The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-04-07
Reskers Ahead.

The Peoples party leaders are
strong advocates Of free coinage, and
set are nebiient over the defeat of
the free coinage bill IN IL Democratic
House. Gen. james Il. Weaver in \
spcach at Dcs Moins yesterday claim
ca that flfe Ticket to lie nominated 1T
Omaha, July /, would sweep the coun-
try, and Congressman Watsot1 Of
Georgia, the leader of the nine Farm
ers' Alliance Congressman, gives his
views to the Associated Press as fol.
lows:
This action in the House on the
silver bill is the terthknell of the
old Democratic organization. Hun
dreds of thousands voters in the
Southern States have felt that If f.
nancial relief could be had, Denoc-
racy, rs now organized ~oald give
that relief il it had chance. With
a majority of 148 in the House it
certainly had a chance to r~ss tire
free silver bill. 1t failed to do it.
1t WIS only by the help of the Peoples
party members ana eleven Kepuhli-
cans that this immense Democratic
majority escaped n Waterloo. Conse-
quently the most conservative Dem
ocrat in the south knows now that
the Democratic majorities, welded
under the present organization, mean
nothing 80 far as practical legislation
is concerned. No power on earth can
now keep Georgia from going into
the Electoral College with the PEG
pies party convention. confidently
believe that the same is true of several
other Southern States
Before the votes Oh the silver bill
it Was believed that 600 OF the :, 200
local organizations of the Farmers
Alliance in Georgia had formally
indorced the Peoples party program
Of the st. Louis CONVEX: ION.
The revolt Of Georgia and perhaps
other Democratic States against the
Democratic party could not he more
surprising than the revolt in Kansas,
Nebraska and Iowa against the Re-
publican party in the last Congress
siOnal election.
The Alliance in its very first poll
teal campaign elected five ont OF
six Congressman in Kansas, which
had been the banner Republican,
State, and 1t is no secret that a
large part Of tue ncwcIy devel
oped strength Of the movement was
felt in the election of low-tariff and
frce-coinaec Democrats to Congress
over Republicans. There are but
nine streight out Alliance men III tn,
present Congress, but doubtless fou'
times "a many Democrats who ow.
their seats to Alliance votes.
The multitude of farmers VIII,
deserted the Republican party for thu
Alliance between 1888 and 1890 WAS
not reinforced by similar multitude
lof farmers dcserting the Democrats
for the third ticket, because the Dem
ocratic leaders in the West tried t.
. keep their platform in close harmonic,
with that of the Alliance, while tlls
Republicans openly antayon'zed tht
latter. The defcat OF the silver bill
sho.ltl Gil the alliance leaders with
hope Of now Carrying multitu'lcs O
Democratic voters over TIE People
party is, therefore, not at I'LL strange
The question now is, Have tin
Democrats. in fishing for uncertain
electoral votes in the East, lost a
many Or more in the West and Soutl
which thy regard As certain?
Can they hold the Western AM
Southern strength for an anti-frc
coinage nominee by promising loudl.
to pass the free coinyc bill at til
sccomt session Of this Congress an
by plcdging themselve to pass
again in the succeeding Congress
over the vote of their own President
They will have to do some fin
straddling to elect their ticket, an
afterwards to hold their party tt
gether. ost-Dispatch.