The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-05
Two Opinions.

| danger OF the third party movement finding
a foot-hold in Georgia don't know what they
are talking about. We are in daily commu-
nication with the farmers, and know that
this new party idea has taken deep root in
their minds. II is spreading and gaining re-
cruits with great rapidity, and it is going TO
| take hard work and conservatism on the
part of the democratic leaders to keep
Georgia from going for the new party can
didates, IL such ticket is nominated.
In Washington, D. c., last Tuesday Mr..
Tillman. secretary of the national execu-
tive board of the farmers alliance, in a
lengthy interview expressed the position OF
the farmers alliance with respect to the
third party. The following is an extract
from the interview:
"What, in your opinion, will be the out
come of the Cincinnati conference in re-
gard to the subject of third party move
mentr
81 do not know the shape political affairs
may take by that time, but am of the
opinion that the TWO old parties will so en-
deavor to meet the demands Of the farmers
that there will be no necessity for a third
party"
Suppose neither of them does9"
Then | believe large majority OF the
members of the alliances in the south will
remain with their respective parties"
will the national alliance, as a party,
undertake third party movement, In your
opinionn
"The National Farmers Alliance is not a
political party. But, in answer to your
question, would say that it will not, be-
cause it IS absolutely non-partisau. Farmers
of all political parties can become members
of the farmers alliance"
From the foregoing it seems that there is
radical difference Of opinion among lead
ing alliaucemen as to the course southern
alliancemen would pursue if neither of the
old parties should grant the demands of the
farmers alliance. The Southern Alliance
Farmer is of the opinion that they would
support the third party because that party
has Endorsed the alliance platform. Secre-
tary Tillman says that large majority of
the alliancemen would remain with their
respective parties,
1t is pretty safe to assume that Secretary
filiman is right. Nearly all the alliance
men in the south are democrats. and they
are not going to be in a hurry to leave the
Democratic party. That some of them
would do so there is no doubt, because there
are men in every community who are ready
20 join any organization that may be
started, whatever its purpose may be. II
tia Peoples party should be In existence in
1881 and should nominate ticket, it would
receive hundreds and, perhaps, thousands of
votes in this state, but the support it would
get would not noticeably impair the strength
Of the Democratic party.
II is about as certain as anything can be
that the Democratic party will not approve
the sub treasury plan. That plan has been
pretty thoroughly discussed not only in this
but in all the other southern states. The
leaders Of the Democratic party-the lead
ers who are respected and trusted-are
against it And they are against it not be-
cause they are not ready and willing to do
any and everything that would tend to
improve the material condition of the farm
ers. but because the plan is impracticable
and unconstitutional. There are those, of
course, who make light of the constitutional
objections to it. but they are not so anxious
to tell the people the truth as they are to
say that which they think will increase
their popularity with the masses.
Those who advocate the sub-treasury
plan have but little confidence in it. They
believe that it is impracticable. II they did
not they would not be continuously saying
''give US that or something better"
If the allegiance of southern alliancemen
to the Democratic party depends upon
whether that party accepts the sub-treasury
plan or not the question whether they will
support the Peoples party can be de-
termined now as well as at some future
time, because it can be stated with certainty
that that plan will form no part of the ma
tional democratic platform. But the allie
gience of the southern alliancemen to the
Democratic party will not depend upon that
party's acceptance Of the sub-treasury plan.