People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-04-08
Communicated.

T. Bell and his brother, f. W. Bell, are
20 principal authors of the plan out
d below, and at one time they
fOrned a propaganda with Governor
David Butler, of Nebraska, at its head,
and without means or publishing facil-
tiles they commenced the work OF or
rrnizing. As a result of that work,
about 1000 members were enrolled and
many friends to the plan were secured
Among these may be named such men
as Senator PETER. Colonel Harper, Capt.
Trevelick and many others, As the
propaganda could not make up the de-
felt in the receipts from their own
Scanty means the work of organizing
was suspended until reorganization
can be effected under more favorable
auspices.
BY the terms of the constitution the
authors and founders are to constitute
the National Union for specified time
and when a few good men will associate
themselves in the work and furnish Suf,
ficient means, influence and publishing
facilities to justify the attempt the
work of organization will be resumed
The law making power of this coun'
try and of the world, is largely in the
hands of the rich, who are ever ready
to besiege congress and the state legis.
latures for especial privileges. Some
efficient organization is required to
overthrow this power, and to reinstatt
the people in possession of their gov
eminent. 1t should be remembered
however, that the force of such organ
cation may depend more upon the ma
ture of its constitution than upon thu
number or the power of its following
An indispensable requisite to etficienc!
in a united body is obedience on thu
part of its members. AS an example
of this, an army, which acts from
common authority, is a more potent
organization than mob that acts only
from a common impulse. Though il
be true that no civil organization vii
submit to army authority, yet al
Americans should be willing to submit
to the authority of the people. What
we want then, is means whereby de
ciSiOns of authority may be formed fOl
our guidance, and to have this author
| ity "Of the people" The Union sup
plies these wants by its system of re
ports, and by giving to each membe
an equal opportunity to say what it
decisions shall be.
all the local unions in this organiza
ton form one deliberative body, sepa
rated only by distance but acting to
gether by system. A matter Of ever
greater Importance than this unity o
consideration still inheres in the fac
that upon important measures the
form one voting body. The votes ar
all counted, and if a national measur
is carried by these local unions it mus
be passed by congress and signed b
the President of the United State:
We will suppose that Mr.. Blank,
member Of the house of representa-
tives, neglects or refuses to act we,
his part in carrying such measur
through congress. In such a case, a
order for concerted action, something
like this will come before all the loca
unions in his district: Has Mr.. Blanl
been untrue to the will of the People
Union in regard to the designate
measure, and for that reason shall W
forever oppose his reelection to an
office of honor or trust in the gift Q
the people?
As all members of the union ar
pledged to abide by its decisions,
will pc seen that no man who value
either his reputation as a representatv
of the people, or his chances for reelec
ton, or who has any wish to deserv
the respect of his countrymen can vie,
such action against him with compC
sure.
1t must readily be admitted that tn
union can WELD a sufficient coger
power to command that its expressio
of the will of the people be formulate
into law, and this means that the d.
tency which now inheres in corpor;
tons, and without which their powt
is IS nothing, may be transferred
the people by organization.
BY concerting action as provided fl
by the Unions constitution, the peopl
can meet at their school houses an
other places of public resort and hay
as much voice in deciding any publ
measure as they can in deciding VIII
shall be president at our quadrenni
| electious.
Our people must study public mea
ures and the relations which they bes
to the public welfare. This study an
this only gives that kind of knowleds
which i, indispensable even to OIL