People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-08-19
Middle Of the Road.

To the Members Of the FarmersyAlliance and
Industrial Union:
For years we have been studying pO-
IiticaI economy, 'EThe Science Of Gov
ernment,' from astrictly nOn-partisan
standpoint, the only correct method Of
arriving at the truth in politics. With
unparalleled unanimity and enthusi-
asm, we have united on a series of de-
mands which have been adopted, af-
firmed and re-affirmed by our supreme
council, our State, county and subord-
mate Alliance. Last February, at St.
Louis, they were endorsed by twenty
other great labor organizations. These
demands are the result of many years
of patient study and discussion Of the
labor problem. We believe they are
lust and essential. The time has now
arrived to test whether we are going
to be practical or not. The only way
to secure the enactment of these de-
mands into law is through political
Acknowledgements We have passed
through the stages of discussion, reso-
| luton and demanding. These are all
| preliminary and necessary to the final
| act Of voting. Unless followed UP by
our ballots, all that we have done will
! have been in vain. The difficulty that
now COnfrOntS as an organization is,
| that whilst we are a unit in our de-
| mandS, we are not, as to methods of
! securing them. We all must agree on
! the common sense proposition that the
! only way of securing them is to vote
! for them. Unfortunately, our PARTISAN
| ship, in some cases, has proven stronger
| than our allegiance to our principles.
When we first made our political de-
mands, we, to that extent, became a
political organization. In doing so, we
did not become a political party, nor
do | think we, as a class, ever should.
| So long as other classes and professions
remain organized as classes or profess
siOns, we, too, must perpetuate and
strengthen our organization. But hav-
ing, as an organization, made certain
political demands, we have correspond
ing duties to perform. When we re-
| quested the several political parties to
adopt our demands, there was an i'm
piled promise that if they did, we
would support them; if not, we would
oppose them. We have been met with
the contention that this would inter
fere with our political freedom. Be-
fore taking the obligation, we were
assured that it "will not conflict with
the freedom of your political or reli-
gious views" The Alliance has been
an educator. Our demands are our
political views" Instead of inter
kfering with, we urge our members to
Rstand by and support and vote for their
political views. 1t is the only honest
and consistent thing we can do If
you believe any other platform of prin-
ciples more important than ours, then
they are your political views, and it is
your duty to support them in prefer
ence to ours. Our demands can only
be crystalized into law through the
medium of political party.
[ lay down three common-sense
propositions. First. 1t is always nee
essary to follow up political party
after they have promised, to compel
them TO keep their promises. Second.
1t is very improbable that any politi-
cal party will enact our demands into
law unless they first promise to do so.
Third. It is utterly ridiculous to ex-
pect a political party to enact our de-