Evening star., 1897-02-16
FARMERS ALLIANCE
Eighth Annual Session of the Su-
preme Council Begins.
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS GIVEN
Condition of the Order Said to Be
Satisfactory.
SOME OF THE DELEGATES

Tie eighth annual session of the Supreme
Council of the Farmers Alliance and In
dustrtal Union, the organization which cut
an extensive figure in politics four years
ago in the south and west. is being held
at the National Hotel. having been called
to order at noon today by Mann Page of
Virginia. who was elected president at the
session held in this city year ago. The
meeting was not called to order as early
as intended owing to the non-arrtvai of
delegates. The number OF delegates pres
ent is not as large az last year, a meeting
of an auxiliary body at Dallas, Texas.
drawing from the attendance.
The following are among the delegates
who have arrived SO far: Virginia, Mann
Page; California. E. M. Wardall; Colorado,
r. A. southworth: New Jersey, E. Pom
eroy: Indiana, c. Vincent; Indian territory,
j. H. Organ; Arkansas. ]. NJ. L. Thomas
son; Pennsylvania, W. A. Gardner; West
Virginia. John Breening; North Carolina,
Mr.. Sossman; Texas, DR.. Farrice Leak.
Representatives Stokes and Latimer Of
South Carolina were among the visitors
present.
Extent of the Order.
The general organization has an existence
in about forty states and territories, and
considerably more than half of them will
be represented at the meeting. States and
territories are entitled to representation in
the Supreme Council on the basis Of one
delegate for every 5000 members. but each
state and territory is entitled to at least
the total membership of the organization
within its borders does not reach 5000.
The Supreme Council is the governing and
legislative body Of the alliance and union.
Ia AP.f~ of
ganization, corrects defects In the bylaws
and suggests methods looking to a
Strengthening and improvement Of the gen.
eral grand body.
Mann Page. Virginia. president; J. c.
Snavely. Pennsylvania, vice president: r.
A. Southworth, Colorado, secretary-treas-
urer; H. L. Loucks, j. F. Willetts, w. L.
Peak, executive committee. Mr.. Loucks is
one of the candidates for United States
senator from South Dakota.
In Good Condition.
Secretary Southworth stated to a Star
reporter that the order in general is in
better condition than a year ago. I'VE
think" he said, that We are on the eve
of our greatest growth. l have received
calls recently from number Of states to
go and organize them. Minnesota, Idaho,
Montana and Ohio will be organized SOON
Mr.. SoIthworth said that the order is de-
voting Itself now TO cooperative work. and
is not touching politics.
The alliance was in session but short
time after opening. adjourning until after
noon. While in session the annual reports
of President Page and Secretary South
worth were read.
President Pages Address,.
The opening part Of President Pages ad-
dress deals with the condition of the Or
der. which. he says, is good. The only
portion of a political nature is as follows
The proposition to drop the word al
lance on account of its political bias does
not meet with my approval as far as the
national organization is concerned.
THE state alliance Of California, at its
last session, decided to submit to the sub
alliances of that state the proposition to
change the name from Farmers Alliance
and Industrial Union to that of Co-opera-
tive Union in order to develop a better
system for cooperation, and for the addi-
tionai reason that the alliance had hither-
to taken too active part in politics. there
by creating in the minds of many good cit
izens prejudice against the order.
From the organization of the National
Farmers Alliance and Industrial Union sat
81 Louis to the present time none of my
predecessors have ever recognized the right
OF any state, county or suballiance to in
troauce partisan politics into the order.
ana any one OF these organizations who
mas undertaken to foster upon the country
the success OF any political party has vio-
lated that section of our declaration of
principles which declares: To labor for
the education OF the industrial classes in a
strictly non-partisan spirit Nor has anv
national council failed to adopt resolutions
Ia'or1ng cooperation among the industrial
classes and more perfect cooperative
system for the benefit of the members of
our order
From what / have been able to learn
about the cooperative unions about to be
estaDilshed In various states to assist the
nr.ld fr,
ducts. and to overcome the staenation IN
business caused by the present system of
contracted currency. I heartily indorse.
a, anu nope the Supreme Council at this ses-
sion Will take such action as will further
and promote these enterprises.
Wants to Hold the Name.
But 1 cannot understand why this grand
organization should drop the name alli-
ance, which has become the shibboleth of
the producing classes in their struggle for
economic reforms, who, despite misrepre-
sentation and prejudice. engendered by an
hostile press, controlled by the combined
money power, have. in the late election
received the Endorsement of nearly one-half
OF the citizens Of this country To make
!i !nls change In the name of our organiza-
tloh might be construed as an acknowle,l-
ment that the verdict rendered at the polls
In November last in favor of an adminis-
tration controlled by foreign financial
and interests of the wealth-produc.rs of
America, has been accepted by US as con-
elusive and surrender of the financial
issues for which the alliance has SO earn
estly contended."
The alliance will be in session several
days. Officers will be elected tomorrow.
and propositions for changes In bylaws viii
then be considered Communications from
kindred organizations. such as the knights
OF Labor. will be received then.
Last year a delegation of the alliance an
peared before the banking and currency
committee of the House. by Invitation. to
give their views on financial subjects. They
may go before the same committee at this
session.
The alliance is committed to the theory OF
free coinage at IL to !. and will hardly
make any change at this meeting.
Potomac Literary Club.
One Of the largest attended and mos,
successful meetings of the season of the
Potomac Literary Club was held Tuesday