The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-01-08
BETWEEN two SHARES.
The Farmers' Alliance in Ohio
Has Reached Critical Point
In its Career.
The Greenbackers and Knights OF
Labor Planning 10 Capture the
Entire Organization.

The Farmers Alliance in Ohio has
been kept clear of political ENHANCEMENT
since its organization, but will soon be
a. deep in the mire in this State as it is
in anv other. The Greenbackers of
Ohio, who have not sense enough to admit
that they are dead, and the Knights of
Labor, who are in almost an identical
condition, are making strenuous efforts
not only to drag the Alliance into poll
tics, but to secure control of it. Between
the two the Alliance is in a bad way,
for connection with one means instant
death, while with the other it means
slow, lingering death, but one Just as
sure.
When the Alliance convened in its
National Convention in Ocala, Fla, re.
Gently, the really important question to
be decided was whether or not it should
organize a third party and enter the
political arena independent Of the two
leading parties, or make demands of
them and join the one which would &C.
cede to these demands. The labor or.
carnations attempted, at the National
Convention, to secure recognition bv
the Alliance, and to make arrangements
whereby they could work together. The
QUESTION WAS NOT DECIDED
at the Ocala convention, but a national
conference was called. The conference
will be held in Cincinnati in February,
and It will be in connection with confer
ences of the Federation of Labor and
other kindred organizations. The
question to be discussed is the advisable
ity offorning third party.
Ohio farmers, who are members of
the Alliance, have paid no attention to
the question of entering politics as
farmers, thinking that it would he use.
less to discuss the question until it was
disposed of by the national conference.
While the farmers have been in a
lethargic state the politicians have been
at work. The State convention, which
will be held in Gallon, on January 20,
will be one of the liviest the Alliance
has ever known, and if it does not result
in the disintregation, or serious crippling
Of the body'in Ohio. it will be asurprise.
It is significant fact that the Ohio
Master Workman of the knights Of
Labor has issued a call for the State
convention of that organization to be
held at the same time and same place
as the State convention Of the Alliance.
He has announced in his call that the
question Of consolidating the two organ
izations will be considered and if pessi.
bic decided one way or the other. The
farmers have been anticipating this
movement and it will be no surprise to
them, but the action of the Greenback.
ers, the intention being to gain control
Of the Alliance, will be unexpected and
unwelcome. It is this movement on the
part of the Greenbackers that will cause
the Alliance trouble, as there are quite
q good number of farmers who have
leaned in the past towards the Green
back party, and it is feared that they
will make break for it when they get
the opportunity. Many farmers who
never had any sympathy with the Green.
back movement, in the hope ofstrength-
ening the Alliance, have promised to
support the attempt to enlist the Alliance
in the cause of the dead party. On the
other hand, there are just as many
farmers who are in sympathy with the
plan of consolidating with the Knights
of Labor, but
WHO HAVE NO SYMPATHY
with the idea of uniting with the Green
hackers. The two elements are very
determined, and the prospects for a
lively fight are first class. .g
The Greenbackers have laid their
plans very quietly and carefully, and
have done everything possible to keep
the public from knowing anything Of
them. Some time ago secret circular
was issued by the Greenbackers, who
are behind the movement. This circular
was not intended to reach the eyes Of
anyone but those farmers who would be
favorable to the plan, but it was sent to
one man who did not sympathize with
the movement and he forwarded it to
President Likins, State President of the
Alliance, who lives at Caledonia. The
circular requested the farmers to vote
| for either DIR. Samuel Kagy, OF Seneca
county, or Charles Jenkins, of Mahoning
county, for President. jenkins is de.
clared to be professional politician dis.
guised as farmer. He has been identi.
fed with nearly every new political
political movement started in Ohio in
the last twenty years. When last heard
| cf IN conpaction with State nnlitics he