Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-29
A SPECIES OF Socialism


Mr.. j. NJ. Mckinney OF Grandview IS a
| prosperous farmer and an old citizen of the
state. Discussing the Farmers Alliance
| organization, he said: 81 was member Of
the Alliance for some time, but it is not the
kind OF an organization that admire and l
withdrew. However, l do not think that
| an organization Of this character will be of
much benefit 10 the farmers or anybody
else. It appears to NE that this system OF
cooperation in business and other matters
is simply species Of socialism that is
aoominable in the eyes of all iberty-loving
citizens.
These farmers vociferously oppose
trusts, combinations, etc, but yet they Or
ganize an exchange and attempt to control
the trade Of the organization. This looks to
me very much like q trust and q violation of
good faith on the part OF the organization.
But the principle upon which the Farmers
Alliance and other industrial organizations
organize cooperative stores is vastly differ
ent from trust. \ trust is an organiza-
ton Of q few men for pecuniary gains,
while an industrial cooperative store as
sumes the shape of one of Edward Bellamy's
cooperative kitchens, organized for the
purpose of shutting out competition and
centraliZing u vast number of men in COM
mercial unity.
In fact, the Farmers Alliance organiza-
ton seems to aspire to become the manu-
facturer and distributor of all the necessi-
ties of the farmers. Now, what is the
difference between an organization that
takes man under its wing. feeds, clothes
and supports him, and q government that
does the same thingl
In both instances the commercial freedom
of the people has passed into the hands of
an organization, and ii seems to one that
both are the naturalization of the nation
alistS dream.
OF course, the principal is utopian,
TOOL, gpll
bankruptcy OF cooperative stores and eX-
changes Illustrate that few men grow
sleek and fat on ill-gotten gains while the
masses are plundered of their labor
do not desire to antagonize the Farmers
Alliance. but the principles underlying the
organization teveu as an industrial organiza-
ton removed from politics.. so far 8 {, :
aspires to control production and prote.- ~
members, are highly pernicious, I. , =
merging into nationalism, If Nc. eIeaG
bounded on that vicious doctrine, a.:.. s,
Democrat l cannot affiliate with The - =.
However, l am aware that many exce.lsnt
Democrats belong to the organization who
tons, and this leads me TO BIZ
that the men who are attemptir+
lead the order into third party /,
hope OF securing an Office, are des.il s
sigually fail in Texas.
1t may be that the Cincinnati conve4licn
VIII CTeGLc tulII party DuL Wnen the
platform comes before the Texas public il
will be riddled with such indignation that
the Union Labor monstrosity will appear
symmetrical and beautiful by the side Of IL
The mass Of the members Of the Alliance Of
Texas may quietly submit 10 the sub-teas-
ury discussion and the third party plot un-
I'll the time comes TO vote, and then these
astute Farmers Alliance demagocues will
suddenly awake to the fact that they are q
little TOO short in the suspenders to handle
the Texas farmers.