The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-01-21
ALLIANCE.
The Farmers Alliance People
Must Not Talk Politics
And II They Dr., Cannot Use the
U U,iNn School hUusr.

ALLIANCE, Jan IL.
FARMERS MUST ABSTAIN FROM POLITICS.
Last Saturday the Lexington township
Board of Education held q meeting TO
consider the caso OF the Union Grove
school district. II seems that the farmers
OF Lexington TO wnship have been cutting
up high iinks in III sacred precincts Of
Union Grove. and in the opinion of certain
township Statesmen II wac utne TO call a
halt. In tue good old times farmers we're
content TO leave the question of politics
alone, aud let the lawyer and politicians
do their thinking for them. In those good
old days Is was enough for the farmer 20
have couple Of young roosters OF the
law, from Alliance or Canton, visit the
school houses of the township during the
campaign, and explain the issues at stake
aud instruct the farmers how 10 vote, and
when election day came round, the farm
ers came round too and voled according
to the light they have received. Then II
was clear sailing and the farmers vote
could always he relied upon, to bo in its
usual place. But couple OF years since
a Farmers Alliance was organized In
Lexington township. Uuion Grove school
house was favorite and convenient
place OF meeting. Regular and interest
ing meetings were held. Recitatons,
songs and discussions on the best meth
ods Of pumpkin raising, and fowl culture
added to the interest OF the occa-
sions. But finally the discussions
branched off into wider fields OF
Thought. and naturally McKinleyism and
the tariff and their effects upon the farm
ing interests came in for share OF consid-
GRAFTON. There were some very foolish
farmers who had got it into their heads
that the farmer had been made the cNts-
paw TO pull the chestnuts out of the fire
for politicians long enough; that a farmer
could study the political issues before the
country as well as tue young lawyer, who,
every campaign, had been sent out TO in
struct them how to vote. Aud 80 the dis
cussiou OF these interesting questions
went on, and widencd and deepened, uu-
iii there were but few OF the farmers who
attended these meetings, but rad very
pronounced views of Lheir o Hn upon the
iSsues involved in the campaign, and
when the young lawyers came around
with their Instructions, they found the
farmers ia no frame Of mind TO accept
their ministrations. In short they broke
the leading strings which had so long
bound them to the little Tin god, rose in
rebellion aga inAt the robber tariff, and on
election day cast au American freeman's
vote unintiuenced by the briher or 10y the
profe ssional poll Gician, for the interest of
| the farmer and his own frcside. And
when the vote was counted out the howl
that went up from tho enraged politicians
WAS er ough TO make old farmer Horace
| Greeley turn in his grave. And many
| threatening glances were turned in
h. 80 Int
house, where all the mischief had been
hatcheI. CHS discussion of politics by
the farmers must be stopped. They are
inca pable OF understanding politics, and
| must be content to no led by politicians,
as in the past. Union Grove school house
is the place most convenient for the
farmers Of the township to assemble and
talk political heresies. II il could be
| closed against the Farmers Alliance. It
would put an Etfectual btop TO these polit-
| icai discussions, and the stride OF political
| hPrnsy would bo effectually stayed. Hence
this called meeting OF the township board
| OF school directors. When assembled In
| due FORM Oliver Welch addressed them In
| behalf OF the complainsnts, stated that
| the Alliance burned the township coal,
dirtied the township floor, and talked
| politics and he could flnd no law that al
| lowed the Farmers Alliance TO hold lheiI
| meetings in the school house, and he
wanted them ousted. On his side of the
| question appeared the school teacher, L
| P. Hiveiy, who stated that in his "weak
way" he was trying to teach good
school; that the Rarmers' Alliance organ
was in his way; that either he wanted il
| unlocked for his use in the school or he
| wanted IL fred out OF the school house
The spectators present concluded that il
his gpeech was an indication of the "weal
| wayn in which he conducted his school
| there should he At least q half dozen or.
ganS carted in there for his assistance.
On tie part OF the Farmers' ALI
| anco appeared Mr.. William Duval
| who presented a petition signed b,
every member of the school district, witt
| three exceptions, asking that the use OF
the house be granted the Farmers ALI
ance for their meetings, agreeing to pay
for what fuel they consumed, furnish theil
own lights and clean the house after theil
meetinga. he gtated that the signer5 Il
the petition were tax payers and patrons
of the school and had . right to use this
| house for the puIpoes OF self improve
ment, obtaining and imparting informa'
| tiou on all subject1 OF interest to the com
munity and its individual citizens. Othe,
| speeches were made on his side OF tho
question by different parties, and the
board finally decided that the Farmers
| Alliance might hold their meeHogs there
| with two conditions attached, viz: Tha
the teacher Mr.. Hively should have tn,
| use OF the organ 70 assist MIN In DIS "weal
| wayn to keep a good school, and that til,
| Farmers' Alliance should abstain from
talking politics at their meetings. AnC
now the farmers are wondering why
school houae 10 too sacred a place for the
discussion of political questions, many o
which, they have learned by sad expert
ence, have very materially affected the
financial interests as a class. They ais,
wonder IL the farmers Of Lexington town
ship had voted for Mckinley and the tariff
last fall, IL there would have been an.
kick against the discussion OF politica
questions at their meetings2