Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-07-03
Editorial Comments.
The Reflector Position.

Ii is occasionally reported 10 uS d
having been said by some one and it Il
being attempted by rival papers to b'
made to appear that "the REFLECTOR
is against the farmers alliance" We
are not lll-natured enough to believe
that any would in ''malice afOre,
thought" misrepTesent the position OF
this paper, hence we are forced to the
conclusion that those making the state
ments do so through misapprehen-
sion of the facts in the case. 1t is ouI
purpose to make the position of the
REFLECTOR in this matter so plain
that even those are mentally incapaci-
tated from making nice distinctions
cannot help understanding exactly how
we look at the situation.
The REFLECTOR is in hearty accord
with most of the great principles ad-
vocated by the alliance free coinage
of silver, an increase in the currency,
destruction of trusts, better control of
transportation corporations, opposition
to alien land lordism, deep water har-
Dor on the Gulf of Mexico-he has been
indeed an obtuSe reader of these col
umns who has not seen that this paper
has advocated them all even before the
alliance movement became prominent.
We are not opposed to the alliance.
We believe in it and in organization.
Organization rules the world. In
church, state, profession, business
everywhere we see its possibilities and
surely no one has better right or OPP
pOrtunity to organize than the farmers.
The REFLECTOR believes that by or
ganizatiOn the farmers can accomplish
much for themselves. They can bene-
fit themselves personally, socially and
intellectually and can bring to their
doors many of the luxuries of life from
which they have been in the past de-
barred. They have need of organiza-
ton. By it the can aid one another,
develop their possibilities, command
more respect, speak to the world in a
frmer tone and in thousand ways
lift themselves to higher plane in the
worlds estimation and in their own
respect.
The Patrons of Husbandry and the
Grange attempted to accomplish these
things and for time were successful,
but at last the petty struggles by am
bilious politicians throttled the organi-
cations, and the men and women who
had composed the bulk of the member
ship were thrown back upon their own
resources because they allowed political
demagogues to rob them of their inner
itance.
The farmers alliance is the successor
TO the former attempts at organization
among the agricultural workers and so
Tar as it grasps their opportunities and
virtues we are its supporter.
But will 1t succeed in this? That is
the problem which attracts the thought
ful attention of the day and which the
wishes to see rightly
solved.
But, as an exchange sensibly says,
the alliance as wise, practical, non
partisan organization, having for its
object the farmers betterment, socially,
morally, financially, polite
ally, is one thing, and the alliance as a
distinct party, scrambing for petty
offices, advocating reputation of mort
gage indebtedness in one place, absurd
monetary propositions in another place,
making lawyers ineligible to the Judge
ship, holding conventions with closed
doors, and doing scores of other foolish
things, is quite another thing. Ger
tainly to favor the alliance does not
involve an endorsement of
all these follies, nor does failure to
endorse them make one opposed to the
alliance
In those portions of the alliance plat
form which declare it a non-partisan
we heartily believe and
we are convinced that it can do vast
deal of good for the farmers by fol-
lowing the course which its own plat
form lays out. 1t can aid its members
and WELD a powerful influence for the
good of the people at large. In doing
this the REFLECTOR wishes it prosper
ity and advises it if 1t desires to per-
petuate itself to steer clear of union
labor and democratic demagogues, to
let political hacks and Office grabbers
alone, pull nobOdy's chestnuts out of
the fire and, in word, be an independ-
emit and self-respecting institution for
the elevation of the farmers. We de-
sire to see the alliance keep itself free
from political schemes and to make its
destiny successful one. By so doing
it can effect all the reforms it asks, but
if it allows itself to become the pack
horse of the crippled democracy and the
still more disabled union labor organi-
Lation, it will assuredly fail in the end.
This is the REFLECToR's position.
Is it not the right one?
First Wheat of 1890.
The city mills received today the
first wheat of the 1890 crop. 1t was