The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1891-05-15
A MEMBERS DUTY.
A Letter that Should DO Read by anWav-
ering Auienee Men.

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A Letter that Should DO Read by anWav-
ering Auienee Men.
Since It has become means of pop
ularity with the political managers and
their dupes FOR Alliance men to show a
disposition to disorganize and neutral
ize the power Of the Alliance exerted
through unity ;says the National Econo-
mist, here and there a misguided BROTH
er has been induced to assume posi-
ton of antagonism to the demands of
the order. This opposition has been
accompanied invariably with declara-
tons of great veneration for those pur-
poses and demands of the Alliance
that may happen to please the objector,
and is always suggestive of the fact
that the only obstacle to unity in his
mind is his inability to make his sim
gle self into majority of the order.
President Mann Page, of the Virginia
state Alliance, has dealt with a brother
OF this temperament in a late letter
which so clearly expresses true ap-
probation of the duties growing out of
the obligation to abide the decision of
the majority, that the greater part is
here reproduced:
THE writer is evidently a good and
sincere man, and as a member of the
Farmers Alliance he is entitled to the
fullest liberty and freedom of thought
nor is he required to yield his opinions
to those of a majority of his Alliance
brethren who may differ with him in
regard to his religious or political
belief, and he is correct when he says
that before taking the obligation he
was assured that it would not conflict
with his religious or political views.
The plain and simple meaning of the
assurance given, is that member is
not required to withdraw from his
party or his church except by his own
free will. The brother is mistaken
when he claims that the plan of organ
ization submitted by the legislative
council for the direction and guidance
of county and district legislative coun-
ellis requires him to sink his honest
convictions, and he fails utterly in his
conception of that clause submitted by
the legislative council which says,
Provided no legislative council shall
advocate any measure which may con-
flict with the constitution or laws of
the order or demands of the state AL
lance and supreme council the plain
meaning of which is that county and
district legislative councils shall not
originate and promulgate any Alliance
doctrines other than those that have
been duly considered and approved by
the supreme council and state Alliance.
The declaration that there is no
power on the throne or behind it that
can wipe out or expunge this obliga-
tion,' suggests the propriety OF my re-
minding him of that section of the
obligation he took when he swore that
he would faithfully support the con-
stitution and laws of the order, when
he says that there were measures
adopted by the supreme council, to
characterize with the mildest possible
language, many think absurd, i'm
practical, etc., and that he, as lectur-
er of his county, considers it his duty
to point out to the Alliances to whom
he lectures the injury they will inflict
upon the order, he certainly forgets
his sworn duty to render that support.
In page IA of the proceedings of the
supreme council, held at Ocala, De-
cember last the following resolution
was adopted:
Resolved, That we discuss freely,
full, honestly and thoroughly, all
measures and resolutions presented for
consideration, and that where the
action OF a majority has been had. that
the delegates pledge our united sup
port to them, believing when the body
has spoken it is our duty to stand as
unit as to the outside world.
my objectin quoting the above reso-
luton is to show my brother that it is
perfectly right for all members and
officers to fully, freely and thoroughly
discuss all measures that may promote
or injure the Alliance cause; and if
the alliances so desire they may in
struct the delegates what measures to
| support or oppose when representing
the order in state or national councils.
But when the supreme council has
adopted the laws, rules and resolu-
tons, it is the duty of every true AL
lance brother to act together as a
unit, and yield obedience until such
laws, etc., shall have been repealed.
These principles are laid down not
only in the obligation that every men,
Der assumes, but also reiterated in the
lectures each member receives before
he is introduced as a member in full
fellowship.
The admonition is not intended in
the slightest degree to interfere or pre-
vent the fullest and freest discussion by
the members and officers of the order
when assembled in the alliances-coun-
ty alliances or state alliances. upon all
subjects affecting the good of the order.
whether they be measures that have
already been adopted by any and all
county, state, or national councils; but
to admonish the brethren against
breaking the combined influence of the
order by aiding and abetting our enc