Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-05-21
z 4 LoYG STEP DoRNwARD.

The step taken by the delegates of the
Farmers alliances and the knights Of
Labor In nominating n county ticket in
Tarrant county must be regretted by
every SINCERE, rejecting friend of the
people who are in those organizations
1t is bold plunge into tie vortex of
politics which in the end II wreck the
alliance and the labor org ization, 1t
is done against the protest Of the highest
and ablest Ulcers of both orders, who,
in the persons of Mr.. Dunlap and Mr.
Powderly, have warned them of the dan
ger of taking part in political strife, and
besought them to avoid that danger
Reckless of consequences. needless
advice, a Radical element in both orders
are driving them forward to destruction
to crafty their ambitions aud resent
ments by making the membership of the
lodges and assemblies political solid
arity.
THE GAZETTE honestly regrets the ac-
ton of the Tarrant County Faimers' al
lance and knights of Labor, or, as these
organizations must henceforth be called,
the political opposition, because the ex-
ample Of Tarrant cohnty will have imita-
tors throughout the state among lodges
that, without that example, would have
kept out of political strife We regret
this, not as Democratic journal, fearful
OF the opposition that Is threatened, but
out OF honest regard for the welfare OF
the men who belong to the Farmers alll-
ance and the Knights OF Labor. Con-
Quoted upon the principles had in view
by their founders, these orders are capa-
BILE of doing much for the good of farmers
and working people of all classes. But
those principles have been departed from,
and the early dissolution Of the organiza-
tlons, or their decay and disablement, is
an inevitable consequence, Looking upon
them as doomed, unless change Is made
in their management, 7 ing GAzETTE is
genuinely sorry that 4 mistake so fatal
and so foolish should have been made.
There was work for both organizations,
worthy of their proudes attention. This
work was outside of the political arena.
II was In the moral, / ,ellectual, social
uplifting of the people, who need help to
better their condition, Men Joined them
with this hope In their hearts, that by
working together an il anence could be
built up which would lead them on
toward happier destiny. They had no
thought of entering into an agreement to
build up gigantic political society, with
grips, passwords, mysteries and para
phernalIa, which should take the
place of caucus, make nominations
for political office, aud bind the minority
to adhere 30 this caucus action OF
the majority to support men whom they
do not believe worthy of support. "a
cohesive mutIali,y Of the organizations
Is gone, and The spirit Of PHILANTHROPY
and the feeling OF confidence in each
other which inspired the members to
come together is no more active among
them. They are no longer working for
the good Of the whole, but for the advau.
tagc OF a few who want Office They are
divided into factions, each intent upon
the nomination OF Its fayorites aud com.
polling the others to support the ticket
thus made by the power OF the caucus
Scisms and revolts must ensue, and the
end is rupture and dislntegration.
A political society may be Kept alive
for political purposes, OF this Tammsny
is an exsmple. But protested beneyo,
lens-social organization cannot be main,
tanned by the same methods that have
made Tammany successful and powerful
1t must restrict Its duties TO the accom-
plishment OF It's ends. When Il goes be,
yond this and attempts TO make Of Itself