Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-05-10

as justice to its business interests may
demand. As business organization
it is now strong enough in Texas, and
soon will be in other states, to conf
mand respect from those bodies when
it speaks in behalf of the downtrodden
interests of the farmer.
No one will doabt that the members
of the Alliance compose majority of
each. the democratic. republican. pro-
hibition and the united labor party in
state of Texas, and that each one of
those parties wotlid like to add recruits
10 it's ranks from the others. The DEM
ocratie party is now in power in the
state and there is perhaps nothing that
the Alliance as a business organization
of farmers could demand of The elegisla-
ture. if right and just, and nothing else
would be demanded, but what that
body would grant if in their power to
do so. This shows the beauty and
power of working for principles and
not parties.
Alliance men by comparing notes apd
by reading become well posted in polit-
ical economy and know exactly what
they want. There Is unity of senti-
ment that follows an enlightened un-
derstanding of their own interests and
we find IS q result a body of sufficient
force and power TO insure that its rights
be respected. If they should demand
that Hudson solution of the railway
problem be tried, they have sufficient
influence to get such laws passed as
would insure the trial. Democratic.
prohibition and Labor MEM
bers are all alike ready and Wiling to
show favors TO the Alliance as busi-
ness organization. This being the case
it would be folly to undertake the re-
sponsibility of selecting, nominating
aud electing a man as an Alliance
There Is some risk in Dut-
ting a man in Office. Nearly half the
time one has cause to regret it. There
is no use taking the risk If you have
sufficient influence to make any man
do right after election. But let us
look at what the condition would have
been mad the Alliance listened to some
of our good brethren who had more
zeal than discretion several years ago
and wanted the Alliance. as a body, to
bold conventions, make platforms and
perhaps make come nominations, iu
other words they wanted the lines
drawn. Had that policy been followed
everybody that did not belong tn the
order would have been aDtagonized,
and thus driven to the opposition.
With lines drawn no influence could
be had in the legislature. as every par
ty but your own would be an antago-
mist. With lines drawn large num-
ber of good citizens who are in sympa-
thy with the farmer and cast their
votes with him, would find themselves
forced into the ranks of the opposition.
Yes indeed, the order may be very glad
that it has never allowed any lines
drawn, and that they stand back and
hold steady, conservative hand on
the helm that will always keep any
other class from swamping the ship.
The farmer is the great conservative
element in American politics that keepa
things steady and can always be relied
upon to cast his whole weight In favor
of home and right. His life Is moro
isolated and alone, and, as q conse-
auence, is conducive to depth and
breadth of thought, while the lite Of
nearly every other class of society Ia
spent more in contact with his fellow
man, and is thereby more conducive to
polish and address than to depth and
breadth; consequently, 1t may be said
they carry their attainments upon the
exterior, while those of the farmer are
within; when you wake him up you
get big chunks Of reason and sc nse, but
It often comes in homely garb. 1t is
better so; the finest gold comes from y
very rough rock There could be no
excuse for this strong conservative ele-
ment that can, by concert and action,
control every other element in the
country, drawing lines, and thereby
antagonizing all others. There can be
but one excuse for antagonizing those
whom you control, and that is open re-
bellion on their part. You are in q
majority; then GO to work, as citizens,
with whatever party you belong to,
and inculcate good, true, Alliance prin-
ciples into its objects; there can be no
excuse for majority boiling; you are
in the majority; hold the fort, and il
they bolt you have the advantage. but
If the party dares to read you out of it
because you are Alliance men it won't
hurt the Alliance any. and it will be
time enough to provide home party
for you. The banking classes would
soon swamp the country if they had
the power. The transportation COM
panies, if allowed full sway, would
wind things up by laws that would
impede all kinds of competition. Mer-
chants, speculaters and real estate men
would abolish the homestead law III
they could, and then what? The tend
ency of the wage-workeT in the manu.
featuring districts is toward socialism.
which may be all right i'm its milder
forms. but is like the definition of an
ger, which may be anything from
righteous Indignation to active insani-
ty. Manufactures would rob the gri-
cultural district and stop the general
growth of the country by the tariff.
and thus it is that all classes are held
i'm check by the conservative influence
of the farmer; and If he will remain
thoroughly organized and use all means
to keep himself well posted. with no
lines drawn, he may be master Of the
situation, not only getting what his
business interests in the name of justice
demands, but holding the ercroach-
ments of other interests in check, and
making them only such con-
cessions as are justified by right and
equity.
If those who are not satisfied with
this policy and want to put the fat in
the fire now, they should be borne
with kindly; it he q mistaken zeal on
their part. and although calculated to
do the order some injury, it is not their
intention to do so. We sometimes meet
some of the very best Alliance men
who are on that side, but tney will
soon see better and show their hearts
are big and in exactly the right place
by falling into the old line. which 10
just as straight as it has been all the
time.
The whole difference between the
two positions is, thnt without lines
drawn the order can WELD five times
its party influence, and with them
drawn it could not WELD one-half,