The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-06-08
SkSlSA-lAiA.
GIDEON'S BAND.
A SECRET BODY WITHIN THE FARMERS
ALLIANCE
Limited TO Thirty in Each County,
Whose Duty it is to Manipulate
the Politics of the County and to
Force the Alliance Sentiment
Their Way.

Their Way.
LAvoSIA. GA. May 25-A speech delivered
here by Rev. j. +. W. Vernon, President OF
the Hoar County Alliance, has created 4 SEN
satiOn.
1t exposed secret political agency in the
| Farmers Alliance.
1t was at joint debate between Democrats
and Third party people.
of Hart county. There is no man more
universally respected and beloved. AS pres.
ld"nt of the Hart County Alliance he was a
delegate to the Stale Convention Of the AL
| lance, which met in Atlanta last August.
| Mr. Vernon opened his speech as follows:
| "Democrats and Fellows Citizens: come
tonight to tell you Of the goose that laid the
egg that hached the Third party. Most eggs
are hulclcd in nhout four weeks, but 1t re-
quir"d SIX months TO hatch the Third party
| egg
This anxiety was happily relieved by the
sequel 10 Mr.. NernOn'S speech.
| Mr.. Vernon proceeded substantially rs fol-
| lows: 81 was delegate to the State owen
lon Of the Alliance which met in Atlanta
| last August AT that meeting Il secret body,
within the Alliance itself secret BODY, was
organized under the name OF 'G1deons Band.
only thirty members are allowed In thls from
is 81. hesItated about joining the band, not
knowing It's purposes. But the lead rs In
sisted and finally proposed as | was min
lister of the Gospel to initiate me free. en-
or religion, and was answered in the neg
ative." Here the speaker paused moment
and looking straight aL T. A. Mcfarland OF
this county said: You ana er,n l WenI an u,
Brother Mcfarland didn't reply but hung his
head in shame. And continued the speak
ar, what did we find when we had sworn into
'Gideon's Band - That we were to bring
into the band thirty men from our respective
counties who were To manipulate the politics
of the Alliance. These thirty men were to
control the offices force the members OF the
Alliance TO vote for the men named by them.
Isn't this true, Brother Mcfarland. and didn't
YOU wbeE you visited my county last fall
inquire Of me how was getting along with
The work OF organizing Gideon 8 Band, and
didn't ;cll you that l could have nothing
to do with it. as it was Inconsistent with tie
original principles of the Alliance, which
promised equal justice to all and special iaV-
land. and tell il this is not true?" But Broth.
er Mcfarland was dumb. The speaker con-
tinued: You remember the signs of the
Brotherhood, Bro. McFrland. II member
self known, he lolled his tongue. and if his
brother happened to be one of the elect, he
recognized the sign and lolled his tongue
also. Isn't this true. Brother McFarland?"
For a third time that evening Brother Nc
Farland was dumb.
Mr.. Mcfarland may cry "fasehood" to the
story OF Gideon's Band" but he did not dare
do il in Lavona. He spoke after Mr.. Vernon.
Mr.. Vernon'S account Of "Gideon's Band"
was not true. why did Mr.. Mcfarland not
rise up then and there and denounce 1t? 1t
was true. and Mr.. Mcfarland did not dare to
rise up in the presence Of an honest man and
deny II.
MIR. Vernon stated further that an Alliance
leader from Atlanta was sent to his house
last fall 10 observe the progress he was max
ing with "GideUn's Band" Mr.. Vernon in
formed him that he could have nothing to do
with such dirty work and had washed his
hands OF the whole business. The Alliance
man rom Atlanta secured around Hart coun-
~ and found another man whom he initiated
into the band, but he happened TO be man
of no influence in Hart county, and as a con-
sequence the Third party has no strength In
that county. Mr.. Vernon said, "Gideon's
BalG is the goose that laid the egg that hatch
ed TIE Third party.
Nearly two hundred of the best men in
Franklin county heard Mr.. Nernon's speech
and are ready to give nttidavits to the truth.
fu!neSs Of this report. The Gideonites may
cry "cainpngn Story" but iairminded men
will not heed them. They may say that Mr..
Vernon has miSrepresented them, but they
will not dare TO say II anywhere on the soil Of
Hart county. Mr.. Vernon Is a man whose
honesty is unquestioned and whose life has
been blameless.