The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-11-24
THE INDUSTRIAL LEGION.
A NEW POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
CARVED OUT OF THE ALLIANCE.
Thou Oh Not Expressed, the Object Seems to
Be to Abandon the Third Party and
Organized Its Members Into
Secret Organization.

MEMPHIS, Nov. 19.-An organiza-
ton styled 1.-THE Industrial Legion OF
the United States" was formed here
today by prominent leaders OF the
Peoples party, also prominent in the
Farmers Alliance. The objects which
it is to carry out politically are the
measures embodied in the declaration
of principles OF the Omaha platform OF
the Peoples party, together with free
speech, free ballot and fair count.
The Industrial Legion is to consist OF
three classes:
First-Of male members over Il
years of age, intended to group TO-
eether as voters and be regarded as
the senior class.
Second, will be the junior class,
male members under q and over IA
years of age, who will be educated
and trained to become voters OF the
Peoples party.
Third, to be known as the Women's
Aid Corps, intended as an auxiliary
to the senior legion.
The Legion is modelled much after
the Grand Army and partakes OF the
secret organization character, while
meetings may be secret or open at the
option of members. The founders OF
the Legion are prominent leaders OF
the seven great industrial organiza-
lions composing the Peoples party,
together with the foremost Peoples
party leaders. Among the charter
members are H. E. Laubeneck of Hi
nois, chairman of the national execu-
tive committee of the Peoples party;
George F. Washburn, chairman
eastern division of the Peoples
party, Boston; Congressman G. Otis,
Kansas; j. w. Willitts, formerly ma
tional organizer and lecturer of the
Farmers Alliances; President Loucks
ofSouth Dakota of the Farmers Alli-
ance; D. E. Taylor of Tennessee, sec
rotary of the Farmers Alliance; j. H..
Turner, North Carolina; w. f. Mar
tin, st. Louis, secretary Reform Press
association; s. Il. Mcclellan, Topeka,
president of the Reform Press associa-
tion and editor of the Topeka Advo-
cate; Hon. Frank Burkitt, Mississippi;
Alonzo Wardell, superintendent Far.
mers Alliance; Il. E. Dean of the Far
mers Alliance; Paul Vandervoort of
Nebraska, ex-commander-in-chief of
the Grand Army of the Republic.
The organization of the Industrial
League of the United States was
perfected by the election of the
following officers: Paul Vandervoort,
commander-in-chi Hon. Frank
Burkett, Mississippi, vice commander
in-chief; j. H. Turner, adjutant gen.
eral; George Washburn, quartermaster
general; Congressman T. E. Watson,
national recruiting officer; j. f. Will
lifts, national recruiting officer of
Western division; w. S. Morgan, ma
tional sentinal executive council,
Hon. r. E. TaubenecB of Illinois,
Hon. Marion Butler of California, Hon.
J. H. Davis of Texas, T. G. Dean, New
York; J. w. Willitts Kansas. These
together with four of the highest
officers will constitute the
council of officers of the woman's aid
corps. The two elected by this body
as provisional officers to organize that
department are Mrs. Anna l.. Diggs
of Washington, D. c., and Mrs. Mar
ion Todd of Michigan.
II. E. Taubeneck, the great Third
partyite of Illinois, said: "In thirty
days we will be established in every
state in the uion and by next year
this time we shall have million and
half members. When we are pre-
pared to go on with the campaign in
1895. We are in this to win and win
we shall"