauquier; Ninth dis
trict. X. A. Anderson. OF Smith: Tenth dis
trict, X. w. Harris. of Allegheny.
Both sessions Yesterday were. III accord
Ance with the requirements OF the Alliance
constitution. held IN secret.
THE sUnJrCT OF DISCUSSION.
After the adjournment. which was at
A:30 o'clock L. NJ. a DISPATCH representa-.
tive learned from President Page and
others that the only matter properly taken
up by the committee was the Improvement
Of the district-lecturo system throughout
the State and the apportonment OF funds
for this purpose
The questions provoked long and earn
est discussions. Much time was gwen TO
the reports Of the various lecturers. The
powers Of these officers in the order were
defined and many important methods for
progressIveness were agitated.
Mr.. Robert Snayclv. State lecturer. on
account Of bad health. asked TO be re-
lieved from service for few months and
that some one be named 10 take his place
during that time. The matter was referred
10 the President. who will in few days
appoint . temporary State lecturer.
THE RAILROAD MATTER NOT GONE INTO.
In response to question propOunded
by the pisPATCu representative MAJOR Page
stated that the committee did not take up
the railroad bill at all. He admitted that
il had been discussed incidentally 10y mem
bers of that body but not as measure be-
fore the meeting.
The Alliance people allege that the rail
roads discriminate against Virginia farm
ers. They claim that they are imposed
upon by unfair freight. express. and pas
senger rates aud want aralroad commits
SION appointed by the State Legislature to
tx these tariffs.
NO POLITICS DISCUS sHD.
Major Page. during the day. asserted that
politics had not been discussed III the ses
SONS In any way whatever. In speaking
OF the supposed troubles between the
Democrats and Alliance men. Mr.. Page
saws there seems 10 be some unklnd feel
ing in few counties, especially III Meek
lenburg and Franklin. which Is very much
regretted by Alliance men generally. He
thinks that the course which Is being pur-
sued by some Democratic papers and poll.
cians will greatly inJure the chances of
Democratic success IN tho black belt.
where the prospect has been SO bright
Speaking for himself he said he Is
Democrat. and when Alliance men oil over
the State have written To HIM asking
what course they should pursue III this
canvass he has invariably told them he
had no control over their actions. a. every
man in the order was free To vote "a he
lleases but as for himself. he was going
10 vote to send a Democratic Alliance
man To the Legislature.
He also greatly regrets that so much an
tagonlsm Is given the Alliance leaders, and
saws that 1t was due To the conservative
advice of these that u third party was not
formed at Ocala. The President states
that when these reports are started about
the Alliance or its leaders he immediately
las the true state of affairs explained by
the lecturers.
NOT OPPOSED TO LAWYERS.
Major Page claims that while the AL
lance is pledged to oppose all railroad at
torneys TOR Office. this does not indicate
that the order is III anyway antagonistic of
lawyers. They would Just as soon support
"a lawyer ia sympathy with them as any
one else. and he Impression that the Al
lance people will vote for none for Office
but who belong TO the order Is erroneous,
for in this canvass the members are sup
porting many candidates who are not Ill the
Alliance. They think there are plenty of
good Democratic lawyers without taxing
railroad attorneys aud placing them Ill
office.
TESrRF-or-oY1TCE ACT.
President Page, referring to the resOlu-
ton adop;ed by the State Alliance at ltsre.
recent session here demanding of the Gene
raj Assent ~ the passage of \ tenure-Of-oi
fee act. sad twas brought up after he WAS
called away by sickness III his family. He
knew nothing OF the origin of the mea-
sure and had not heard the subject dis
cussed since. The resolution, 1t VIII be
remembered. declared III favor If restrict
ing the service of the State Treasurer and
Auditors and the county sheriis and trea-
surers to two consecutive term.
Major Page does not think tins matter
WAS taken hold of with any view TO
Changing any of the officers now serving,
but simply because II was IN keeping with
the Alliance platform, no officer In the or
ranizaiIon being eligible to office more
than two succeeding terms.
IHYY WILL not CAUCUS A. ALLIANCE MIN.
A reporter asked the Major if he thought
the Alliance members of the LeglSla ure
would caucus AS Alliance men during the
coming session, to which he replied that
he saw no reason why they shou do any
thing Of the sort. 1T Is very probable"
said the State President. that all mem;
bers who are fayoIably inclined toward
the railroad bill will bold their confer
ences. We will certainly have no caucuses
III oil. think, III connection with the elec-
ton of State Auditors and Treasurer"
HARMONY IN TowHATAS.
Mr. J.. Haskins Hobson. the district lee
turer from Powhatan. was seen by DIS
PATCH man during the day, and was asked
@ few questions concerning the feeling en-
listing between members OF the Alliance
and Of the Democratic party III his dis
trlct. He stated that perfect harmony
existed; that the Democrats had found
good Acknowledgement III MIR. Parrish,
the nominee for the Senate. and that he
would surely be elected. In regard 20 the
House contest he SAID there was no strife
whatever between the two classes. if such
they can be called
Mr.. HObson gave an encouraging report
"a 10 the crops III his section especially rs
TO corn and tobacco.
MR.. BEVERLEY. OF FAUQUHB.
Mlr. J. Brad. Beverley spoke quite freely
upon the condition of affairs III his dis
tric,. He reported crops As good IN Eau
QUEER, and said there WAS no split between
the Alliance people and the Democrats.
According to ms statements the former
will support the nominees of the Demo
cratic party.
MIR. Thomas T.. Cobbs of Bedford coun-
". gives gloomy description of the out
look In his section. He says crops are
poor and tina, fae farmers are blue as
indigo but" declares Mr. Cobbs,
"they will support the nomination, made
10y the Democratic party on Monday"
The result of the recent convention NJ
Bedford City WAS the rOmlnatlOn Of James
i. Arthur tor tn, Senate and J. thompson
Brown and Samuel Boiling for the House
Of Delegates.
All members Of the committee left yes
terday ai.elIoon and last night for their
homes.