The evening times., 1896-09-12
Journal Of the Knights Con-
tr0lled by the Demo-Pops.
BETRAYAL REORGANIZATION
Son-Partisan Body of workingmen
Has Been Transformed ed Into Politi-
cnl Machine by Scheming Lenders.
Warming Contained in Fate of Late
farmers Alliance Newsgiver.

years ago, when they caught a good many
votes by deal with the organ OF a great
non-pariisan organization Then there
was Farmers Alliance, full of yigor and
apparently promise OF usefulness. Now
There Is no Farmers Alliance worth NEIL
tionipg. The reason is plainly to lie found
IN its organs negotiations with the Demo
cratic party just before the election OF
1892
There is, however. the Knights of Labor.
1t was started by Uriah Stevens, followed
by Terrence v. Powderly, OF Scranton,
Pa. and for many years was fouIishiIs.
The evidences are numerous that its organ,
the Journal of the Knights OF Labor, has,
although representing strictly non-par-
tisan org1 pization. been turned over, horse,
foot, and dragon, to the Democracy by
an autocratic management Whatbas been
paid? Whether anything has been paid,
what promises have been made to the men
who control the activities OF the organ
ization, OF course, TO one can find out
pos!ti ively. Yet there are facts which
will be interpreted in only one way by
those who are critical OF the managers
The story OF the upheaval which almost
wiped out the Farmers Alliance is forth
recalling. The most impressive object
lesson i'll the connection is q yellow painted.
Odd-ioOkiDg house on Ncrth Capitol str -,
where the National Economist used to have
its offices and its printing plant.
-Four years ago at this time it was one OF
the busiest houses in the city. The company
had fire equipment OF type, presses. etc.
and the whole outfit as busy night aud
day turning out grist for the Democracy
But the Farmers Alliance was non parti
san and there went up a protest from all
over the land. A mighty quarrel arose be-
tween The leaders and the order began to
dwindle. There were charges and counter
charges. 1t was alleged thatthe business of
handed over to tie enemy and somebody
must have been paid for it.
FATE OF THE ALLIANCE.
After the election the business turned up
in the hands Of Horace Kenney, who had
been secretary OF the Democratic commit
tee In New York Mr.. Kenney also securs1
II contract for printing the Patent Office
Gazette. He had a plant at No. 461 c
street northwest TO do lithographing and
for a time appeared to be prospering.
But the dry rot struck the business started
by the alliance leaders aud dependent on the
Uy TIE y illduCs itd1tEs
eighteen months after the election the
National Economist was discontinued. Not
long afterwari the printing Office was closed
and by piece-meai the printing plant was
sold Off Finally the house was shut up
and a sign For Rent hung out
The place now stands silent and deserted
as a tomb Such it actually was for the
hopes of more than one ardent Alliance man
who saw the cause betra yed, as he alleged,
by traitors; also such IL was for the hope
of Mr.. KenDey, who thought. after he go: the
National Economist, that he knew the way
to make 1t popular among the farmers and
the people, in spite OF the opposition OF
President Loucks, of the Farmers Aht
ance, and OF the other officials OF the order
He was in error. His contract with the
Department OF the Interior failed as
result of an investigation OF the methods
by which IL W as obtained through the in
fluencc OF Josiah Quincy, then Assistant
Secretary OF State. Tie street house has
been vacant for months, and the windows
have become targets for small boys wfS
like to throw stones.
The plan by which the influence of the
National Economist was thrown for the
Democracy was very simple. The paper
had large su subscription list. something over
100000. Its principles were the creed of
thousands of farmers, who read scarcely
anything else, and it had the reputation
OF being one of the very best advertising
mediums in the country, thus showing the
attention with which it was read.
Ii was the official organ Of the order
DR.. C. W. Macune was editor and ]. Fount
Tiilman, at present Register of the Treasury,
was connected with the business manage
meEt OF it. For some reason, in the sum-
iner OF 1892, the paper executed sonier-
sault. and became suddenly a vigorous ad-
vocatc of Democratic principles.
DEMOCRATS TOOK 1T.
As a consequence of this tens OF thou
sands of copies OF the paper were taken by
the Democratic committee and scattered
broadcast owe the country. Wherever they
struck among farmers they bad an evident
effect in making votes for Cleveland
Mr.. Tillman was very active in this work
OF sending out copies TO Democratic work
ers. and as n reward for his efficiency was
made Register OF the Treasury. Dr. Macune
was generally believed to have secured
from the Democrats a liberal allowance
for his hare In swinging the Allianceorgan
into line for the Democrats.
There is this difference between the
deal by which the National Economist.
representing the Farmers Alliance, in
1892 became feeder of the Democratic
party and that by which the Journal OF
the knights of Labor is assuming the
same position by the action of the leaders
in the face of the agreement among the
members that the organization shall keep
out of politics.
That is, the Alliance was a big soceity,
with thousands of members and in the best
of condition for growth, while the Knights
OF Labor, ever since Terrence Powderly
was ousted by General Master Workman
Sovereign, 1t has been claimed has been
controlled by men who were there simply
for what they could make out of il for
themselves.
THE POWDERLY LETTER.
General Secretary Hayes has been lin
duced" to give out an alleged Pri<aAsSe<ter,
sent him years ago by Mr.. Powderiy,
whose confidential associate he then was.
This letter speaks coDtcmptuousiy Of the
Republican party, and is supposed to offset
Mr. Powderiy' influence in the stand hehas
taken for sound money. 1t has been printed
In fac-simile and circulated freelysin
New York paper.
Bot that is not enough The facsimile
has been put in tie last issue of the Knights
of Labor Journal
Along with it is lcng speech by Presi-
dent Sovereign, tn which he argues for the
election of Bryan There is NO mincing
matters; no pretense Of adhering to the
Don-partisan position Of the Knights of
Labor Every resource Of rhetoric which
has brought Mr.. Sovereign as a professional
labor agitator. from a tackwccds stop in