| Show THE FARMERS ALLIANCE IN POLITICS ox ON tuesday nov ard 3rd last elections were held in twelve different states of this union in five of those states governors were chosen new I 1 fork ork massachusetts iowa and maryland elected democratic chief magistrates while ohio elected a republican in maryland the result was a foregone conclusion in massachusetts though a democratic governor was elected yet the remainder of the ticket was defeated ted in ohio the victory for republicans is a significant one in iowa the victory is still more so for the democrats that state comes within the realm of doubtful for 1892 boles the reelected governor is a native of new york who settled in iowa in 1847 he is now 64 years of age and a very popular and well known public man in the west in now new york the only remarkable feature of the election was the fact that the successful man developed most strength where it was not expected and fell off where least expected I 1 in n kansas democrats and republicans formed a sort of coalition in order to defeat alliance men something of the same kind took place in nebraska in illinois the republicans seemed to have the best of the fight taking a general view of the situation the first thing that strikes the observer is the absence absence of influence on the part of the farmers alliance in those elections only one year ago this party controlled the political destinies of several of the most I 1 important states it retired to private life at least two united states senators hampton and ingalls it was the means of electing indirectly two or more senators it sent eight or nine representatives to the congress which meets next mouth month in washington and indirectly it helped to send from fifteen to twenty others partially corn com bitted to its principles its membership taking cognate organizations embraced it Is estimated in one short year this once promising party has to 86 fallen away aay that at the last election its effects were scarcely perceptible it can not be denied that the intentions of the promoters of this party were honest primarily they tried to achieve for the farming classes in dependence of speculative and manufacturing fac turing interests As one of their platforms puts it they aimed also at the education eau cation of the agricultural classes in the science of economical government in a strictly nonpartisan non partisan spirit they worked for the development of a better state mentally morally socially and financially for farmers they went even further and declared for entire harmony and good will among mankind and brotherly love among ourselves A party based on such planks as these deserved better success but unfortunately it did not adhere to its original designs it demanded the abolition of national banks the establishment of state sub treasuries and government control of railroads telegraphs and all methods of public communication and transportation among its principles however were two vital issues these were the free and unlimited coinage of silver and the abolition of protection legislation for any industry at the expense of another for these there was no special necessity in the alliance platform because both are live issues between the old political parties the sub treasury scheme was per haps one of the most visionary and impracticable practicable that any political organization has promulgated it contemplated the lending of muey ivy by the state direct to the people at a low rate of interest on nonperishable non perishable farm products to be stored in government warehouses this alone by reason of its irrationality and ultra socialism would destroy say any party in the eleb of sensible men the rise and fall of the Farm farmers erst alliance however affords a very instructive tive study to political scholars though it is not likely to figure as a factor in politics any longer yet capitalists ta lists industrialists and statesmen should remember that to a certain extent there were grounds for many of the farmers grievances and that many of them were also produced by unwise legislation |
