Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1891-05-07
WASHINGTON NOTES.
The NeWs From the National Capital as it
Effects the Interests Of the West
ern Farmers.
Our Correspondent Tells What Our Of
jdcials are Doing in the Capital
City.

WAsH1NGToN, May 13.-Speciaz Cor
respondent: Col. L. L. Polk, president of
the National Farmers Alliance, who is
in New York on an educational mission
has sent some news to alliance headquar-
ters in this city that has greatly pleased
those interested in the growth of that Or
ganization His success has been far be-
yond his anticipation, and one alliance
man with whom I had a talk was certain
that the organization would soon control
the balance of power in New York state
and be in position where it could die
tate terms to the two old political parties.
Much speculation has been indulged in
as to which Of the speakership candidates
would be the recipient of the votes Of the
representatives who belong to the farmers
alliance, and whether they would all vote
together. The alliance representatives
have as a rule fought shy Of expressing
their preferences, if they had any, con-
tenting themselves with saying that they
proposed supporting the candidate who
was willing to make the most concessions
to their principles: but Representative
Edmunds, of Virginia, who IS here for
day or two looking after the interests of
some of his constituents, is more out
spoken than any alliance man with
whom have talked. He said: 81 am
for Crisp. He is one of the ablcst men
in the house, and he has pre-eminently
all the qualifications that should be look
ed for in the speaker Of the next house. ;"
Mr.. Edmunds is democrat, as well as
an alliance man, and he will attend the
democratic caucus, and will Of course be
bound by itslaeeisinn.e
1t it be true as have been Informed,
that the liquor dealers Of the county pro-
pose making an organized fight upon the
candidacy ef representative Crisp be-
cause of his being a prohibitionest, it is
probable that the alliance men may all be
inclined to support him, rs nearly all Of
them are advocates Of temperance and
natural opponents Of the dealers in in
toxicatng liquors. Still it is a serious
question whether any man can be elected
who is opposed by the whisky men. so
great an influence do they command in
our politics.
The American Medical Association will
meet in annual convention here tomor-
row. There will be more than thou
sand regularly credited delegates, and it is
expected that there will be about three
times as many visiting physicians. The
convention will last four days.
Behring Sea has been for several days
the subject of many rumors, probably be-
cause of the fact that the sealing season
will be open in a few days. First it was
said that Secretary Poster had instructed
the commanders of the revenue cutters to
seize all vessels caught illegally taking
seals: then that England proposed send
ing half a dozen war ships there, for the
purpose Of forcibly rescuing any vessel
sailing under the British flag that MIGHT
be seized But little is known positively
of the present stateus of the matter hence
the rumors. The special agents of the
treasury department have recommended
that all sealing be stopped for one or
more seasons, to prevent extinction Of the
seals, and Sio Julian Pauncfote, the
British minister, has intimated that his
government would agree to that if the
United States would see that it's citizens
caught no seals. But this proposition is
violently opposed by the North American
Fur company, the present lessees of the
sealing privilege, which denies that there
is a scarcity Of scales. Secretary Foster
has sent J. Stanley Brown, once the pri-
vate secretary Of President Garfield. to
examine and report to him the condition
of the seals Secretaries Blaine and
Foster have had several conferences on
this matter and it is said that they are
not in entire accord thereon.
The following payments have been
made Under the act providing for rein,