Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-06-27
The Farmers Political hEovement

med by large number Of represen- /
tatlve men to advise the putting out |
Of full county, Congressional and |
State tickets. for Offices to be filed at !
the next fall elections in Kansas, the
! St. Louis demands, with those adopt
ed later by the State Alliance, to be
the platform upon which the candi-
dates on the Peoples ticket shall con
duct the canvass.
This independent movements just
~ attracting a great deal of attention,
It was not started hastily nor without
! due elaboration on the part of those
who have taken the step. Nor was it
begun without notice to all whom it
may concern. The Kansas FARMER,
long ago, urged organization on the
part Of farmers and workers general
~ for the purpose of impressing their
views upon the legislation of the
country, and we called attention of
public mem many times to the i'm
J poEbance of their listening early to
1.-THE appeals of the people who pro
duce about ali the needful things
which keep the world agoing. And
| notice was given many times in these
columns that it was not safe to trife
with the necessities of the people.
We had hoped, and our advice, uni
fOrmly gwen, was based upon the
hope, that all needed reforms could
be wrOght out through existing party
machinery. When the Farmers Al
lance and Industrial Union began to
assume great proportions, speaking
in its interest and with full knowledge
Of the feelings and opinions of its
members, this paper announced that
there was no present intention on the
part of the Alliance to destroy exist
ing parties nor to set up a party of
its own. At the same time, however,
we made it clear all along that the
Farmers Movement" was begun in
order to accomplish some reforms
which are imperatlvely needed, and
that there would be no letting up IN
I'll the work is accomplished. Then,
we have asked many times of the
great parties that they take hold of
the questions which farmers regard
as vital, and make common cause
with the people. We believed that
when farmers and other working peO-
pie would get together and make
their wants known, politicians and
statesmen would listen and act favor
ably. That was the opinion of nearly
all members of the Alliance. But our
appeals, our notices and warnings
have had no appreciable effect on the
persons and classes to whom they
were addressed, and our questions to
parties aud party leaders have been
= utterly ignored Instead of yielding
to the pressure Of the people, our leg
islstive bodies have paid no attention
to the Farmers Movement" In
9 stead of reducing duties on imports
= as to many articles it IS proposed tc
increase them; nothing which sug
o gests free coinage of silver is granted
even a respectful hearing in Congress
and a party caucus is used to prevent
the coming together of the friends
. Of free. coinage in both parties
- enough, in the House at least, to pass
. the bill; no financial measure which
L would work relief can obtain a hear
3 ing before a full House or Senate; N
Il pension legislation which the peopl,
g have asked for is at all possible IN
der present conditions at Washing
ton. 1t appears, therefore. that moth
L ing in the way of relief is to be ex
10 pected at the hands of present part!
y leaders, and the masses are left t,
d their own resources, either to follow
% blindly the lead Of men who have per
mitted trouble to come upon them, o
to rebel and bring together all Op
i posing forces into one great army o
n voters.
e This ignoring of the just demand.
n of the people has wrought its legitl
IS mate work. ffaF4aees aAd their friend
d aGe growing desperate, and hav
I, finally determined to take their owl
is business into their own hands. TIL
at appearance of the Peoples tickets
d all over the State this year will b
the evidence Of an open EaRalTlsyQq55
against existing conditions and meth
e DDS rvs Y99a5a h9nee tAeFe may D
= a young Maternal party, ana in 189
is the people nay change political con
z ditions in all departments of the gov