Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-06-26
Do Not Let the Good Work Flag, But
Keep Hammerings

be lull in this farmers movement OF
account of the pressing demands Of thu
crops on the farmers time and atteh;
ton Meetings will not be so frequent
or SO well attended, and there is danger
inst now Of the farmer losing much thai
he has gained during the winter The
activity, energy and independence 81
the farmers movement has made ar
impression on the minds of the poll
ticlans, both State and National, but
whether this will 0e an advantage tC
the farmer depends very much on his
own course during the next thirty,
sixty or ninety days. Farmers must
understand that if the politician
fears them he does not love them,
and it would be just like him
to take advantage of theft
busy season to lay plans to circumvent
them in the coming nominations or po-
litical conventions in every State in the
Union. While the farmer is busy get
ting in the corn and cultivatihg his
crop, and Is becoming slack in his at
tendance at Alliance meetings, the pol
itician has abundant leisure and is very
busy setting up the pins and securing
the nomination of candidates, who,
while not specially Objectionable to the
/ farmers, will stand in with the other
fellows Hence the Importance of farm
ers of both parties keeping up their at
/ tendance at Alliance meetings and con-
sidefihg the political situation. For
instance, the Iowa Republican conven-
ton is called to meet in Sioux City,
June 25, and the announcement
of the Democratic convention will
soon follow. In this State the most i'm
portant matter is the nomination of
Railroad Commissioner. So long as
Iowa farmers retain Railroad Commits
sion in sympathy with their interests,
the railroad problem will give them
little trouble. Should the railroads
secure the commission, the fruits of the
victories of the past four years will be
wrested from them. An anti-monopUly
commission can be retained only by
ceaseless vigilance.
Again, this year Congressman will be
elected, and it is of the utmost i'm
portance that the candidates nominated
in both parties should be in the closest
sympathy with the Western farmer
not only in the closest sympathy, but
should besides know what the West
ern farmer needs. The East will
take care of itself. They have no
politics in industrial questions down
there. They are not chasing after rain
bows, but corraling all the substantial
Re 10 \,
islation. 1t will be better for the whole
Nation if the Western people likewise
look after themselves. Representatives
should be nominated in both parties
who are thoroughly Western in sympa-
thies, interests and traits of character,
and who are proof against the blandish-
ments and temptations of the East
The farmers can secure this in both par
ties if they will. In politics look after
the farm first, the rest will take care of
itself 1t always has. Farmers may
differ as to the revenue policy
that should be adopted for the |
Nation, but they should not differ |
on this point: that whatever may be |
adopted the farmer should stand even |
with the merchant and the manufact- |
urer. Congressman should be chosen |
in both parties who are dead set against !
any contraction of the currency, and |
who oppose discrimination against sill
yer in favor of Wall street, and who |
heartily favor legislation that will pro-
tect the people against food adulSera-
tions, that will stamp out pleuro-pneu-
moria, and provide for the fullest pro-
lection of flocks and herds against dis
ease. Without the least regard to
party, all farmers should stand for men
Of this kind, and in their respective
party caucuses insist on it so earnestly
that refusal to grant it will suggest that
the farm interest is superior to any
special emergencies of politics. In this
way, without rupturing party ties, farm
srs can secure all they desire.
What is true of Iowa is true of all
other Western States, and even more
than in Iowa. In all of them
armers should insist on the fullest rec
ignition of their rights, not merely in
he way of party or personal pledges,
)ut in the choice of men who have the {
arm spirit, and the rugged, stalwart
haracter that is the exponent of the ]
endencies of farm life. They can have ;
ii this if they will, but they must keep {
p their meetings and stand for their Z
lights. The Alliance should not go to {
leep in political harvest time 1t is
important to talk through the winter,
ut when the party caucus is held, and
he conventions are called, it is time
D act
Nor should county interests be over
ooked. Nearly all the taxes are levied (
nd expended in the county. Econom-
al county management is of the ut
lost Importance. 1t involves few or no |
official questions. Mutual interests
lone are involved. Cities are begin
ing to understand this. and hence do I
OF often carry political matters into !
ty elections. They look after econom-
al government. Let the farmer do 7
kewise. When they do this the party
power will give them good govern n
ent in order to secure its hold. Farm ?
5 may just as well have this as not. Let /
lem insist on it 1t always pays them d
take day off about caucus time and q
e that the county bung-hole is looked
ter, even if little does leak out of
e farm spigct Therefore, even if
~ must have fewer meetings during e.
e crop season, see that the attendance b
full.-Western Rural. is
DING THROUGH THE MILL. Il
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