Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-03-10
KNIGHTS OF RECIPROCITY.
Aims of a Secret Organization Formed t
Offset tho Farmers Alliance.

AIMS OF ceCIeI organization FOfmeu To
Onset tho Farmers Alliance.
WASHINGTON, March 10.-The organi-
cation known as the 'Knights of Reel
procity," which sprouted from the soil
of Kansas soon after the election last
fall as a counter-ir1itant to the Farmers
Alliance, is about to blossom forth all
over the country.
One of the founders of the new order
is the Hon. Samuel r. Beters, the out
going predecessor Of jerry Simpson as
representative Of the Seventh Kansas
district. Mr., Peters on Friday packed
up his traps, bade good-by to his friends
and boarded a train for his home at
Newton, Kan. Before leaving he com-
municated this bit of interesting news
"Application has been sent" he said
"from Washington for the establish
ment of lodge of the Knights of Reel
procity here, Applications have also
been received at the central office. so
am informed to-day by letter of the
Hon. Jesse Taylor Of Garden City
Kan, supreme judge of the order, from
every state and territory in the Union.
The new order is taking prodigious
strides. 1t is a secret organization and
therefore, the public has not been made
aware of its wonderfully rapid growth
and development. We started the or
ganization out in Kansas after the cleo
tion. 1t has the same social features as
the Farmers Alliance and its objects is
to embrace eventually all those who
believe in certain well-defned princi-
pies.
"These articles of faith and allegiance
are: First, a desire for the perpetuity of
the Union; advocacy of liberal pensions
to all honorably discharged soldiers and
sailors Of the late war; the protection of
American industry; reciprocity between
all friendly nations or fair trade. es-
pecially with those nations on the Amer
lean continent; reciprocity, also, between
all classes in our nation, including u
community of interest, which should ex-
ist between producers and consumers,
between manufacturers and operatives,
between common carriers and shippers
fair and honest ballot, and, lastly, the
defranchisament of every person offer
ing or accepting bribes or attempting
improperly to influence the ballot.
Belief IN these is the fundamental
requisite to membership. Knights Of
Reciprocity are not confined to any polit-
ical organi alton, and are not subjected
to political tests Every citizen of tie
United States over IS years Of age, mae
and female is eligible to membership
The officers are supreme judge, treas
urer, marshal, supreme clerk, supreme
treasurer, and supreme outer and inner
bailitf. The sub-lodges have their SINH
lar local officers. The first lodge was
instituted on Nov. 26, at Garden City,
Kan Now there are in the neighbor-
hood Of over 800 lodges, principally in
Kansas, but scattered also through Ne
braska, Missouri and Colorado. The or
ganzation is friendly TO Mr., Blaine, of
course, i'll SO far us his ideas on reciproc-
ity agree with those of the organization.
'But this is no sideshow for any in
dividual. When we formed the organ-
cation in Kansas it was intended simply
as state society, and its founders had
no idea that it would extend beyond the
limits of the state, but the attractive
name, Knights of Reciprocity, together
with the treaty with Brazil recently
made, and the prospects of further
treaties with other South American ma
tions. has given the organization Ma
tional boom. The leaders of the move
ment in Kansas are most Republicans.
lney are advanced IillnkeTS, ana Sucn,
you know, chiefly belong to the Repub-
ican party But a member of any
party who is in favor Of reciprocity and
is not an absolute free trader, is ehgi-
BILE There is nothing in our rules or
bylaws requiring political action
Opposes Reciprocity with Canada.
WASHINGTON, March TO- Senator
Pettigrew, of South Dakota, is bitterly
opposed to reciprocity with Canada on
tariff protection grounds. He said II