Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1891-05-05
"A Note of Warning.

other dangers that seemed to threaten
the growth, development, and success
of the farmers alliance, but there are
other dangers of which it has never
spoken. There are dangerous and rocky
coasts which, will be fatal to the good
ship if she is hurled upon them. Light
houses are erected to indicate where
dangers are. The official organ OF the
order would be dierilict in it's duty did
it not point out the dangerous coast as
soon as discovered to the end that the
membership may steer clear of all harm
and guide the cause to triumph. There
are two points of great danger on the
Atlantic coast, stormy" capes Hatteras
and Henlopen, and all vessels going
North or South must pass them; the
danger points are always there and
must be met with courage. zeal and in
telligence. So in the Alliance move
ment there are two danger points which
if met with courage, zeal and intelli-
gence, threaten wreck. These two
danger points are first. placing politi-
clans in control of the offices of the
order; and, second, compromises.
IL ID OAdOUiy CuO piOpCl cCdoOH VI UAO
year to devote to the study of these ques-
tiOns, because very soon the action will
be taken in the subordinate bodies
which chooses and instructs the dele
gates to the county bodies, and what
ever is SO started in the primary meeting
permeates through the county and state
to the national body next November.
There is no denying the fact that some
pratical politicians are ineligible to
membership in the alliance, and that
quite a number have become members
of the order. They may often make
good members, but since this is strictly
afarmers' organization tits evident that
the Offices should be filled with farmers
rather than politicians, and the ten
dency will be for the politician to seek
and get the offices because farmer
thoroughly devoted to the cause is apt
to think that some other person can
conduct the Office better than he, and
consequently hold back, and is glad to
vote for some other man, while the pol
itician, seeing means to personal
end, pushes himself forward and Sc
cures his election; this gives him influ-
ence, and that is an important stock in
trade with a politician. Politicians
as officers do less harm in the subordi-
nate body than in the county, and less
harm in the county than in the state,
and less harm in the state
than in the nation. The reason for
this is very plain. The peculiar work
for the subordinate body is personal and
social; that OF the county and state
bodies representative and business CO.
operation; that of the national body
representative and cooperation for
political purposes. If the three men
who have held Illinois at bay so long
had been anything but farmers-if they
had been politicians, they would have
yielded long since. If the national
order ever gets into the hands of politi
clans as officers, shipwreck is certain.
Next November officers will be chosen
who will guide the order through the
rocks and shoals and quicksands of 1892,
and no greater calamity could be-
fall the order than to have a poll
tician for president or for member of
the legislative council or committee, |
or for member of executive board, or
for secretary, or as editor of the official |
organ. All these positions should be
filled by men of integrity and ability,
who are wholly devoted to the cause
But to insure this the work should at
once begin in the subordinate organi.
cation, because if there be any politi-
clans in the order it will be very hard to
keep them from. getting offices, and il
they are delegates they are apt to see no
harm in electing politicians to the
highest offices. But perhaps some
may object and say that "any member
in good standing who pays his dues and
SO comforts himself as to have the con-
fidence and respect of his brethren is
oil hla IN INV pocitiop in tho ordar -