The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1891-02-07
co1FAy GRANT PARISH La. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY Z L


The Farmers and the Press
In this connection it may be !
stated that the editor of the Colfax /
CHRONICLE has Withdrawn from
the Union under another ruling of
President Adams that editors and
proprietors of pronounced partisan
newspapers are not eligible to
membership. The editor of the
CHRONICLE is a staunch Democrat;
he is also an anti-lottery man, and
his paper advocates with great zeal
the cause of the farmers and the
Alliance. He has been for six
years chairman of the Democratic
executive committee of Grant par
ish. But for all this he had to step
down and out of the Farmers
Union as q partisan who was OBJ
noxious to it's plans and purposes.
The editor, however, will continue
to espouse the cause of the
farmers, and assures them of his
friendship and fidelity in the future
as in the past. Now, if this rule
of exclusion was applied to all
editors of partisan newspapers
there could be no objection, but it
seems that an exception is made in
favor of those who maintain the
political principles of the Alliance
to the very verge of third partyism.
The test of partisanship established
by President Adams seems to be on
the same basis as the theological
definition given by q noted clerical
humorist that Orthodoxy is my
doxy, and heterodoxy is your doxy."
Every Democrat is construed to be
g partisan, but it is impossible to
be an Alliance politician. At least,
we have heard of no withdrawal or
resignation from the Union of any
Alliance editor on account of Presi-
dent Adams ruling. -Tilnes-De
ocrat.
OF the action of our worthy con-
frere of the CHRONICLE we have
but this to say: He has acted con-
bistently, conscientiously and like q
good Democrat, and his course is
therefore to be commended. But
what is the meaning of this prank
of Mr.. Adams, the leader of the
farmers State Union? Has the
Union begun to feel itself SO big and
powerful that it intends to cut loose
from its Democratic and Republi.
can newspaper friends, or rather te
keep them out of its ranks, which
4 amounts to the same thing? That
is the apparent significance of Mr.
Adams ruling, beyond the perad'
venture of doubt. Why. the bar
has been put upon newspaper edi
tors and proprietors alone, and MOI
made to extend to others who art
as pronounced partlsans, but arr
fortunately engaged in other pur
suits, we fail to comprehend; but il
any event we cannot perceive
wherein lies either the business d
the sound reason of Mr.. Adams
, ruling. If the farmers of this Stat
have In view the permanent estab
, lishment of q new party in thu
, politics of this State-and straw
show which way the wind blows
which will contend for supremac.
with the other great parties, thel
the action of their chief in exclud
, ing partisan newspapers can b
, understood. If, though,-we ar
speaking as a Democrats major
ty of the farmers can still believ
| that allegiance to the dominan
! party in this State does not neces
: sarily imply self-ruin land many Q
{ them have followed the colors G
: Democracy through Louisiana
darkest days), halt should b
> called on those at the head of tn
! farmers movement when they dis
: play their reckless madness by cas-
I ing loose from that class who hay
2 always proved their strongef
l friends-the editors of the Demo
9 cratic press. Gretna Courier.
We select the two above crit
. cisms, on our withdrawal from tn
: union from a number that hay
been made, in order that the view
!. of those ON the outside of unio
q circles may be understood The
z is absolutely no political signif
! canoe in President Adams rulinI
+ and we think the papers hardl
treat him fair when they SO charg
e It is our opinion that Presidel
e Adams was ruling for what |
q thought the best interests OF til
q order. although we are sure /