Dodge City times., 1891-05-08
OFFICIAL.


President Polk Issues an Important Ad.
dress to the Members Of the Order.
To the Brotherhood OF the n. F. A. 81 T.:
We are now approaching the most
critical period in our existence rs IN
order. The demoralizing elements,
which always enter into a political
campaign, are already being marshalled
by the enemies of our order, with q de-
termined purpose to divide and disrupt
us, if possible. No device or scheme
will be left untried. Every effort will
be made to divert the minds of the pco-
pie from the great issues which arc
essentially the very life of our great
reform movement
1t was this knowledge of the situation
that prompted the action of the nation
al legislative council in maturing plan
fer lecture system and for presenting
it to the order Tor adoption. The ulti-
mate, inevitable and triumphant sue
cess of our principles is assured, il this
system be actively and faithfully prose-
cuted, for the American farmers and
all other classes and interests which
are SO intimately related to them, will
not fail to stand together for right,
justice and equity, if properly in-
formed. II prosecuted as designed,
this system will engage the services
during this year of not less than 81, 600
lecturers in our cause. l earnestly in
woke the aid and cooperation of the
entire brotherhood in securing faith
full lecturer fo- every subordinate and
county alliance, and for every congress
sional district, within the jurisdiction
of our order throughout the whole
country.
Arrangements are also being made
for the holding of two or more grand
alliance mass meetings in each of the
alliance states during the year, or as
many more Us the brotherhood may de-
sire. Let us have your active and
earnest sympathy in making this the
great educational campaign year in our
history, and thus be prepared to meet
any emergency that may arise.
State and county officers especially
are earnestly admonishel to push this
work in their respective Jurisdictions
zealously and vigorously.
The enemy is actively on the alert It
is his purpose to buy or control our
press as far rs possible. Failing with
money he will substitute office or its
patronage. Failing in all this, he will
strive by every means, foul or fair, to
create divisions and dissensions in our
ranks.
If convention of the enemies of the
A
trial Union was called to devise plan
for the overthrow and destruction Of
the order, it would doubtless adopt, as
the most speedy and effectual, such
methods as would create dissensiOn and
strife among the membership. How
eagerly and how cXuitantly they hail
the least indication of this, II an erring
brother SO far forgcts his obligations to
the order rs to ass;iil its principles pub
licly he is hcralded by the politicians
and the partisan press as hero. If a
paper which has been designated rep
resentativc OF the principles of our or
der proves false 10 its most sacred COM
pact and assailS our members, or our
principles, it thereby gains speedy adj
of our enemies. If influential or prom
inent members, disregarding their obi
cations to each other and to the order,
engage in Il public personal warfare
through the press or otherwise, our en-
emics are abuudantly satisfied.
No member of our order has the right
to assail another member publicly.
through the press or otherwise, so long
as their names are on our roll of mem.
bership. Such an offcnse is violation
of his obligation and should merit ex-
pulsion. No paper vested with author
ity to represent our order officially has
the right to assail our principles or any
member of the Oricr while acting in
such a capacity. Such an offense should
cause all true alliance men to repudiate
such paper promptly. No member,
while his name remains ON our rolls,
has right to assail the principles of the
order publicly. He is not only
permitted, but is encouraged by
our law, to discuss any and all
measures coming within onr province
with the utmost freedom and to any
extent he may desire within the order.
Bnt the will of the majority is the law
of the order, and if he cannot acquiesce
in the decision OF the majority, and
feels that he is conscientiously inn
PEELED to go before the public and as
sail our principles, he should first di-
vest himself of his alliance uniform.
With what consistency could Baptist
or Methodist go before the world and
publicly oppose and denounce some of
How long would his name remain on
his church book? How long ought il
to remain there? Why should he ex.
pect or desire to remain in the church?
Loyalty 10 alliance principles is the
only true alliance test, not only as to
membership. but it shoyld faithfully be
applied i'm the selection of all officers,
from the steward in n subordinance al
lance to the president of the National
Alliance, and it must be applied in the
selection of those who are to make and
execute our laws, ii we would reason.
ably hope for the reforms which we
seek.
We want no foes within our camp.
We can live better without them than
with them. Let the members be
watchful and faithful, an guard with
untiring vigilance the principles of the
order. Never was the outlook for our
cause SO hopeful and encouraging. We
have only t, be true IL our principles,
true to our obligations and to our noble
order, and all will be we'll Frater.
nally. l.. L. Polk,
President n +. A. and l. U.