Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-07-17
The Alliance i'm Politics.
( lligencer. !

farmers of Eastern Washington has
spoiled the accuracy of political calcula-
lions wherever the agricultural vote is a
factor, the Farmers Alliance party be-
ing the discordant element. In Whit
man county this organization has forty
eight lodges and total membership of
not less than $500. Spokane is second,
with twenty-three lodges, Lincoln sup
ports twenty-five, Garfield seventeen,
Walla Walla fourteen, Columbia twelve,
Kllckltat nine, Stevens six, Adams five,
Yakima four, and Kittitas, Asotin, Doug
las and Franklin three each The aver
age enrolment of the lodges is about
fifty members, which places the entire
strength of the Alliance east of the
mountains at 5000 But the order is
continually growing, organizers are con-
stantly canvassing the state and institut-
ing new lodges, and the grangers are
more determined every day that their
only salvation can be found in the sue
cess of the principles they advocate,
chief among which is the sub-treasury
plan and the regulation of freight rates.
OF course nobody knows how much i'm
portance the new party will attain, but
the situation makes the future look
gloomy for some practical politicians.
The leaders of the Alliance are the ones
whose star is In the ascendant, if pres
ent indications count for anything.
Naturally enough, there are a good
many faithful Alliance workers who
never performed days manual labor,
who don't know whether potatoes should
be planted on Christmas or the Fourth
OF July; but they are farmers just the
same, and expect some day to find them
selves called from the pillow to the guber-
national chair or a place in congress.
Those men, however are the exceptions;
the majority have entered the work be-
lleying it to be their duty as patriots.
Probably the most popular member of
the granger party is Senator r. c. Nc
Croskey, whose democracy is SO dyed in
the wool that he cannot surrender him
self Internationally to the causes of the
Farmers Alliance. But he was the AL
lance candidate for senator last fall.
having first secured the democratic nom
NATION, and made a gallant race. The
farmers have large grain warehouse at
Garfield, of which the senator is man
ager. Dividends of fifty per cent. have
Just been declared on last years work.
Mr.. McCroskey getting the credit of
placing 1t on a paying basis. The re-
markable success of this warehouse has
induced other lodges to follow the ex-
ample of the Garfield farmers, which
practically means that they will profit
by taking Senator McCroskey's advice,
for he it was who built the granary at
Garfield. And another thing which
adds to his popularity is his record in
drafting the WATSON bill and passing il
through both houses. But aside from
the good work he has accomplished for
his rural friends, he is one of the most
public-spirited men in the state. His
personal magnetism is very strong. On
short acquaintance he usually passes for
a third-rate politician, an impression
that soon fades away under the sunlight
of his genial nature. His appearance
would condemn an ordinary individual
to life imprisonment The senator is
not above the medium height, though
his limbs are lean and lank, his taperine
hands reach almost to his feet, his beard
grows shaggily in desolate spots, and
his head is nearly bald. But his heart
is big and warm. If the farmers could
have their way he would represent
Washington in the lower house of con-
gress, and it need not be surprise to
anybody if he is rendered the Alliance
nomination for that place. He would
accept it only on condition that he should
also be- the democratic standard bearer
The farmers know that it would be a
physical impossibility for them to elect
their congressional or glbernatorial can
didate on a straight ticket, therefore
they will cooperate with either of the
other parties, provided they can get the
nosit1ons they demand, which are gov
ernor and congressman. Viewing the
situation from that standpoint, then
Senator McCroskey, though protested
democrat, has safe grip on the Alliance
party. His ambition is not to go to
congress, however, where the farmers
want him, but to sit in the executive
chair.
And by the way, that brings out
Cbaster n. Warner, who is so anxious to
ha ,overnor that in his dreams he is
following pillow half the time in order
to gain an honorable standing among
the CHANGERS. Warner is not a farmer
as seems to be commonly presumed out
a miller and money loaner. 1t would De
more exact to say that he is a practlcai
politician, and very smooth one de
l. roh;d damocrat, who, IN his eager