Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1891-12-17
McGUIE's SPEECH,
ne DEFENDS TIE sus-7REAsuRy plAx.
Objections Urged Against It Abiy Answsrss
and the Effect Of it's Application
to Business Eiucidated.

& IN his speech in Tomlinson Hall, Indian-
asaxolis, Indiana, Wednesday, November
a I'm, Mr.. McCnne said: q.
se seFesponsibility resting puon both
andiance and tho speakers during
sthIG Speat series Of meetings does not cease
when each shall return to his home. In
I fact, it may then be said tor rest more
heavily than now. and will continue to
rest and grow as time progress and ssthe
conflict for the right grows warmer. This
responsibility cannot be evaded, post
poned or or avoided. 1tmust be met and
discharged in some way. y Il respon.
sibility that involves action and cannot be
met by inaction. Evils already exist,
and IL any man recognizes these evils and
refuse to combat and oppose them. he by
such refusal identifies himself with those
who favor them. The responsibilities In
& this great reform movement are for ac-
i tion, and inaction is opposition. You
cannot sit and listen to the reform argu-
ments here abducted and admit the great
Z truths presented. and refuse to fight un-
der this banner. To do this is to expose
s the wrong. Since, then, the response
bility is for action, it becomes all impor-
tant that the greatest care should be
taken in q thorough examination of the
evils that affiict the body politics, and in
tbe choice Of conservatives remedies
Nh VIII be the nearest approach to
lI-' tice for all classes. In this examina-
ton and decision, the present prosperity
and future happiness of the nation is in
volved and the responsibility istoo great
to admit of anecdote Or jesting oratory or
display. Cool, conservative reason must
cooperate with mature judgment.
# is 1T is we'll in the beginning to inquire
what has been already donein this great
movement, how it has been done, and
where are we now in the work. The
public is already familiar with the history
of the farmers alliance as an organiza-
Z tion, and it is now unnecessary to dwell
upon the causes that have given, rise to
the rapid developement Of the order.
The feature of alliance work Of most in
terest upon this occasion is the acts, the
motives and the policy OF the various
past sessions OF the Supreme Council.
The first national convention Of the
farmers alliance was held in Waco,
Texas, in January, 1887, and besides the
work Of organizing national order, elect
ing officers and adopting q constitution,
fh;,t meeting will always be noted in his
ftot for two things; first. its adopted
Wa 1as to spread the organization; and
secokd, its adopted policy was to offer
the olive branch Of peace to all like orga-
nization OF forces and unity of effort.
The Shreveport meeting nine months
latte in the same year reiterated and en-
dorced the same policy. The Meridian
Mississippi meeting in December, 1883,
did tNasthings which kept up lively in
teress 4eNwork of the succeeding year.
First II Submitted to the states orders a
plan for carrying out the consolidation
policy of the alliance in the shape of y
constitution providing for organic union
with the national agricultural wheel.
This was submitted to the states for rati-
fication. Second. economy in the adj
ministration of the national order was
made prominent feature of the work by
the establishment of national oregon at
Washington, D. c., as the cheapest and
most efficient of all educators, and
pmy was further provided for by
MN hing al but four of the national
ssof the order and providing that