Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-06-30
Prank McGrath's Withdrawal.

1
Frank McGrath, Of Mitchell county,
who was one Of the pioneers In the
organization Of the farmers alliance In
Kansas, who was president Of the state
organization In the year 1890, who was
ore Of the strongest and most active
members Of the peoples party until a
short time ago, has withdrawn from
the new party and writes the following
letter explaining his action:
To DR.. g. II. Guibor Topeka:
BELoIT, kas., June q. Your favor
OF the I'm inst. Is before me, ana iD
reply l desire 10 place myself right by
saying that the farmers alliance AS first
organized was capable Of good to the
farmer. That organization Is beneficial
10 other calliDgs and professions none
Will deny and the same Is equally true
Of farming. IL the alliance had ad &.
hered 10 It's original nOnpaftisan pur-
poses and worked along the line Of the
alliance motto, Equal rights to all,
special privileges 10 nome" aud re-
membered unity In all things essential
To our calling, | would today be as
strong an advocate OF the organization
as | was In the beginning. The truth
Is that the peoples party has absorbed
the alliance and nulli1ed It's usefulness.
The evidences are numerous In the
conventions held this year that the
middlemen, jackleg lawyers and town
loafers are more influential In directing
aud controlling the peoples party than
tae farmers. The success of the demo.
cratic party seems to have become
necessary with many leading peoples
party leaders aud To secure the defeat
OF the republican party these leaders
IN the peoples party and the democratic
party are ready To lay aside their prin.
clples and by fusion secure the offices.
me tricksters aud political manipulat-
ors made up from both peoples party
and the democratic had possession of
the Wichita convention and in the
name Of reform made a ticket to suit
the parties.
AS to the nomination of the Ex-
Confederate Col. Harris | can only say
that while honor him as man and
believe he has more ability and real
principle than the whole state ticket
nominated by that convention, at the
same time do not believe the people
Of Kansas are prepared TO elevate an
ex'confederate In preference to an ex.
union soldier OF equal ability. Col.
liarris Is an honorable man of high
character but the nomination was more
TO cOnciliate and secure democratic
votes than 1t was to represent the
peoples party, unless perhaps 1t might
have been made to show the south how
much more forgiving we were in this
soldier state of Kansas than they are
In the states where the rebel flag IS
yet often exhibited to show loyalty to
the lost cause.
The alliance has suffered as well az
he peoples party by ambitious reform
prs who have offered many wild and
extravaganza schemes for paying debts
with money that was to be almost
unlimited. The subtreasury and many
cooperative plans for recognizing the
business OF the country have brought
only disappointment to our people and
ridicule from the business world.
l believe that the intelligent, honest,
earnest members of the alliance will
refuse to be longer led into political
schemes to sorve the purposes Of place
hunters In the democratic and people
party.
In closing | can only express my |
regret that 30 useful an organization AZ |
the alliance promised TO be to farmers |
NJ Kansas has been destroyed by parti. |
+an politics. Yours with respect,
FRANK MCGRATH.