The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-01-14

millions OF members. we have a great
and holy work before US. 70 have a
clear understanding of the obligations
of each one to the other and to the Or
der education is absolutely necessary
To get that education invoke you to
subscribe for the National Economist,
the official organ of the Order, pub
Gshed at Washington city. 1t Will cost
you only one dollar a year. 1t is worth
to you more than all the other news
papers put together. You will learn
from it the principles and demands of
the Order and its great end and aim.
Il you do not take it, subscribe at once
for it.
There is great lack Of knowledge
among those who ought to be posted.
The following will show the obligation
Of each member of the Alliance to the
Order and to those organizations with
whom we have confederated:
ST. LOUIS. Mo-, December 9Th, 1852.
Agreement made this day by and be-
tween the undersigned committee repre-
senting the National Farmers Alliance
and Industrial Union on the one part, and
the undersigned committee representing
he Knights of Labor on the other part.
HiheSseth: The udersiguee committee
representing the Knights of Labor having
read the demands Of the National Farmers
Alliance and Industrial Union which are
embodied In this agreement, hereby endorse
the same on behalf of the Knights Of Labor,
and for the purpose of giving practical
effect to the demands herein set forth, the
legislative committees of both organizations
will act in concert before Congress for the
purpose Of securing the enactment Of laws
in harmony with the demands mutually
agreed. And it is further agreed, in order
to carry out these objects, we will support
for Office only such men as can be depended
upon to exact these principlese into statute
law uninfuenced by party caucus. Ma
tional Economist, Vol. 3, No 4. page a14.
Is it not clear from the above agree
ment that any member Of Congress who
is member of the Alliance commits
perjury if he goes into a caucus of
either of the great parties? If he is in
any degree influenced by party caucus
he Is perjured. There is no escape from
it.
On the heels of Mr.. Irby's election to
the position of United States Senator
he was interviewed by the correspon-
dent of The News and Courier, and is
reported as making the following state
ment:
81 am going to the Senate as a Democrat
and in full accord with the National De-
mocracy. am in full sympathy with the
Alliance, but whatever may be obtained
by me for the Alliance must be obtained
through the National Democratic party
How does this statement Of Mr..
Irby's who is the Alliance lecturer of
Laurens County, compare with his
obligations as member Of the ALI
ance? Is he ignorant of his obligations,
or is his conscience so scared that he is
ipsensible of his sworn duty?
Dfesher- AIlancemen, great prln-
ciples and demands are the basis of our
noble Order, and we have before Con-
gress pressing for solution measure
Of financial relief of the greatest mag
nitude. The Alliance is non partisan,
but political. It rises high above men
and parties. It is the creature Of the
times and the condition of the country.
Financial reform is the imperative de-
mand. 1t was that, and not tariff re-
form, that caused the recent great
political revolution. The people of the
North and Northwest are sick and tired
growing corn for IL cents per bushel
and raising beef for cent per pound.
This is only the beginning of the rev.
olution for the purlfcation of the Gov
eminent and financial reform. The
time is near at hand when the Order viii
move out and, taking its position, will
draw it's blade in defense of its princi
pies and demands, and, striking right
and left will spare no foe. Whoever
falters in the fight is a traitor, and
should meet the traitors fate.
To permit a. scurvy fellow, leprous
with crime and without an element of
craftsmanship, to wcrm himself by po-
htical trickery into high position, is not
only an impeachment to the work, but
a crime against the Order. A major
ity Of the members of the General AS
sembly are Alliance men, and they could
have elected clean and able man to
reprerent our Order in the Senate and
push our measures to success. AL was
lost by the treason of one man, Senator
Stokes, president of the State Alliance.
How and why?
On Friday morning, December 5, 1890,
the following appeared in the Charles
ton World, the organ of Tllman and
Irby:
"What have seen and heard today
confirms me ID my previously expressed
opinion that State Senator J. W. Stokes,
who is also President of the State Farm
ers' Alliance, will cut no figure in the
fight for the United States Senatorship
next Tuesday; but that on the contrary he
is being carefully groomed for the Goyer-
norship in 1894, when Tillman is more than
likely, as I have already pointed out in
%n c,,naooS &ho M ~
Butler in the United States Senate"
The Tillmanite who inspired this
knew his man. Stokes snapped up and
swallowed the bait with avidity, as the
sequel shows. On the night of the
next day, Saturday, there was a caucus
Of about forty Alliance men, which was
presided over by Senator Stokes, presi-
dent of the State Alliance. A ballot
was taken, with Donaldson in the lead,
next Irby, then Keitt. Stokes, as pre-
dicted, in the Charleston World, cut no
figure in the fight. He got only four
votes. He was out of the race in an
Alliance coucus.
It was then agreed to hold an Alliance
caucus on Monday night, when all the
Alliance members of the General AS
sembly would be present and select an
Alliance candidate. A committee was
appointed to wait on Donaldson, Irby
and Keitt and get them to state in writ
ing their position on the principles and
demands Of the Alliance, to be read be-
fore the caucus. President Stokes said
to the writer that his position was well
known, but the position Of Donaldson
and Irby was not; hence the request that
they be put in writing. put mine in
writing and handed it in. Senator
Stokes, president of the State Alliance
and presiding officer Of the caucus of
Alliance men on Saturday night, instead
of convening the Alliance on Monday
night, as agreed, led off into a caucus of
Non-Alliance men, Tillmanites; from
which caucus Alliance men who did not