The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-09-12
HON. R. F. ROGERS.
IN1ERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT
OF THE ALLIANCE
ONE OF THE "FORTY.SEvEN
HIS VIEWS ON THE THIRD PARTY AMI
sUB-TREAsURY BILL-PRESIDENT ROC
ERs NOT A CANDIDATE FOR RE ELEC-
TION.

| ERs NOT A CANDIDATE FOR RE E1Ec-
| TIoN.
The Hon. Robert F. Rogers of Lake
City, senator and president of the State
Farmers Alliance, was in the city Fri
day on his way from Polk county to
Jacks nvllle, making the little detour
into Tampa by way of calling upon his
many friends in that place. Senator
Rogers W IS looking in the best of health
his portly presence seemingly undisturb-
ed by the stormy scenes so recently pass
ed through by him and his colleagues in
| Tallahassee.
| A representative of the Tampa Journal
was fortunate enough to catch him in a
talking humor and took advantage of the
opportunity to obtain his views on many
subjects of vital interest 1t is this will
lingness to help the poor scribblers in
their task Of preparing food for the pub
lie mind which has hal much to do with
the senator's popularity with the press
gang. Representing, as he does, the AL
lance interest of the state his views in
regard to the prosperity of that body, it's
inc easing power, as we'll as other things
connected closely with it, are worth con-
| sideratiOn.
Naturally the first question propounded
was:
Chow is the Farmers Alliance pro-
crossing throughout the state?''
Every well; the order is in healthy
condition and rapidly increasing
but, senator, has not this very in
crease lead to some npleasantness:''
| lin certain sections, yes. But this is
more particularly near ami in cities and
towns where many have pressed their
way into the Alliance who were in no way
eligible, thereby creating more or less
dissensiOn in the ranks -
| 'Is there no remedy for this?'
| IL think have found one | have re-
Gently made a ruling which will appear in
print next week, requesting the several
sub-Alliances to give withdrawal cards to
all ineligible members
care you third party man, senator?"
'Most decidedly not"
"What are the general feelings of the
Alliance in reference TO the third party
mOvement?''
81 find some feeling in sympathy with
the movement in the Alliance"
"Is it your opinion that the Alliance Of
Florida will advocate third party?" :
cit is not. | will repeat to you what |
| have often said. That is, that the Alli-
| ance of this state is composed of demo-
| Gratis, and at least ninety per cent Of the
membership of the order throu ghout the
South are democrats. Therefore, it is
within the province of the Farmers AL
lance to purge the democratic party from
all impurities, if any, which 1t may be
aff1ic ed with, and make it just as Jeffer
son intended it should be, a party of the
people, by the peope and for the people.
therefore regard it as needless for the
| farmers Of the country TO branch off and
unite with third party before really Civ
ing the democratic party an opportunity
to come to the relief of the people,"
"What do you regard as the first great
demand of the Alliance?'
Gan increase of the circulating medium
Of the country is the great demand of the
farmers. They want more money; they
demand an increase to at least $40 per
capita.''
''Do you think the democratic party
will give the needed relief?"
"Should we elect free coinage demo-
crat for president and democratic con
gress, am firmly of the opinion that we
would ge the needed relief in Increased
amount Of mouey in circulation"
| But suppose such relief is refused?"
'.In the event of congress utterly re-
fusing, as did the last, to give attention TO-
the wants of the agriculturisf, then in
deed the third party would have strong
hold on the masses and could go before
the country on much surer foundatlon
| than now"
GLOW do you stand on the Ocala plat
form and what is your opinion of the sub
treasury bill?'
81 stand flat-footed on the Ocala plat
form. The great brotherhood throughout
the Union has declared in convention as
isembled what the need Of the hour is TO
the farmer, and I am one of them. In
union there is strength. The Alliance is
marching forward calling for retrench,
ment and reform almost in one solid
phalanx belong 10 the army that Calls
FIR relief, and /, therefore, in common
with my brethren, call for more money
for the people, and that the sub-treasury
bill or something better will bring
"But, senator, there seem to be desert
ers from your ranks occasionally"
eyes, the plutocrats are raising the
warwhoop and few Of our men are now
and then deserting, but we close up the
gap in our ranks and move right on, the
stronger for the removal OF weak TIM
ber. ,,.
"When and where does the State Alli-
ance meet again?"
''The third Tuesday in October at Dade
City. We are looking forward to most
enthusiastic meeting"
"Will you be candidate for re'eiec-
tion?" :,
"No; do not want to be reelected
president. have served three years and
have tried conscientiously to do my whole
iduty. I have worked unseldshly ana