Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-09
BRAGG TO TAYLOR.
THE MILK IN THE COCOANUT
TASTES OF POLITICS.
Brer Taylor is Asked to Explain Certain
Things-Hung without Trial-Mob
Law Violence-W2nts an Answer
To the Alliance Membership OF Fannin Count!

To the Alliance Membership Of Fannin County
Brethren:
Having been kicked clear out Of the last
county meeting of the Farmers Alliance by
high-handed contemplate bossism, and
that at the hands of man and brother for
whom Notwithstanding | have always diff
fered with him politically, be being a life
long Republican and u noted one, too. |
have always had the highest respect and
fraternal feeling, nevertheless l have al
ways thought that his zeal for our noble
order was measured to some extent by his
desire for personal gain and the final over
throw of the grand old Democratic party,
and inaSmuch as he through ignorance or
malice by virtue of his position has
thrust me from the order without 4 trial,
and without even a hearing-in view of
these facts presume it no violation of Alli5
ance principles or law for me TO give the
membership my views through the press,as
l have been denied the privilege of 4 hear
ing inside the order or in the body from
which 1 was excluded, and having no other
way or means of being heard l vii. use the
press and in an humble way pay him my
respects. Now, Brother Taylor, did we
not agree when taking the obliga-
erring brother Now. if We're
in any way violating any of the principles
of our order, which / am not willing to ad-
nit. you should have cautioned Inc and
given me warning that I was so acting.
Did you ever do SO. Echo answers no.
Does not the constitution of our order
lay down certain rules by which person
can become member, and does it not lay
down certain rules for their suspension or
eXpulsion2 Have you and did you comply
with theses requisites, Let US see if You
have: if not who has done wrong, you or l!
will first notice the constitution as to
qualification for membership in our order
See article 3, section l, which reads as fol-
lows:
mo person shall be admitted as men,
Der unless he has been citizen of the state
in which he resides for six months past,
and not then unless he be a farmer, farm
laborer country mechanic, country school,
teacher. country physician. country
minister of the gospel, and editor of
strictly agricultural journals OF good
moral character; believes in the existence
dustrious habits, is white per-
son, and over the age of sixteen years.
Further, when any member of the Farmers
and Laborers' Union of America shall en-
gage in any occupation which would render
him ineligible before initiation, said men,
Der shall at once be dismissed from the or
der and furnished by the secretary writ
provided, that the above shall not apply to
members of the order who may be selected
to buy and sell as merchants under the SUE
pervision of the order; provided, further,
that any kind of brokerage, banking. law or
commission. business shall debar those en-
gagged in the same from membership
See also article ), section 2. reads: sAny
person employed in merchandise, either as
4 proprietor or clerk, even though he may
at the same ime own and conduct a farm,
is by virtue of such employment rendered
ineligible to membership in the subordinate
bodies under the jurisdiction of the Ali
ance: provided, the above shall not apply to
members of the Alliance who may be Sc
lected to buy and sell as merchants under
the supervision of the Alliance"
L quote the above sections for several
reasons:
!. That the membership and outside
world may know that majority of the
present leaders of the order are not and
never were eligible to membership in the
order.
2. That great many who were formerly
eligible are not now on account of their
connection with other business.
3. And lastly to show that this high
handed fight against the anti-sub-treasury
membership of the order is being waged
and urged on chiefly by set of mug
wumps who never should have been ad-
mitted, they being Ineligible to member
ship.
Now, Brother Taylor. since have called
your attention to requisite qualifications
necessary to become member of the or
der, shall wait and anxiousiy look for
your application for a withdrawal card on
the grounds of your owning stock in
bank, and that you are directly interested
in the management of said bank, by reason
of your being one of its directors, and
knowing that you are an honest man, feel
all the more assured that you will not con-
tinue to hold membership in an order
wherein the constitution is so plain in
pointing out your ineligibility TO member
ship, to-wit: Banking.
I will next call your attention to the Alli-
ance constitution in regard to charges,
specifications, suspensions or explosions Of
a member of the order. See article o. sec
ton 3, which reads as follows:
"Wnen an officer or member shall be
guilty Of conduct unbecoming an Alliance
man, or when personal differences shall ex-
lstaetween members, and, after reasona-
bio efforts, cannot be amicably adjusted, an
ofncsr may be impeached, charges and |
specifications in writing may be preferred !
by any member al = stated meeting Of the
board OF arbitration. AID when charges ara
preferred ~. ci-ArSes-and speaiA-