Morris tribune., 1886-08-11
Editor Tribune:

convention, received.
Life is too short to enter into a
newspaper discussion with you, or to
stop and kick at every dog that barks.
I was in doubt about the advisability
of calling the convention when we
did, until read your editorial. That
howl, voicing the disappointed hopes
of the ring, proved to my mind that
we had done what was best for the
people.
am doing all can to help in a
great cause-a cause that is as far
reaching and rs important to the
people of this country as was the
great rebellion; cause that has the
people on one side and the tyranical
power of monopolies, assisted by the
political rings of the old parties, on
the other. For this cause, and ito I
help the people against this power,
would make any personal sacrl1ce.
Men who never act except from sell
fish motives, and who seek political
preferment to serve themselves, can
no more judge the motives of the men
who are working in this cause Than
a copperhead could judge the motives
of the soldiers who willingly gave
their lives that this country might
live. i'll do anything worthy of that
cause, anything to break up the rings,
the tools of this despotic power-l
expect the condemnation and hatred
of these political rings. So much for
motives. Now wish to call your at
tention to little matter OF history.
Two years ago the farmers, feeling
that they had been previously
wronged and that they had not been
we'll represented by the Republican
legislators, attempted to send two OF
their own number to the legislature.
The Republican and Democratic rings,
old and bitter enemies, combined and
sent Republican banker to the sem
ate, and Democratic banker to the
house. (By the way it is a serious
political crime for an Alliance Re
publican to secure the appointment
of a Democrat to all office.) Now, II
YOU are so extremely solicitious for
the success ofthe Alliance, so ready
to take arms in its defense, so anxious
concerning its nominees,-unless
chosen at the dictates of the ring-al- =
low me to ask why, during the cam
paign of two years ago, you used every
effort personally, and threw the
weight of whatever influence your
paper may have had, against the can
didates of the farmers and in favor OF
the nominees who were put up by the
coalition of the rings of both political
parties to defeat the farmers candi-
dates?
Bearing this little matter of history
in mind, 1 will proceed to explain
to give you the true inwardness OF
that call.
It has been the understanding
throughout the district that the Far
mers Alliance should have the nam
ing of the members of the Legislature
in this district. 1t has also beer
understood that If the nominees o.
the Alliance were Republicans, thai
party would indorse them. The call
ing of the Alliance and Republican
District Committees in Morris at the
, same time, was in accordance with al
agreement between Mr.. Brown anC
myself. At the meeting of the Re
publican committee, Mr.. Wellington
, introduced resolution instructins
Mr.. Brown, the chairman, to call th'
! Republican district convention aheat
of the Alliance convention, This wa
the first act of treachery, the first at
; tempt to take the Alliance at disad
, vantage. 1t does not require a yer.
astute brain to see that the Alliance
r would then be compelled to endors
or fight the Republican candidates
@ This act of Mr.. Weliington's led t.
immediate and active work in all tn
: counties in the district, for the chair
man and secretary of the Allianc
~ committee had been instructed t.
call their convention ahead of the Re
publicans, and to fix the time for tn
j.. same.
1t is not true that an agreement Q
understanding was made or entere
into between Mr.. Brown and mysel
;. as to the time Of calling the two cor
ventions. On Wednesday evenin
(the 21st), before the call was signed
told Brown that I had agreed t
make the call for the convention fc
the 2Sth. He did not at that tim
claim there was, or had been, a
;. agreement between him and myse
that had been broken, which he mos
y certainly would have done had such a
agreement existed. He did condemn
- in the most emphatic language, tn
action of Mr.. Wellington, sayin
- among other things that Wellington
|. action was like that of man tryin
to fish without bslt. He said, II don
. care particularly about it, only our fe
= lows will thinkI have been asleeps.
:, Does that look like broken pledges
!, You say "the Alliance has organ
% lied for the accomplishment of mob
- purposes, and all OF its principles al
n sound.r ut has also an intelliger
70 membership, and SO far has done goo
> work" Good again. But where wei
>. you two years ago? Were you wit
:. the "intelligent membership" or wit
N their enemies? Where are you now
"A These questions are OF more impo
. tance to me than the personal abus
q contained in your article. The wo1
I, done at the convention by Mr.. Phell
% and myselfis my answer to that.
o. ic aIroadu fr