The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-07-06
The FARMERS, ALLIANCE.

There is to be, it seems, permanent
organization of the Farmers Associa-
ton In the General Assembly. This as
ISOLATION is better known to the pub
lie as the Farmers Alliance, its orig
inal title, but for some unknown rea-
son the more formidable name was
adopted.
Up till now, then, the proposition has
been for each General Assembly to
bring together. as a ring within a
ring, the farmers or small townsmen
of the States for mutual protection
against the big corporations and the
large centers of population. The idea
took root in the constitutional conven-
ton when in order to resist the ex-
pected assault on the town system of
representation in the lower branch of
the legislature, the famous Litchf1eld
county caucus was organized. That
association met previously to the con-
Ivention and adopted plans of pre-
cedure in event of new schemes and
surprises being sprung upon the con-
vention. When the convention ad-
journed the caucus adjourned with 1t
and without date. The General Assem-
bly, of 1903 found on its hands SINH
lar organization as did that Of 1905, but
in each case the association died with
the legislature. 1t was an expedient
in the way of life preserving, not a
permanent system of legislative
raiment.
Now it appears that the Farmers
Association is to perfect permanent
organization. 1t is to have a president
and yice-president, clerk and an
executive committee-all the parapher-
MALTA ofsan up-to-date body of resist
ance. Later probably constitution
will be adopted with the necessary by
laws, ct cetera Anything Is possible in
the way of development when the
groundwork Of organization is laid
We notice, too, that the more con.
spicuous officers Of the permanent or.
ganization, il not all of them, are mem.
bers of the present Legislature. They
are the men on the firing line, mer
who have been in the work Of battle
heard the bullets shrek, swallowed
smoke and tasted powder. II Is thi!
fact which provokes our interest ant
lenlivens our curiosity 1t makes III
dare to wonder II old Connecticut Is o
herself preparing for another revolu
ton as widespread in its Influence a
that which grew out Of the adoptiol
of the first written constitution?
If this permanent Farmers Associa
tion is effected is it to be ofiicered a
at present suggested regardless o
whether the officers are returned :
the next General Assembly? If so
the association to sit during the sns
sion of the legislature and listen l.
members and give counsel? Are tn
Representatives Of a special interest t
plead their cause before the associa
ton instead Of before legislative com
mittees? Finally is the State Of Con
necticut TO see a lobby organized com
pared with which the present lobby
without muscle? These are question
which are directly provoked by tn
mere suggestion that body whic
may have Justification FOR temper
, airy existence is about to become with
out justification permanent institu
ton. But more of interest to the town
of the State Of Connecticut Is thi
question which will not down unde
the circumstances: do the sma
towns really intend to try out thei
inherent power?" 1t begins to look tha
way, and then the deluge.