Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-07-24
The Farmers Only Remedy.


state on Friday last
Mr.. Hall is unalterably opposed to
the third party organization. He says
that it is in violation of the rules and
teachings of the order, and whenever
it has been adopted has resulted in
bringing the order into disrepute and
placing it in the hands of demagCgues.
In his speech, Mr.. Hall says:
1.-The order is very young in Missouri,
and growing rapidly each day." "OuI
state has a membership of III, 1872.
Much good has been accomplished for
the farmers and labOrers by this Organi-
cation, and if it can be kept out of the
influence of demagogues it will prove
of lasting benefit to our people"
He laid down the following PROPOSE
tions:
"First-In any we'll regulated govern
ment labor is the source of all wealth.
"Second-The farmers labor two and
one-third hours a day more than any
other class of men.
'Third-They are the most economi-
cal class of men in our nation, as
stingy as an old farmer having be-
come pr0yerb.
"Fourth-The conclusions that should
follow from the above propositions is
that the farmers are the wealthiest
class of men in our country, but the
truth is the very reverse and the fact
stands before us today that the farm
ers of the United States are the poor
est class of people we have and are
yearly and rapidly growing poorer.
1--WE claim in this state III ,S72
members of our order and over 4,000,-
900 in the United States. Why is it
that this immense body of farmers have
banded themselves together in secret
society? Is it for the purpose of con-
trolling the legislation of the country?
So far as it is just and right that it
should be controlled in their interest.
Business men should not criticise the
farmers for wanting to defend them
selves, but criticise the unjust laws of
this country that have driven them into
such society in self defence.
1.-THE curse of the farmers of the
United States is class legislation.
We have, therefore, organized
under a constitution that says we
demand equal rights to all and special
privileges to nOne,' and any man who
advocates this doctrine advocates the
true interests of the farming class, for
when our government is conducted
upon the basis that labor is the source
of wealth. the farming class will be in
prosperous condition, as they labor
more than two hours day longer than
any other class of men.
''This organization is not q partisan pO-
lsticdl organization but the farmers have
suffered SO long that they now have
united and intend to see that political
parties of this country do away with
class. legislation by going into the prina-
aries and conventions in oar respective
parties and pushing our principles there,
and whichever political party comes
nearest to our demands we will give our
support to. Everyone at all familiar toith
labor movements knO,CS that every time the
labor societies 90 into partisan politics by
nominating candidates for Office they are
broken up, and don't bring about the re-
forms we so much need. We can see
the benefits that arise from the farmers
aCorktng IN ther o,Ca parties, by the work
of the state democratic convention held
at st. Joseph in June last. The farm
ers OF Missouri captured that conven-
ton, nominating the candidates. They
put Bro. II. W. Hickman, state presi-
dent of the farmers and laborers of
Missouri, i'll as railroad and warehouse
commissioner; Judge j. B. CAN'T, an
able and pure farmers judge, for SUI
preme Judge and Prof. L. l.. Wolfe,
one of the ableSt educators and best
menin Missouri, for state superinten-
dent, besides making platform that
comes up to the principles of our order"
The farmers alliance men who went
into the democratic primaries and sent
delegates to st. Joseph and captured
that democratic convention" did more
toward accomplishing the purposes of
the alliance than could be done by hold
ing thousand secret political conven-
tons and trying to elect mohgrel
ticket. By this wise stroke of the
Missouri farmers, the alliance has die
tated the nominations on the ticket of
the domipent party in that state.
Should the same wise counsel prevail
in Kansas, there is no reason on earth
why the farmers of Kansas shall not
absolutely control the nominations of
the republican party in this state. But |
if the blatant demagogues who want |
Office instead of relief for the farmers
shall be allowed to convert the alliance |
into political machine then will again
be repeated that old story that '''every-
time the labor societies 60 into parti-
san politics by nominating candidates
for Office they are broken up"
The WASHINGTON county meteor has