The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-01-07

His Letter to Alliance Members OF th,
House i bout the Speakerahip.

promising The house is oyerwhelm-
ingly democratic" but the peculiar
conditions make it difficult to under
stand what the term Democratic"
means. For instance. there are PRO
lection" Democrats, tariff reform
Democrats, free trade" Democrats
"antisilver" Democrats. free silver"
Democrats, cleveland" Democrats,
"anti-Cleveland" Democrats. Alliance"
Democrats tanti-Alliance" Democrats
and perhaps Democrats of other varieties
The manner and method in which all
these various elements will be able to
harmonic so as to accomplish anything
is a matter for interesting study.
A great reform element arose in the
country last year and claims to have
elected thirty-eight men on its platform.
Certainly there are as many as twenty
seven congressman who We're elected by
the Alliance people on the pledge to
stand by the Alliance platform and prin-
ciples. All but nine Of these congress-
men made haste to come to the national
capital and 20 into a SO called Demo-
cratic caucus, and they were very active
in the support and election of a man for
speaker who has publicly inveighed
against most vital part of the Alliance
platform. Some national Alliance Of
ticers who are not congressman gave
their sympathy and support to the cleo
ton of this speaker. They will probably
have a nice explanation of this action If
they should be asked to account for it,
and their constituency may prove gull
bic enough to swallow all explanations
offered. Such explanations, however,
can never be effective in bringing about
the reforms to which these Ilen We're
pledged before they were elected.
President l.. l.. Polk, Of the National
Alliance, put himself on record by ad-
dressing to each Alliance congressman
the following letter, written while the
deadlock prevailed;
Ny DEAR SIR AND BROTHER-I have the
honor to transmit herewith an official copy of
a resolution for your consideration, adopted
unanimously By the supreme council of the
National Farmers Alliance and Industrial
union at its recent session at Indianapolis
"Realizing that the action Of the members
of the Fifty-second congress who were elected
by the aid of Alliance constituencies will have
al important influence upon the welfare of
our beloved order, we respectfully request all
representatives in said congress so elected to
decline to enter into any party caucus called to
designate candidate for the Office of speaker.
unless adherence to the principles of the Ocala
platform is made test of admission to said
caucus"
AS but few of the members of your body
were present at the meeting Of the supreme
council, and as the spirit and intent of the
above resolution has been misrepresented by
the partisan press OF the country, / deem it
my duty as president of that body to thus pre-
sent you with an official copy, and give you the
reasons which prompted the adoption of the
resolutions as | understand them.
The council regarded it as not at all improb-
able that among the aspirants for speakership
of your body would be found those who were
strenuously opposed to the purposes and prin-
ciples of our order That it was not at all i'm
probable that centralized money power
through its various combines and auXiliaries
would endeavor to play prominent part in
the election of that officer. The supreme coun-
Gil well knew tEet by virtue of the prerogatives
conferred upon that officer, his official func-
tions and powers can be exercised with ire
mendous influence upon national legislation
through committees appointed by himself and
otherwise. 1t was natural therefore that YOUR
brethren in the supreme council should have
felt most solcitous Gor reasons stated in the
matter, and especially in the event that
through usages and rules of party caucus you
should be forced to vote for a candidate or to
aid influences inimical to our order and its in
terests.
You will note that the resolution is simply a
respectful request from your brethren through
out the United States, through their accred-
tied representatives in the supreme council
and who were duly authorized to speak for
them. You will note that the resolution does
not in any manner indicate for or against
whom you should vote, but it leaves YOU abso-
lutely free to make your own selection assum-
ing, of course that you will exercise every
necessary precaution to guard the PRINCIPLES
which we hold so dear and the general inter-
ests of & cause to which we are SO thoroughly
committed.
The plain, simple and practical analysis of
the resolution is: That we request all members
of congress who espOused our cause and adyo-
Gated our principles in the campaign in which
they were elected not to voluntarily place
themselves in such position that, under the
force of party usage and party caucus tnev
would be compelled to vote for and ipdorse a
man or men who are opposed to US as an Or
| ganlzation. 1t asks no man to COMPROMISE or
| forfeit his fealty to his party but it does ask
| those who are indebted for their seats to ALI
ance votes given upon their advocacy and
nvowed adherence to Alliance principles, to be
| scrupulously careful not to compromise or for
felt those principles.
The situation Of the campaign for speaker
ship today warrants the conclusion that the
! supreme council wisely and correctly antici-
pated the unfortunate condition of things
which now exist.
1t is well and thoroughly understood that
the great political powers Of Wall street, Tam
many Hall, the whisky ring and the railroad
power OF the country, marshaled under their
respective candidates for the presidency of the
United States, have selected their respective
champions for the coveted Office of speaker
ship. and have given them such prominence in
the contest as may enlist the aid and support
for the one or the other of the Alliance mem
bers of congress.
feel assured that you will agree with me
when say that the Endorsement of any caDdi-
date who represents any of the great political
forces against which the people are SO nobly
and earnestly cOntending would be unfortu-
nate. They do not believe that in the matter
of speakership that our representatives are
forced. so far as the great principles which
they espouse Is concerned, to take choice be-
tween evils"
In addressing you this Communication it is
entirely foreign to my purpose to indicate or
even to intimate your duty in the premises
but, under the peculiar and embarrassing cir
cumstances, felt that could not do less, as
the official head of tbs great order, thar +
lay before you the expressed sentiment O. CIR
oroer IN regard to this important matter /
am, sir, truly and fraternally yours,
L. L. POLK, President n T, A. andI.U.
----
The Democratic leaders of Kansas are
bringing pressure upon the Peoples
party leaders to fuse next year and take
Kansas out of the Republican column.
The chances are that the pressure will
not produce the results desired by the
Democrats. 1t seems that the PEOPLES
party men have the idea that they can
whip both parties. At any rate iefeat
IN struggle against the field is better
than fusion with the relics of the Kansas
Democracy. Carrying on political in
t1gues, with reformers is not very salts
factory business
A Gold Watch and S2O4,
That iS what o.,or,- ,.4 -.