The Russellville Democrat., 1884-05-22
THE BALL OPENS.
The B. of F. to Put Out a Full
 Ticket.

Whereas, As Brothers of Freedom composing the Atkins Common Council and representing over 300 voters, we do not consider that tho action had at the last meeting of tho County Couucil, has abridged or an nulled our rights to cast our votes al the coming election for such men as we desire elected; and
 Whereas, We believe that party cliques and rings are now trying tc run the B. of F. organization, and il their distinctions are longer submit ted to we will get deeper into politics than we desire to be taken, and
 Whereas, We believe that the ac- tion of the last County Council was so confused by outside rings that Ii lost sight of the main question for which the Council was convened; and
 Whereas, Instead of the Council being convened in secret session, as events proved would have been prop ev. (no reflection is here intended on the worthy president,) it's intelli- gence and freedom of action were abused by outside members dictating to the delegates, while the Council was in session, and
 Whereas, This Council believe the meeting was thwarted from it's original purpose, and that it was ap parent from the time the house was called to order that triumph of some kind was more desired and a love for office more cherished than the good of the Order; and
 Whereas, We are reliably inform ed that several delegates disobeyed in part, or entirely, the action of their Common Councils, or their sub- ordinate lodges, (tho delegates from this Council. in particular, disobey- ed the instruction of several lodges in casting their ballots for the reso- lution that passed), therefore be 1t,
 Resolved, That while we desire to keep aloof. from politics, yet we do not desire party manipulators, either inside or outside of the Order to dictate how or for whom we shall cast our votes at the coming cleo tion.
 Resolved, That delegates from this Council having disobeyed their instructions, as far as gwen by lodses, we hereby declare that we will take such action as we deem necessary to rid ourselves of party hacks, demagogues, intriguers and ring servers by requesting all the Brotherhood of Pope county, who favor the selection of a ticket for county offices to joln us by sending delegates to a convention to be held at the old Gumlog Camp ground, on the 31st day of May (being the 9th Saturday in said month) at 10 o'clock, for the purpose of consider ing the claims oi all the candidates who are now before the people ol Pope county for office, or whose names may be presented at said con vention.
 Resolved, That while we accord the privilege to all Brothers of Freedom to act as they deem proper in respect to the candidacy question, we claim the same right, and while we act fol ourselves as lodges and factors oI the Order in Pope county, we choose not to dictate to lodges who differ with us, believeing that while the right is guaranteed to us individually to cast our ballots as free men, that right is not abused by acting in 2 collective capacity which, as lodges here represented, we proprosc to do
 Resolved, That each and every lodge be entitled to two delegates tc said convention, for membership less than 50, and that for every 2s additional delegate.
 Resolved, That the president ol the County Council be respectfully requested to be present at said time and place and preside over the de Alterations of said meeting.
 Resolved, That copy of these preambles and resolutions be pub Iished In the Pope County Reflector and that the Russellville Democrat be requested to copy the same in it: next issue. M. k. HANKS,