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AN ALLIANCE REVIEW.STRENGTH AND SENTIMENT OF THE 8IG ORGANIZATION.Three of Voters Knrollcd-Fro-sress Since the Ocala Meeting— Feel luff In Favor of a New Party—President Stoke* Nor.-Committal.New York, June 10.—The New York Herald has made a general investigation of the extent, growth and condition of the Farmers’ Alliance. Answers to the questions were received from nineteen States. From these and other sources of information the Herald makes the following statements and figures:The total s.r.ugth of the Alliance, theo, is about 1,270,000, but from this number must be taken about 20 per cent representing women and minors. This would leave the voting strength of the order at about 1,016,000.In addition the National Farmers’ Alliance and Industrial Union there are, according to Col. li. M. Humphrey,800.000 Colored Farmers’ Alliance almost wholly in the Southern States. Then there is the Northwestern Alliance, with its strength in Nebraska, Minnesota. Iowa and Wisconsin, with about 175.000 members; the Farmers’ Mutual Benefit association, strong in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, with 150.000 members; the Fatrons of Husbandry, with about 200,000 members; the Knight of Labor, with 300,OCX) members, and the Citizens’ Alliance, the membership of which is problematical.Making a reduction of 20 per cent in these organizations for non-voters and to the'strength of the Alliance must be added 1,400,000 voters, making the total voting strength of the combination 2,-470.000 throughout the country.It is questionable, however, if this strength can be held. The 800,000 negroes are unreliable and the grangers or patrons of husbandry are not inclined to the third party idea strongly.In the West the feeling for independent action is strong aDd the people from that section are determined at all hazards to put a ticket in the field next year, no matter what the Southern wing does.The feeling in the South is perhaps, as clearly expressed in the following editorial from the Southern Alliance Farmer, the organ of the Georgia State Alliance. It says:“In the Cincinneti convention the Southern Alliance men did all and everything in their power to prevent cr postpone the organization of a new' political party. This action gives the lie to the statements of partizan papers that the Alliance leaders are trying to wreck the Democratic party in order to further their own ends. Now, had these Southern ofiicers given the least countenance to the new movement, you would to-day see the third party fairly lauLwied on the political sea. As it is, final and definite action has been postponed until February, 1892, so that the Democratic Congress may have a fair opportunity to show its interests in the welfare of the people.The Ocala convention seems to have had but little effect one way or the other, the order having continued to gam about at the same rate after as before that event.New York and Pennsylvania report25.000 members apiece and no disposition to eater politics.Virginia has 00,000 Alliance men.West Virginia guesses her strength at 30,000.North Carolina has over 100,000 and Secretary Darnes says 95 per cent of them are solid for Ocala demands. Georgia reports 80,000 members. Florida 15,000 and only 5 per cent in favor of any movement outside the Democratic party.Alabama has 75,000 members who will favor anew party if no concessions to the Ocala demands are made.Louisiana has 20,000 members who await the action of the supreme council before talking of a third party.Texas reports revival of the order there, 400 sub Alliances having been organized since the Ocala meeting. Kentucky has 100,000 members who vor a third party.Ohio’s Ahiance stands on the Ocala platform,Indiana lias 100,000 Alliance men ready for the third party.Illinois lias 15,000 who all favor independent action.Michigan has 25,000 Alliance men and they favor the third party.Tennessee has 118,000 members and the third party feeling is growing among them.Arkansas reports GO,000 Alliance voters and the president says they are for the people’s party.Here is the answer from South Carolina:Speaking generally, the order is in good shape in this State and is making satisfactory progress. We are unloading some material, but results show a net gain and a more compact, homogeneous membership.We are organizing constantly, though the most of the State has been already covered. Within the past month the State organizer has had calls from two ( different counties, and the result of his visits are apparent.Outside of the political press and a small circie of political speculators the question of independent political action has not created a ripple, because it has not been discussed. Independent political action by the Alliance is out of the question so long as the Alliance constitution remains as it is. It can not be changed before next winter, and our people aie not disposed to worry about the bridge before they get to it.From a close and’frequent contact with them in every quarter of the State 1 can safely say they may be counted on to stand squarely by all the demands of the Alliance, Governor Tillman to the contrary notwithstanding. The temper of the people is such that they will repudiate any man, however trusted, who can not support the Alliance demands, just as they repudiated : Hampton last fall. 5J. William Stokes, President South Carolina F. A. and I. 1l \ Orangeburg, lt;C. lt;______ •
Newspaper Details
Winnsboro Fairfield News and Herald
Winnsboro, South Carolina, US
Wed, Jun 17, 1891
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Full Page
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USA 18 Feb 2022
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