The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-25
The Amalgamated Organizations.

The union of organizations Of the farmers
and laborers. under the title Of the Con-
federation Of Industrial Organizations,
which has Just been effected in Washington.
with B. Terrell, of Texas, as president, and
I j. W. Hayes, Of Penusy lva1ia, as secretary
/ and treasurer, promises to have a very
] great influence upon the politics Of the coun-
/ try for the next year or two, aud perhaps
| for longer period. There IS q probability,
[ Of course, that the organizations cannot be
/ held together but great effort is to be
made to do so. Newspapers are to be es-
/ tablished and lecturers employed 10 discuss
the principles Of the union and to make
known its plans and purposes.
It will be difficult matter, however, to
get the org mutations to work together har-
moniously. The things which the farmers
organizations are working for are different
from those which the worklngmsn's organi-
cations think are necessary for their pros
perity. Even the farmers alliances of the
different states have found it impossible TO
harmonic their interests. The grangers Of
the northwestern states, for instance,
favor legislation TO which the alliance
men of the southern states would
never consent. II the farmers Of the coun-
try cannot find a common ground upon
which they can meet. how is it possible for
the farmers and the worklngmen to do 500
The promoters of the federation of the or
CARNATIONS have undertaken a much bigger
task than they can accomplish.
1t is expected that when the Knights
Of Labor get into a difficulty with rail-
road company or with manufacturer or
builder, the farmers will come to their
support. and help them in carrying
out any policy that may be adopted,
even though that policy includes
the enforcing of boycott. and if the far~
mers wish to bring about a reduction of
transportation rates working men must as
sist them, even though such reduction
should lessen the ability of tho transporta-
ton companies to pay fair wages.
A little consideration will show how diff
cult it viii be to maintain a union OF
organizations whose interests are so hostile.
IL is true that the organizations will find it
easy enough TO agree upon certain things.
such as the free coinage of silver, the issu-
ing of legal tender treasury notes, the prohi-
bition of alien ownership of land, the
taxing of incomes, the election
of United States senators by
the people, government supervision Of
the means Of communication and trans
portation, and the enactment of laws for
insuring free and fair elections, but will
they agree upon the tariff, and upon such
legislation as the force bill and the Conger
lard billl Indeed, there are a great many
questions upon which they cannot be held
together.
The leaders Of the amalgamated organize
tions say that it is not the purpose of the
organizations Co form a new party. Their
intention is to obtain what they want from
existing parties. If, however, they do not
obtain what they want they will think
about a new party.
1t can be predicted with considerable
degree of certainty that if the amalgamated
organizations prove to be as strong as it is
hoped they will the leaders will not be
satisfied until they have an independent
party. If they find that political power is
within their grasp they win not hesitate to
take the necessary steps to obtain
1t. 1t was not originally in
tended that the farmers alliance
should take an active part in politics It's
leaders dragged it into politics, however,
and now it is an important factor in politi-
cal affairs in quite number of states.
Nobody can foresee what is to be the out
come Of the uniting of organizations whose
main object is the improvement of the
material condition of their individual menu
bers.