Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-12-03
THAT COOPERATIVE PLAN.

fool ideas of some OF the WOuid-be lead
ers of the alliance at the Salina con-
ventiOn, and again declare that We can
never endorse such a foolish and crazy
thing as the organization of q New
York City stock company with
go, ,OOO. .OO0 capital, for the sole purpose
lin our Opinion) of crushing out ma
jority, if not ali. the country merchants
In the Union. We started out to fight
monopolies of every description, NO
matter by whom managed and operated;
and if the alliance attempts to start
such monster organization from
which one or two stores in each town
must purchase supplies, then we will
oppose it with all the energy at our
command. We are surprised that such
scheme should have moments
thought or consideration among alli-
ance men, when monopoly is the very
thing they are fighting! But the plan
will be total failure, and no one will
more heartily rejoice over such result
as we have said before, we consider it
one of the most gigantic and ruinous
mcnOpOlies ever conceived in the mind
of man."--Sterling Champion. (peo-
ples).
The above from the Sterling Cham
pion are straight hits, right from the
shoulder. One Of the main principles
of the alliance movement. as we under.
stand it. is to procure equal rights to
all and exclusive privileges to none.
Should the efforts Of that organization
be directed wholly to bring about that
kind of legislation every fair minded
man in the land could willingly assist
in the good work.
But are the efforts Of the order di-
rected to that endY Is the effort some
of the leaders are making to control all
classes of business; to wipe out, or
freeze out, most of the men engaged in
mercantile business; to get things in
such shape that the alliance organiza-
tion can dictate to all people not en-
gagged in agriculture what they shall or
shall not do; are such efforts for the
good of all and the exclusive privileges
of none?
Take the local situation here in Bar
ton county. The bitterest Of feeling
entertained against the alliance move
meut by town men has it's foundation
in the belief that the alliance proposes
to 60 into the merchandising business;
to boycott the business men in the
towns. While we believe that some
business men are unnecessarily wrought
up over the matter, we must admit
that they have some cause for COM
plaint. There are many men who
the government ownership of
railroads, the loaning of money on farm
security by the government, and the
starting of cooperative stores who have
been carried year after year on the
books of the town merchants when
crops were failure and money scarce
We do not assert that all men who ad-
vocate these things are so situated; but
there are many who are. And can you
blame the merchant for feeling dis
pleased? Is the town man justified in
believing that your desire is for "equal
rights to all and special privileges to
none?''
When the alliance. as an organiza-
tion, strikes at the very roots of the
evils our laboring and industrial people
are suffering, and ceases to try to kill
the gigantic tree of monopoly by strik-
ing off its branches or by planting and
cultivating another monopolistic giant
that is intended to overshadow the
present one, then the alliance will get
the approval and the assistance of all
men who desire good government. Aim
your blows at the root of the evil; fight
for tariff reform; for financial equality;
for the legislative suppression of deal
ing in futures-that fragrant gambling
in the sweat and blood of labor; direct
your efforts to the uprOOting of the
money power, championed and pro-
tected by the republican party, as it is,
and you will surely win in the end. If
you divide the forces that are wagiug
the war upon our nations evils by
setting one gang TO looping off the
small branches while the other crowd
keep digging away 1T the roots neither
will gain such head way as if the entire
force was directed right. In the end
the men vino have gone brayely to work
at the but of the tree will accomplish
the final overthrow; the fellows who
build ladders aud ciimD up aud hack
away at the branches are but wasting
their energy. for while they are at work
up there the roots will be growing,
reaching out under ground, undermin.
ing their props and supports and add
ing strength and puwer to the body of
the evil.
Throw aside the prejudice of name,
you farmers who see The need of reform
and change, and direct your Efforts in
accord with those vino have been work
ing for tile same things You seek. for
years aud years. We believe the great
majority of alliance men who are only
in it for sp1ils, will 60 to work watering
the roots again, hauling manure for
the 6. o. p. in the h,pe that they may
gather some fruit from the monopolis
tic tree.
The other men. those who are hon.