The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-07
MoRATH's DEFENSE.
He Makes a Statement Before the
Alliance Presidents


WASHINGTON, Feb. 6-The council Of
presidents of the state farmers alliances,
which has been in session here for several
days, has finished its work and adjourned,
subject TO the call Of the president.
At the meeting to-day Frank McGrath,
president Of the Kansas state alliance, who
is a member of the council. rose 10 ques-
ton Of personal privilege. He referred TO
the letter purporting to have been written
by Congressman Turner OF Kansas 10 him,
in which the former is alleged TO have said
in effect that in case Senator
Ingalls, could not be reelected
senator from Kansas, and the time came
when the alliance could not agree upon
candidate for senator, that he (Turner)
would like TO have his name considered.
and that he could, in case his election was
secured, place as much as $1,000 toward
paying expenses. President McGrath said
his enemies and political rivals had made
this letter the pretext for bitter warfare
upon him, which had continued, notwith-
standing the fact that he had been exoner-
ated by the state board of trustees Of the
state alliance of Kansas. He thought, there
fore, that the matter should be investigated
by the council, and requested the presi lent
to appoint a committee to make a thorough
investigation of the matter and report the
result to the council In accordance with
the above request President Polk appointed
A. Z. Cole OF Michigan. Elias Carr Of North
Carolina and Samuel Houston of Virginia
a committee TO make an Investigation
M'GRATH AGAIN ExoNERATED.
The committee subsequently, reported
that it had examined the paper submitted
to it by President McGrath, signed by J.
b. French, secretary Of the Kansas state
alliance tine paper exonerates McGrath),
and also had an interview with Mr.. Turner
relative to the letter alleged to have been
written to Mr.. McGrath. 1t had
also received statement from
him in writing which it submitted
to the council. The committee, after con-
sidering these papers and having the inter-
view with Mr. Turner, was Of the opinion
that President McGrath was fully exoner-
ated and ought to be commended to the
confidence of good alliencemen every
where. Mr.. Turner's letter, adj
dressed TO A e. Cole, is as
follows: Il can cheerfully say to you that
never had any talk with Frank McGrath OF
Kansas, either directly or indirectly or
through friends, or in any manner, relating
to the senatorial matter in Kansas. L never
had any understanding with him or his
friends relating to that subject. l have
never had the slightest idea, nor have i
been led to believe by any one,
that his influence could be secured by the
use OF money. AS know his character,
know 1t could not Nor have l ever made
any such proposition to him with such a
purpose or intention"
THE NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.
The following is the standing national
legislative committee appointed to-day to
formulate bills based upon the demands Of
the Ocala conference: l.. l.. Polk, president
of the council; A. K. Cole of Michigan, and
A s. Hall of Missouri.
A resolution WAS adopted providing for
the formation Of an alliance press bureau of
information at Washington, to be under
supervision Of the national president. Its
object will be to collect and disseminate
authorized alliance literature for the use of
the press. II. w. Aver of North Carolina
was selected manager of the bureau.
The following was adopted:
ResoIUed, That IL is the conviction of this
body, on the proof submitted to us, that certain
newspaper reports charging Brother w. s.
McAllister OF Mississippi with having dis
closed important alliance secrets to
the Associated Press and other correspond
ents at the late meeting of the National
Farmers Alliance at Ocala, Fla, are
untrue and do him great injustice, and we con-
slider that we do simple act of Justice when
we exonerate him for such reports and charges.
A resolution was adopted expressing the
regret Of the council at the death of r. G.
Patty, president of the Mississippi state al
lance.