The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-04-26
1.-THE DEMOCRATIC TARIFF REFORM
LEAGUE"

read The article which appeared under
the above caption in your paper of
April 29rh, $50. If the preamble and
articles oil the constitution OF the league
rs there published were all, the doc
trineS therein enunciated could heartily
be approved as sound democratic
principles. AS one Interested in the
democratic party, who has labOred for
its success i'll the past n who expects
To contribute all that he can for its
triumph III the future, | give my
REASONS for the criticisms | have made
upon the league AZ organized in Lex
ingtOn. The Objectionable features in
the leagues constitution and by
laws are not published in this Commu-
nication. Some OF them | now present
to you readers. IL TO cail attention of
democrats to them be misrepresenta-
ton and Islander OF the league, SO be il.
The following quotations are COPIED
from the constitution and by laws for
the government of the W~orkingInan's
Democratic Tariff Reform League of
Lafayette County, Missouri, adopted
at the city of Lexington May %, 1882"
"OBLIGATIoN."
awe, the undersigned whose names
are here annexed, do agree to enter into
and form a secret democratic league,
for the object and purposes hereinafter
specified, and in the formation and con-
tinuance OF the same, do pledge our
sacred honor AS men, not TO dlvulge,
but keep as inviolatc secrecy, the plans. |
workings, member, hip and everything
pertaining thereto, from all outsiders
whatsoever.
"While any member may withdraw
or disCOnnect himself from this league
by notifying the order, yet he is still
bound by his word OF honor not to
divulge any of its secrets of the past
under any circumstances whatever"
elm approval of this obligation we
hereunto afiix our signatures"
The most dangerous foes to a repub-
lie, to civil and religious liberty, have
always been found in secret political
societies and tribunals. Error can
always be counteracted so long as
truth is lett free to combat it.
ARTICLE l..
"SectiOn 8. Also TO help its members
in their respective calling or business"
"Section .. T. keep inviolate secrecy
the workings of this league to out
siders."
"Section 10. To adopt such secret
means rs to enable the members to
recognize one another wherein the
league may exist"
"SectiOn IL. While il is the intention
of tins league to support the democrat
ic party at Ldrge, we also feel that we
have a iOcnL duty to perform at home.
UNITY Of action is essential, conse-
quently political grievances arising
in time OF elections between or among
members must be settled within and by
the league"
RTICL 3.
THE officers of this league shall con.
sist OF a captain, first lieutenant, sec.
ond lieutenant, secretary, treasurer,
sergeant, corporal, sentinel and guar
termaster. Also an executive com.
mittee of seven (7) members, who
shall constitute the board of super
visOrs. An employment bureau of
five (5) members and a secret service
bureau of three (3) members"
"Article IL. The secret service
bureau shall consist of three (3) mem
bers elected by the league"
Section |. Said committee shall select
five (5) agents who shall be exempt
from dues and Metr names shall not be
kHOUH TO any member outside of the
committee"
Section 2. They shall report of all
affairs TO said committee, who in their
turn shall report 10 the executive COM
mittee."
"Article l6. Character of the league:
The league shall be of military dis
cipline. The power or authority OF the
captain where not otherwise limited
shall be absolute, &C."
"ArticIe y. Fraudulent dispositions:
ANY member or members of this league
who sells ont or diSpOSeS Of The tOteS or
interest OF THIS ieagHe without sud
leagues knOWicdgc shall upon proof be
expelled from the league by the mem
bers present at any regular meeting"
How about the sale il the league
knows it,
BY LAWS.
Article u. A majority vote OF the
league shall govern all cases where not
otherwise provided"
ARTICLE Is. Acquiescence on pclit-
ical questions: The members OF this
league, pom all candidates for offices
and upon all political questions must
dcqatesce and submit TO the rulings and
acllon of the league when clearly with
In scope OF the constitutions
Article 5. Balloting for admission.
Section !. The vote shall be by
secret ballot, consisting of white and
black balls"
"Section 2. If three black balls shall
appear against an applicant before the
membership has reached twenty five
(25) he shall be declared rejected"
Section 3. II any applicant for MEM
bersbip receives one black ball his name
shall be held oyer until the next meet.
ing for consideration; hen if the said
applicant does not receiye the requisite
number required by the constitution
for rejection he shall be declared
elected u member"
"Section 4. One additional black
ball shall be added for every fifteen
(l5) additional members until the
membership reaches one hundred IOO)
when ten (l0) black balls shall serve
the purpose of the league tor all time.pj
II TO be Il democrat is the only quail
requisite to membership why
put it III the power OF three men to ex-
clude any democrat from an Organiza-
ton proclaimed to be purely demo-
If these Objectionable features have
been altered, amended or changed, when
was 1t done? If they arc still in force
why does Judge Young omit them
the communication published by
order OF the league and by him handed
TO you, as understand, Tor publicationit
Because as a democrat | exercised
my right TO nominate a fellow demo
crat, John s. Blackwell, as committed
map from Lexington township and
voted for him iD opposition to a menu
Der of This league tor the same POSITION,
OF the members are seeking 10 &C. ]
complIsh my defeat. What | did and
what | said in the township meeting
was in lhe interest of my party, whose
success is OF far greater Importance tO
me than Any individual triumph. =
Every democrat ought to be a work.
ing man whether every workingman
DC u democrat or not. There is m [
class distinction among democrats. y
Every nan who tries to do his whole y
duty to God and his fellow-man is the
equal OF every other man whether he {
be rich or poor.
Ii will be observed that this league ,
he right or not, as II deter !
mines, TO support its local democratic
ticket.
The democratic party hns suffered
enough at the hands of the military
and boards of supervisors and secfet