The sun., 1891-04-16
ALLIANCE VOTES FOR SALE.
Ie Yea Desire Our Ala. Ysa VIM Assist
Us In . Tiaaaeial wsy,~ Writes Ex.See.
retary Rittenhouse-" II Tea no Not DE.
sire Our euppors. Perhaps Others WILL"
Lieut-9 Gov. Jones found this highly interest,"
ing lsttsr In HE mail one morning last month:
OFFIcr OF l. L POLK,
PRESIDENT NATIONAL FARMERS ALLIANCE
AND INDUSTRIAL UNION,
Oil NINTH STREET. N, W.,
WARRINGTON. March 8, 1891,

AU h6ceuSNcv Lfsutssvou SoURss ave" A"A
DEAR SrR: You are aware OF the power Of
the reform movement Secret semi- i-political
organizations are controlling the votes OF the
common people therefore submit the fol.
lowing facts:
The "Indepe endsnt Order Of American Citl-
zens," to which any person over Il years OF
age. and an American citizen. who signs our
declaration Of principles may become . mem-
ber. teaches a. follows: THAT the Govern.
msnt should not purchase either silver or gold
any more than it should purchase the Iron or
lead mined In the United States; but that It
may coin silver or gold mined In the United
States, and presented for coinage By Q
citizen Of the United States. free OF
cost at . ratio established By Con-
eress. The ratio to be such that the coins
In either metal shall be Of equal value to their
bullion value" Again. they teach that all
goods upon which there Is tariff duty. tho
duty shall bs paid In gold. the gold 80 received
to be Deposited In the United States Treasury.
against which certificates shall be issued dol
lar for dollar. not redeemabls for twenty
years."
This would make our country the money CEN
tire Of the world. Foreign manufactured goods
shipped to this country would have to pay
duties in gold. and import duties have aver
aged over 200 millions for many years. In ten
our treasury. drawing the reserves in other
countries to ~. or they would have to cease to
tax our commodities. and give us. practically.
free trade. In reference TO taxation. We teach
that all manufactured products used for food.
medicine. or soil Improvements shall be free Of
duty, TINT the tariff on the necessAries OF life
be freely reduced. while the tariff on luxuries
shall be increased to prohlbitory point"
We propose to enter your State and organize
IT, II you desire our aid you will assist rs In .
financial WAY. Our literature will be spread
oil over your State II you desire our aid.
write me ct once. II you do not desire our
to hear from you will bo considered inimical
70 no, and We will act accordingly. Yours,
D. II. RrTrENHousE. Lsct. I. o. A. G.
7O1 Massachusetts avenue. N. T.
Enclosed In this remarkable epistle was
Rittsnhouse's card. Below his name was
printed. "Secv to President l. L Polk"
Through the latter line had been family drawn
an almost invisible line with a pen.
Tho letter requires no explanation. except.
perhaps. to say that all between the first and
last paragraphs might as we'll have been
omitted. It is simply one Of the ranksst possi-
bic attempts at political blackmail. It Is q
scarcely disguised attempt to sell the support
| Of the Farmers Alliance to Brother Jones In
his gubsrnatorial canvasa Who ever heard OF
thu Independent Order Of American Citi-
gems I" The letter was written upon the on
cial papsr OF the President OF the Alliance.
and By man who endeavorsd to con vey the
impression that he was the Secretary and
| representative Of that gentleman.
| Rittenhouss has appesred In . somewhat
similar light before. There was the biggest
| kind OF . row at Ocala In December because Il
tfanspired that Rittenhouse. who was then In
fact tho private secretary Of President Polk
had been discovered trying to establish con-
hdential relations with Brother Blaine under
the escort OF Col. Dick Hinton. Other sins
were laid ct Rittenhouses door. and H. almost
became the cause OF q serious fsud between
| some Of tho national officers Of tho order. He
ceased to be Folks ssoretary on the first ol
tho year. but he still lays claim to that een.
tleman's confidence and support. In the light
Of Rittsnhouss's last exploit. President Polk
will probably feel called upon to specify just
what his relations are with his former sscre.
tary. Tho Alliance delegates who meet 81
Hornellsville next Wednesday to organize q
State Alliance will naturally be interested te
hear from headquarters about this remarkable
political correspondence. For It Is said thai
the letter received By Jones Is not the only one
of similar import which has been sent to sup
posed gubsrnatorial candidates In New York
It 10 said that Roswell P. Flowers mail con
tanned one not long ago.
Brother Jones did not answer his