Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-23
A SECRET MEETING
Of Some Farmers Alliance
Members Called for Biz.
mingham in May,
BUT THE CALL LEAKS OUT,
And Those Who Weren't Asked to Be
There Are Pretty Angry.
FOSTERS VISIT In COLUMBUS
Considered of Even More Than Usual Po-
litical Significance.
BUT THE CALL LEAKS OUT,
FOSTERS VISIT In COLUMBUS
Considered of Even More Than Usual Po-
litical Significance.
MANY CONGRESSIONAL NOMINATIONS
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE pIsPATcH.1
WASHINGTON, April 22.-There is great
indignation among those members of the
Farmers Alliance who have endeavored to
keep the organization from political entan-
clements, over the discovery of circular
letter which fell into unfriendly hands by
the merest accident. The letter shows that
it was prepared in the city OF
Washington, at the headquarters OF
the National Farmers Alliance and
Industrial Union, of which C. W. Macune
is chairman of the Executive Board. 1t
also bears the approval of L. L Polk, Pres
ident of the Alliance, and three members
Of the Executive Board, Messrs. C. W.
Macune, Alonzo Wardwell and j. f. Till
man. The communication opens with a
fraternal and brotherly greeting, and pro-
ceeds to say:
This is the most critical period in the his
tory Of the order. There is a universal cry
from the order to their officers for direction
how to conduct the local fight. Never has
there been so little concert of action among
the officers of the different States and sec
tions. This, if allowed to continue, must be
fatal Concert OF action is necessary, and
success cannot be obtained without
1t. The political contest threatens
the destruction of the order A lack of
threatens the political slaughter of the free
council by all the executive officers The
emergency is great, and the necessity for
full and free council by all executive officers
is greater than at any time in the history of
the movement
A Partial Meeting in Birmingham.
The nation is large, and the expense Of at
tending national councils of this character
is too great to be borne with convenience.
1t has therefore been decided by the
National President and National Executive
Board that the President and Executive
Committees of the States having like diff
cultles and issues to meet be called
together in council This conclusion
has been reached after a very care
tul study of the situation, and
we are very forcibly impressed with the
necessity of your attendance at this meet
Ing, which, after a full consultation, we have
decided to call TO meet in Birmingham Ala,
Tuesday, May 8, 1ss2. The presidents and
the following State Alliances have been in
vited to attend: Virginia, Maryland, West
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi
Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas Missouri, Ken
tCcky. Tennessee and Oklahoma.
The importance of this meeting, and of
having every one of these States fully repre-
sented, is without parallel, and your State
will be asked to reimburse you for the trav-
cling expense you may incur, and, should it
fail to do so, we will call upon the Brother
hood to contribute for that purpose which
will be readily done when the benefits can
be shown. Let no ordinary cause prevent
your coming, but should you find it utterly
impossible for you to come havo your com
mittee select proxy to represent you.
The Meeting to Be secret
1t is understood that this meeting will be
strictly secret, with none present ont those
invited or their properly accredited proxies,
that 1t is called by c. W. Macune, as Chair
man OF the National Executive Board, acting
under tie advice and approval of the Presi-
dent and Executive Board, and that no one
convenes. Let us, in conclusion, appeal to
you by all that You love in the cause to be
present.
The representatives of the Alliance in the
Western and Northwestern States, as will
be seen, are ignored in this instruction.
When the question was raised that they
should be represented, it is alleged that the
promoters of the scheme objected, on the
ground that it would not be necessary to put
Western farmers to the expense of
visiting Birmingham 1t is said that
the troubl. has all arisen from
the division of the prospective
spoils BY the professional farmers who |
are engineering the movement. Several of |
those who do not think they are being prop |
erly treated are kicking over the traces,
and through them the exposure comes The |
sole object of the Birmingham meeting is |
said to be to secure the Endorsement of Polk |
as the Farmers Alliance candidate for |
President |