The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-07-08
MGRATH'S WITHDRAWAL.
The Alliance Leader Explains His Change
of Political Sentiment.


Topeka, Kan, June rs -Ex-President
Frank McGrath of the Kansas Farm
ers' Alliance has given his reasons for
Withdrawing from the peoples party in
the following letter;
DR.. c. H. Guibor, Topeka, Kan:
BELoTT, Can. June 2l.-Dear Sir: Your IA
vor OF the Eth inst is before me- and in reply
1 desire TO place myself right by saying that
the Farmers Alliance as first organized was
capable Of great good to the farmers. That or
ganization is beneficial TO other callings
and professions none will deny, and the
same IS equally true of farming. If the
alliance had adhered 10 its original non-parti-
san purposes and worked along the line of the
alliance motto, Equal rights to all, special
privileges TO none" and remembered unity in
all things essential TO our calling would to-
day be as strong an advocate of the orgauiza-
ton as 1 was II the beginning The truth Is
that the peoples party has absorbed the alli-
ance and nullified its usefulness. The evil
denoes are numerous in the conventions held
this year that the middlemen, jlckleg lawyers
and town loafers are more influential In direct
ing and controlling the peoples party than
farmers The success of the democratic party
seems TO have become necessary with many
leading peoples party leaders and to secure the
defeat Of the republican party these leaders in
the peoples party and the democratic party
are rcauy TO lay aside their principles and by
fusion secure the Offices. The tricksters and
political manipulators made up from both peo-
pies party and the democratic party had
possession Of the Wichita convention and in
the name OF reform made ticket TO suit both
parties.
.is 10 the nomination OF the ex-c0nfederate
Col. Harris, can only say that while I honor
him as a man and believe he has more ability
and real principle than the whole state ticket
nominated by that convention, AT the same
time 60 not believe the people of Kansas are
prepared TO elevate an eX-confederate in pref
erence to an eX-Union soldier OF equal ability.
Col Harris is an honorable man of high char
acter, but the nomination was more 10 concili-
ate and secure democratic votes than it was 20
represent the peoples party, unless, perhaps,
II might have been made 10 show the south how
much more forgiving we were in this soldier
state Of Kansas than they are in the states
whore the rebel flag is often exhibited to show
loyalty 10 the lost cause
The alliance has suffered as well as the peo-
pies party by ambitious refcrmers who have
offered many wild and eXtrsvagant schemes for
paying debts with money that was 10 be almost
free and unlimited. The sub-treasury and many
cooperative plans for reorganizing the business
OF the country have brought oaly diSa ppoint-
Tnent to our people and ridicule from the bust
ness world.
believe that the intelligent earnest. honest
members Of the alliance will refuse TO be longer
led into political schemes 70 serve the purposes
Of place hunters in the democratic and peoples
party.
In closing I can only express nv regret that
so useful an organization as the alliance prom
ised 10 be TO the farmers o. Kansas has been
destroyed by partisan politics Yours with re-
specI, FRANK MCsJRATH.