The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-11-29

Olf0cGlOn. Many were induced to lDln
for selfish financial benefits, who would
not have joined for the 9th, r reasons,
] and thus they became interested IN the
/ great educational work which has
caused the present upheavel in the
| nation. We have learned, and the
| census reports Of 1885, affirm the propO
! sitiOn, thai the trouble Is not with the
| production OF wealth, but with its un
| just distribution through special orivi
! leges conferred on favored industries
aud private corporations. Our sailing
was cOmpar ,tively smooth until we
were confronted with tins political
| problem.
! The earnest workers attention was
directed to its solution. The result
was the formulation and adoption Of
our demands, each one of which re
| qulred a change of laws; in fact a re
versal of political &C ion. To that ex
tent we became a political organ,za-
tiOn and our minds were trained to
look for relief through political action
at the ballot box rather than through
commercial cooperation.
We should be proud of the fact that
| through it all we have been 80 broad
and patriotic as to ask for no special
privileges for us as class We have
stood by the grand doctrine Of equal
rights to all and special privileges to
none"
When we became fully convinced
that relief must come through political
! action to repeal the special privileges
conferred ON the favored classes, we
were cOnfrOn ed with two enemies
! the one, those who were to be deprived
| Of their special privileges and who,
| controlling unlimited wealth, through
which they controlled the industries of
the nation, the press and the political
machinery Of both political parties
we're 10th to lose their 90 called vested
rights. They resorted tn abuse, ridi
| cule, misIepresenra nation and oppression
to destroy organized labOc-thry WELD
a tremendous power.
On the other hand many joined our
ranks from selfish reasons, hoping to
Use the political upheaval TO their own
! personal ad' antage The enemy from
within will prove more dangerous than
| those from without. Some were sc ired
| IF by the former; many were side
! tracked by the latter in their tfforls TO
use Ihe organization for their own per
sonal political advantages, or prOsti
tute it to political pa ties with which
they were affiliated. Tnes- have proven
our worst enemies. 1t is fortunate
that there has been an early opportun
ity for thoroughly testing our devotion
to principle All honor to those who
have stood the test and remained
| faithful.
If any have proven unfaithful they
are no longer worthy of confidence and
should be removed from our cOun il.
| The result in the end will be beneficial
| to the Order and the cause. 1t is we'll
for us that those placed in representa-
tive positions are watched wi a jeaI-
GUS eve by the masses. At times they
may suffer from unjust suspicion, but
the true man need have no fear Of the
final result.
Our organization will stand by those
| proven true to their trust aS surely as
! they nill repudlate the unfalthful In
all cases it will be better to give the
! Order the benefit of the doubt where
doubt exists and purge our ranks { f
the tricksters and traitors wht rever
! they may be found.
Our demands having been adopted
and affirmed 50 unanimously, and been
so thoroughly discussed before the
public | do not de IN it necessary at
this time TO enter into any discussion
on their merits. The only change |
would suggest would be the Slight ones
necessary to make them conform to
the demands adopted by the great In
! du7trlal Conference, held at st Louis
last February, in which your represen-
tauve took an ac i've official part. and
to the support of which We, as body,
We're pledged.
How to secure their enactment into
law seems to be a question on which
there Is a difference Of opinion, a d an
official declaration by this body might
be an aid Ny own judgment is very
emphatic on the following points:
l. We need not expect to secure
their enactment into law until we de-
mand them.
2 Our de nauds will not be respected
uncl political parties are convIn ;ed
that we are in earnest.
3 POlItical nartIns will ind 70 Olr