The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1891-04-24

Unless we except the state OF Kan
sas, there is an almost universal mis-
conception regarding the functions
and duties of an alliance legislator.
It has been the rule OF the great ma
jority OF alliance lawmakers, like
delegates to conventions, to sit
quietly and vote upon measures
which chance throws in their path or
to let the plutocratic element do the
downright fighting, the alliance men
acting on the defensive.
Such is not the duty-not the privi
lege of the reformer. There is but one
pathway to reform-that is to fight
and fight aggressiyely. This means
to fight everything. Combine moth
ing, mollify nothing, harmonic
nothing.
If plutocracy brings up a Worlds
Fair appropriation, fight it! Why?
Simply because plutocracy thereby
find that they have dangerous
enemy. And if they want to pass
bills of even a general character they
must yield to an appreclable extent
on the bills of distinctive ALLAN ,e
character.
At present the reformer is not re-
spected overmuch. He is extensively
played with.
The plutes fingered alliance noses
on the Silver Bill. The National
Banking System do not find men
bold enough to assault the miserable
fraud. The railroad issue was snub-
bed in everv possible way. Mortgage
taxation was like an ear of corn at
tached to a mule-just II inches
ahead Of his nose.
We are speaking of western legisla-
lures in general. The disease OF
Harmony" the hypocrisy OF humil-
ity, the fraud and dishonor Of the
combine, the palsy of cowardice,-all
have eaten into the spinal column of
the movement, and we now cry over
the wasted opportunities.
The work should be done by
method. In the Minnesota legislature
there was an absOlute-a total-a
shocking lack Of method and system.
The legislative alliance COMMITTEE"
was nothing if not a burlesque.
There was no organization. There
was actually, the least amount of
horse-sense displayed that the mind
can conceive Of
What should have been done?
Itrequires no profound statecraft to
inform them. AS they utterly es-
chewed the GREAT WEST in their
councils they have not acted upon
any of the advice which we could have
given them from a large experience in
legislative work.
1st.-It was suicidal not to prepare
for the issues.
The alliance men should have met
and taken from the platform say
half-score stalwart issues as their
field of aggressive work. We can men
ton a possible number:
1st.-The cost of railway construc-
ton.
2d.-The traffic and operative ex-
penses OF railways.
3d.-The mortgage history and
condition, and the FACTS regarding
usury in this and other states.
4th.-The silver question.
5th.-The national banking sys-
TEN.
6th.-The Land Loan question.
7th.-The transportation OF wheat.
Sth.-Milling interests.
On every one of these departments
a committee should have been ap-
pointed to FIGHT. But if a committee
refused to go to work, in earnest, to
become
THOROUGHLY POSTED
on every phase OF it's particular de-
partments then others should be ap-
pointed. This posting up should be
what might be called '''stuffing."
Facts, figures, causes, complaints,
defenses-al should be brought be-
fore each committee, and persons and
records used for information.
Then when question like the silver
issue came up there would be no such
miserable fiasco as we have witnessed
this winter.
Until the alliance forces organize
for fight, warfare, conflict, blows and
blows. it will be petering along on
this combine and that sell-out, until
it finally peters out utterly.
Let the lesson of this winter teach
alliance men their duty in the future.