Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-03-20
Lawyers and Merchant. Ineligible.


Not having had the good fortune to
belong 10 the Farmers Alliance, but al
ways entertaining for the class high
opinion aud sympathizing with them in
the manly fight they are now making
to better their depressed condition. it is
no, expected that we should know all
the details connected with the organize
ton. 1t is generally understood that
LAWYERS and merchants are not wanted
10 The organization, but the reason why
those intelligent classes Of business peo-
pie should be objected to by al Organi-
ization having business for its sole OBJ
ject has not been succinctly stated. A
leading Virgins Journal, however. Of
late has enlightened US on the subject,
and in a well considered article, tersely
put, gives the reasons why and where
fore the unholy lawyer cannot share in
the labor OF the farmers advancement,
and the merchant cooperate with him
in his efforts for success:
Lawyers and merchants" says our
worthy contemporary. ARE not eligible
to membership in the Farmers Alliance,
though they may be farmers as well. un-
less they quit practicing law. or give up
merchandising. This is the ruling Of
both the National and State Presidents,
and it is right. as brief consideration
will show
First, as to lawyers. The depression
and sDslaVement Of agriculture has been
clearly brought about by the viciously
discriminating Legislation Of Congress in
favor Of the few at The expense of the
many. The Congresses, which have so
sinned against the people. have been
composed largely Of lawyers, eighty GU,
Of every hundred members belonging to
the legal fraternity. Lawyers as class
have therefore discredi.cd themselves,
and they must admit the reasonablencss
Of our position that it were folly to en-
plOy the self-same agents, who had COM
passed our enslavement, in the work of
our enfranchisement AS a class law
Jers work for the biggest fees, and we
are in no position to compete with the
great corporations in this feeling bust
ness. We must therefore fight our own
battles, and, doing so, we shal! be all |
the more certain Of winning. We free
ly aud gladly admit that there are num-
bers of lawyers, who are highly honor
able gen.lemen, who would not lend
them selves to any unworthy or corrupt
proceeding, and whose sympathies are
entirely with us in our great work of po-
litical and industrial reform. And
these very gentlemen. after due consid-
e erntiS Seer% nSnEaSF to HEGesybSS t
outside is eminently wise and just.
Now, how is it as regards merchants?
Here there is distinct conflict of inter
est. TIE merchant sells and tie farmer
buys. Itis the interest of the merch mt
to get as high price as possible, where
as the farmer i, endea 'orlng to buy as
Cheaply as possible. and oae main object
of the Alliance is to help him to do 1t.
Is there any sense then in admitting
merchants to membership in an Order.
which is organized for the purpose OF
putting down prices? How much help
may We expect from them in this dlrec-
toni Is it not rather to their interest
to paralyzc all our efforts at practical
cooperation In saying this we IRE not
hard on the merchants. In their posi-
ton We should do the same. In fact,
judging from the conduct of farmers who
have turned merchants. We should prob
ably do worse. We merely wish them
to understand that the Alliance means
cooperate IN for mutual benefit, and as a
system is Numerically opposed to the
conduct of business for private benefit
alone. If they will convert their stores
into Alliance cooperative concerns, eve
~ Allianceman sharing in the profits
then We shall gladly welcome them into
the brotherhood. Until then, they must
stay out, and any merchants BOW in
should lose no time in getting out
They can do no less. il they understand
the purposes Of the Allilnce. aud are IN
the habit Of acting with consistency
and dscency."
---..s.sss - "'''"'
The War Department has issued in
s,-rct;ons in regard to the detail of