Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-07-31
R1cHAkp WARNe, Business Manager
Prophecy Fulfilled.

EIOpuCCy u4A44N0'
The result of the peoples party con-
vention on Saturday must convince the
most skeptical that the REFLECTOR
has seen unerringly into the future.
For two months this paper has been
showing the farmers of Dickinson
county the drift of the farmers ALI
ance political movement. 1t has been
showing them where the peoples party
scheme was leading them. Ithas been
pointing out the efforts of the union
labor and democratic demagogues to
control the alliance for their own bene-
fit, and the result has abundantly
proven the accuracy of our prophecy.
The result of the convention has
been even more remarkable than was
expected. The union laborites and
democrats formed a coalition expecting
to divide the spoils. When it came to
the round up the union labor men COB
bled ali the perquisites worth having
and putting on one or two former re-
publicans for the looks of the thing
snapped their fingers in the democrats
faces. As a result there is raging and
roaring in the democratic camp and the
most ardent partisans of that party are
declaring that they will vote the repub-
lican ticket straight before they will
vote for the candidates nominated Sat
urday. And in the meanwhile what OF
the farmers alliance?
An organization originally founded
and entered into by men and women OF
ali parties with the understanding that
political and religious beliefs should
not be interfered with, an organization
by which it was hoped to better the
condition Of the farmers, make them
more independent, build up their bank
accounts and give them more of the
luxuries of life-this organization has
been prostituted to the base uses of a
lot of blatant demagogues who are
using it to lift themselves into political
preferment. 1t is a fate undeserved
and vet one which the members of the
alliance have allowed to be brought on
themselves.
The farmers alliance as originally
organized and as its platform Ostensi-
ply makes it, is beneficial organiza-
ton. 1t has the power 10 accomplish
much for its members and make them
far more independent and successful in
life. 1t is unfortunate to the last de-
gree that it has been used to any other
purpose and that it has been misused
to gain personal political ends.
With secret political conventions, its
signs and grips and pass words it can
never hope to found a great political
party. The American people think toe
much of the sunlight and broad open
ness; they will not stand by any organ
ization which purposes to dictate polit-
Tsor-l movements and bind its members
o,s tickets and principles from behind
closed doors. 1t savors too much OF
star chamber proceedings and dictator
ship.
This the peoples party of Kansas
will find out. In almost every county
where it has held conventions the dem
ocracy and the union laborites have
controlled matters. 1t has been plainly
anything to down the republicans. ,
As a result the republican members
will not consider themselves bound by
any principle to desert their own party
to elect to Office union laborites anC
democrats who have failed to succeed
in their own parties.
These movements accomplish LITTLE
in the end. These ephemeral partie
which start to "down" somebody or t,
get even with somebody, come and 90
The old parties stay on through it all
only at long intervals changing nam
perhaps but still remaining PRACTICAL,
the same. In the nature of thing
there can be but two great political OF
CARNATIONS and the peoples party O
Kansas has in few short weeks de
monstrated beyond the shadow of
doubt that it is not destined to be on
of them. Already its decline has cou
menced and it is doubtful if it has
half dozen representatives in next wiz
ter's legislature. 1t is at least certai
that if its nominations in other section
of the state are no more intelligen
than in Dickinson county it will cut u
figure at all. The republican member
everywhere will retain their aIlegianC
TO their own party, the party which hs
given TO Kansas all that they asked G
it and the only party which is progress
i've, powerful and faithful enough [
help them in the reforms they demand
ed and to lift them to higher planes {
citizenship.
It begins to look as If John A. Ande
son would run amuck of the sacre
number seven. He has been in Coz