Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-18
star Correspondence OF the Evening Star.
Omaha MR. June 49, 1891

TIks-NAS WICK NAY BIZ PkpDocKs SUCCESSOR
staf Correspondence OF the Evening Star.
OMAHA NKB., June 49, 1891.
''What has the Farmers Alliance ever done
in Nebraska was the question put to group
Of Omaha business men in the Willard Hotel
last night by q big-voiced drummer from Chi
cago. didn't hear the reply. II there was any,
but the query gave me reminder OF the fact
that Of all cities in the country Omaha was the
one which must feel the good and evil effects
Of the new political movement. One year ago
and Nebraska knew nothing Of the Farmers
Alliance Today the grangers poll not less
than 100, 900 votes.
But to the question. "what has the Farmers
Alliance ever done in Nebraska In the first
place, and most important of all its acts. ii has
paralyzed the republican party. 1t would have
ParaIyzed the democratic party also had there
been enough of it, Eastern republicans have
never indicated, il they knew of it, the true
condition OF affairs here President Harrison s
majority in Nebraska was somewhere in the
neighborhood of p. 900. vet the republicans OF
the state are so reduced in numerical strength
As to be earnestly engaged in an effort TO bring
about political coalition between themselves
and the now valuable democratic minority.
The two old parties have been compelled by
that necessity which knows no law to join hands
and tight side by side.
THE ALLIANCE HELPED THE DEMOCRATS
Congressionaliy the Nebraska alliance did a
great deal 1t captured two districts and made
the third democratic. Internationally it seems
Just now though the farmers were left, but
they are not crying over split milk. When
ever they were assured that victory could not
rest with them they helped the democrats, al
though in doing so they lent aid and comfort to
the party which nine-tenths of them had in
yariably opposed in the past. Then the al
lance elected legislature; that is. they elected
nfty-nve out of the one hundred members of
the house and eighteen of the thirty three state
senator's. Had this majority been sklllfully
managed there would have been no limit, con-
stitutional or otherwise, TO the legislative re-
suits The republicans and democrats COM
bined, though. and upset many well-laid plan.
There was a good deal Of rejoicing in the re-
publican camp when the anti-agriculturist COM
bInation was achieved. but as soon IS the al
lance had been partially and temporarily sup
pressed the republicans evinced their gratitude
by turning upon those who had helped them,
and Boyd was elected from the governors
chair.
At LKAsr TEMPORARY INJURY.
1t is beyond question fact that SO far as Ne
brasks is concerned the work of the alliance
within its borders has caused at least temporary
injury. One Of the things done by the farmers,
a something which the state feels more than it
cares to acknowledge, was the frightening Of
outside capital large number Of moneyed
men whose bones are IN the east, but whose
wealth has generally found a Judgement in the
west, called in many possible OF their
loans and very cautiously decided to make no
more investments until the alliance had made
plain its policy and shown its ability to carry
that policy to a business-iike conclusion II Is
probably true that great many investors have
been scared completely out of the state, never
to return
One of the MANY creditable things done by
L.,
ballot law. That seems TO please everybody
here.
How THE WARE HOUSE LAW WILL OPERATE.
Then the grangers decided that one Of the
prime necessities a ware house law that is,
a law which establishes system of public ele
vators erected by the state. In these elevators
grain NAV be stored and for it the state issues
negotiable ware house receipts This arrange
ment permits the farmer to store his crops
when prices are low, to live on that for which
his receipts were negotiated, and sell when the
market is high. Out of this law has sprung an
organize zion known as the open board Of trade
1t has n% vet commenced to operate. but it
will be in full blast in Omaha within few days
Half a dozen elevators are now being con-
structed and in a short time the system will be
undergoing fair trial. nominal member
ship fee will admit to this open board Of trade;
everybody can get in and that Is where the
farmer will ultimately realize his weakness.
innocent-appearing garb. some Chicago grain
sharp will do a little rapid operating i'll Omaha
and the alliance will have accomplished nothing
for itself. The Chicago broker, though, viii
have good reason for smiling. Already some
of the live operators from the city by the lake
preparing to open offices here. The tiler
Of the soil will have to be very wary If he hopes
To make anything out of the law from which he
expected and still expects so much
SOME THINGS TIE ALLIANCE DID NOT DO.
There were several things which that alliance
legislature did not DO, and some of them are at
least worthy Of mention. IL did not break up
the stock yards business although il tried to
very yard. A stubborn endeayOr made to
push legislation which would nix arbitrary
rates for the feeding and transportation Of
stock, but the effort came to naught. and il
was determined to fight the stock yards in the
courts. That amounted to nothing, for the
courts were with the company.
Another thing the alliance did not do was to
succeed In Its attempt to prevent Boyd from
temporarily assuming gubernatorial powers.
The alliance majority deputized itself 10 act as
assistant sergeants-at-arms. They locked the
doors TO keep the governor out; made more
noise than any other political body that ever
existed west Of the Missouri. and finally sue
eeeded In calling out the militia That Is. they
did not call the militia out. but the authorities
came to the conclusion that even the down
<odden farmer would have to recognize law.
DID NOT PASS THE UsURY BILL
The alliance did not pass the usury bill That
was the measure for which every alliance man
fairly hovied. There were several bills touch
ing upon this interesting financial topic but
they died because Of their radiealism. One Of
these proposed acts provided that where a rate
of interest above that legally stated was ex-
acted the Insurer should forfeit both principal
and interest. and be adjudged guilty of INSIDE
meanor. This started up the moneyed inter-
ests. and in I'VE minutes the alliance discovered
that il was not running the earth; in fact it
was not even running Nebraska. The legisla-
ture adjourned without doing HytLing on this
bill, anu the same old mortgage shark is get
ting the same old per cent a month Just as he
has been getting 1t ever since Nebraska entered
the Union
The alliance did not do anything with the
freight rates Ii would have been i'm possible
for any railroad 10 do business on the terms
Laid down IN the bills which were presented to
adjust freight rates More popular among the
farmers than any other measure was the New
berry bill.
The HOTTEST FIGHT OF TIE SESSION.
The hottest fight Of the session took place
when that came up for discussion and some
OF the most exciting incidents had their origin
In the Newberry debate. senator TAYLOR who
Was elected as an alliance man, but who turned
out to be a warm friend to the railroads. pre-
eipitated deadlock by absenting himself
from the legislative halls. The sergeant-ut-
arms went after him on regular train. Ihe