Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-09-12


No member of the alliance who is true
to the declared purposes of the order, no
one who is friendly TIC those purposes, no
one who realizes what power for good
the alliance might be made not only to Its
membership but TO all the people, can
read the above action of Bethany alli-
ance without sincere regret. The ALI
ance was intended to promote that CO.
operation among farmers which they,
more than any other class of citizens, de-
mand, for such cooperation is necessity
to them socially as well as in business
because OF the isolation of farm life, es
pecially in thinly populated sections The
alliance among farmers was intended to
be not only the business cooperation
which obtains In all trades aud profess
sions, but was designed to promote social
Intercourse among those whose very vo.
cation in life meant more or less of iso-
latlon; the alliance was instituted not
only for the farmer but for the farmers
wife and for bis children.
Such being its purpose there were very
few men outside the order even who did
not bid 1t God-speed on its mission, for
the progress and prosperity of the farmer
means the progress and prosperity of all
classes. 1t was this feeling OF friendli-
ness that prompted the frequent warnings
against the admission OF politics into the
deliberations of the order. From the
very nature OF the case 1t Is impossible
for politics to Invade the sanctuary OF any
organization, secular or religious, with
out perverting the original purposes of
such organization, and the many time
honored benevolent institutions in the
country owe their existence to. day
to the rigid exclusion OF all political dis
cussion from their councils. Time and
again THE GAZETTE, in its earnest sym
patty with the declared purposes of the
alliance, pointed out the danger of ad.
hitting politics and cited the fate OF the
grange as a beacon light to warn and
guide. Officers OF the alliance, also, pro-
tested to the public that the alliance was
designed to be non-politlcal, aud in elo-
quent appeals warned their brethren
against the Introduction of politics. THE
GAZETTE recalls the earnest endeayors of
Mr., Dawes in this direction, man who
threw all his soul into the work OF Great
ing grand cooperation of farmers.
"Keep politics out of the order" said
Mr.. Dawes, wfor 1t will bring strife, con.
fusion and disruption" Is this action of
Bethany alliance the beginning OF the
end OF the fulnllment Of Mr.. Dawes pre-.
dlction?
In warning the alliance against politics
and politicians, THE GAZETTE, OF course,
was moved by faith In what was declared
to be the original purpose Of the order,
and the protest at Cleburne and this ac.
tIon of Bethany alliance are proofs that
the conversion Of the order into politi-
cal machine is perverslon of Its primi-
tive purpose, and proofs, also, that the
alliance Is no exception to the rule, viz,
that any order, secular or religious,
which admits politics (and, consequently,
politicians), must either lose sight alto
gether of the purposes for which It was
designed and become only political
party, or die.
The men who have gone into the al
lance for the object OF advancing their
political or personal interests, or who
have been lifelong opponents of the
dominant party In Texas, VIII care but
little for the original purposes OF the order
and will he quick to attribute unworthy
motives to THE GAZETTE and all Others
who utter friendly warning or advice.
But those who are true to the design for
which the alliance was instituted, must
see the urgent need OF some steps to save
the order, for the action at Bethany is
the handwriting on the wall to all who
love the alliance for what It might be
made TO accomplish