The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-07-24
THEFARMERS ALLIANCE
What 1t Aims to Ac-
COr11p1iSh.
By Il. R. CHAMBERLAIN.
copyright, 1891, by the Minerva Publishing
Company. New York;
VIII.
KINDRED ORGANIZATIONS.

in the Colored Farmers Alliance of the
south. The latter organization, accord
ing to the latest reports of its officers,
numbers 1900, 900 members The two
Alliances have done more, SO it is af-
firmed, to solve the race problem during
the past two years than all other agen-
cies have accomplished since the war.
There has been the closest cooperation
between the two organizations from the
start. Their platforms and principles
have been identical, and in South Caro-
lima in the last campaign they voted the
same independent ticket.
Colonel r. NJ Humphrey, the ma
tional superintendent of the Colored AL
lance, is remarkable man. He is a
white man, and the only one in the or
ganization. He was formerly Baptist
preacher in Texas, where his home still
is, and he devoted many years to mis-
sionary work among the colored people.
When the negro Alliance movement was
begun, two or three years ago, the men,
bers insisted on his taking charge of it
and remaining at its head. Probably no
man in America stands in such close re-
lations with the negro race and is so well
posted about their condition and senti-
ments He said to pe at Ocala about
the purposes and sentiments of his fol-
lowers:
"From the inception of the Alliance
movement among the negroes they have
been in favor of new political party.
In the last election the negroes of the
south did not vote except in South Caro-
lima, where they regarded the Tillman
campaign as a third party movement.
The Alliance could not have won that
fight without the negro vote. In Missis-
sippi, on the other hand, 70 per cent. of
the negroes did not go to the polls be-
cause they were determined not to vote
the Republican ticket, and because they
certainly will not vote the Democratic
ticket. No, sir; the negroes do not
complain that they are not protected in
the franchise. If they were not no one
would know it better than I, and no
such complaints come to me.
"Seyen-eighths Of the colored people
of the south make their living by agri-
culture, and their interests are in every
way identical with those Of the Farmers
Alliance. just now we are merely wait
ing for the capitalization of the third
party movement. As soon as the Alli-
ance acts we shall be ready to join them
in Independent political action. Our Al
lance now has organizations in thirty
six states, and twenty-five will be repre-
sented at this convention. Our member
ahIr N fhn 0sv,ol bot s,
about as follows: Alabama, over 100, 900;
Georgia, $4,000; South Carolina, 90, 600;
Mississippi, 10000; Texas, 10000; Ar
kansas, 10000; Louisiana, $4,000; Vir-
ginia, $4,000; Kentucky, $4,000; Tennes-
see, 10000; North Carolina, 1000"
The Colored Alliance adopted the ST..
Louis platform without amendment. 1t
took no official action upon the third
party question. The action Of the white
Alliance with regard to the s'force" bill
was resented, and a resolution was
passed urging congress to pass the meas
ure. Finally a basis of consolidation
with the Farmers Alliance was agreed
upon and ratified. It will go into full
effect year hence. The agreement con-
tains these interesting provisions, which
apply also to the Farmers Mutual Bene-
fit Association:
We recommend the selection Of five men
from each national body, two Of whom shall be
the president and secretary. who shall, with a
similar committee from other labor organiza-
tions. form supreme executive board, who
shall meet as often as may be deemed necessa-
ry upon the joint call of a majority. The pres
idents of the bodies joining this confederation
shall be empowered to do such things for the
mutual benefit Of the various orders as shall be
deemed expedient, and shall. when officially
promulgated through the national officers, be
binding upon such bodies until reversed by the
action Of the national assemblies themselves In
matters political. educational and commercial;
and we hereby pledge ourselves to stand faith
fully by each other in the great battle for the
enfranchisement of the laborer from the con-
troll Of corporate and political rings.
Each order Is to bear its own members ex-
penses to the supreme council, and be entitled
to as many votes as it has legal voters. We
commend and urge that equal facilities, edu-
cational. commercial and political, be de-
manded for colored and white Alliance men
alike. competency considered, and that free
ballot and a fair count be insisted upon and
had for colored and white alike by every true
Alliance man In America.
We further recommend that the plan Of dis
trict alliances conforming to congressional
tnat the officers and lecturers Of said districts
and counties cooperate with each other in
educational. commercial and political matters.
While the membership of the Colored
Alliance is enormous, it is by no means
well organized as yet. Its principal
value-and it is most important one
is in the direction Of educating the col
ored people of the south.
The most important factor in the farm
ers' movement in the northeast has been
the newly born National Farmers
League. This body is in o sense supple
mentary to the other farmers organizs
tions, and in harmony with all of them.
Many of its members are also members
of the Alliance or Grange. The League
is organized for political purposes solely.
This is its own specification of its com.
position and objects;
"The Farmers League is non-secret,
independent, non-partisan organization,
in harmony with the Alliance, Wheel,
Farmers Union, Grange and kindred
associations, agricultural societies, farm
ers' clubs and similar organizations. But
the League goes step further. Its OBJ
Ject is the farmers political welfare.
The work Of the League is directed to-
ward securing just representation and
treatment Of the agricultural interests
In congress and in the legislatures, and
due recognition Of farmers in all public