The great West., 1892-01-08
THE ALLIANCE CONGRESSMEN.

Those Elected as Democrats, Upon a Demo-
cratic Platform, Did the Best They Could
Under the circumstances.
The eyes of the nation are turned to.
ward those members of congress who
were elected by an alliance constituent
cy, during the organization of both
houses, in order to note what position
each would take in regard to the polit-
ical parties. The position of such MEM
bers has been complicated BY the fact
that the supreme council at its
recent session passed a resolution re-
questing congressman to stay out of a
party caucus un1Aas the alliance de-
mInc.ads were f11nos test of admission.
This was Perfectly satisfactory to con-
gressmen who belong to the peoples
party, because the demands have been
incorporated in the platform of that
party; but some of the alliance
congressman belonging to the demo-
cratic party were the regular
nominees and were elected by
that party, and largely by voters who
reside in cities and towns and do not
belong to the alliance, and the demo-
cratic party has not yet indorsed the
alliance demands. and, therefore, they
could not at this time make them test
of admission to the democratic caucus.
In this emergency small band of
brethren, nine in all, headed by Hon.
Thomas B. Watson, of Georgia, as their
candidate for speaker, immortalized
themselves politically. and made tracks
in American history which will never
be obliterated, by refusing to go into
the caucus of either party, and by hoist
ing the independent banner as nu-
cleus for the great reform hosts to rally
to. Each one of these men is hero;
each has served his constituency ac-
cording to their desires and wishes.
Their names are: Thomas B. Watson,
Of Georgia; Ben Glover, of Kansas;
Jerry Simpson, of Kansas; John Davis,
Of Kansas; J. G. Otis, of Kansas; Will
liam Baker, of Kansas; K. Halverson,
of Minnesota; o. M. KEN, of Nebraska,
and H. A. McKeighan, of Nebraska.
These men can go back to their constit-
uencies with the full consciousness of
having done what the people who
elected them expected them to do, and
they were fortunate in having the re-
quest of the supreme council harmonic
with their obligations to their constit-
uences.
The balance of the alliance con.
tingent in congress have also made his
tory of which they may be proud and
their constituents grateful They, too,
did just what the people who elected
them expected to be done; but they
were compelled to do it in the face of
request not do it by the supreme coun-
Gil. This required courage and devo.
ton to the cause of the people, apd
they. too. can go home and receive the
plaudits of admiring and thankful con-
stituencies, because in disobeying the
supreme council as to method they
have made gallant fight for principle
and achieved the greatest victory for
the alliance that has crowned it's ban
uers to date, and they have opened the
way for the triumph of the cause of the
people. H
The relations between congressman
and the supreme council is one thing.
and their relations to their constitu-
encies is another, and they may be de-
pended upon to meet their obligations
to each. When the supreme council
again meets those congressman who
have been able to comply with its re-
quests will receive due acknowledge
ment, and those who have not been
able to do so, but have nevertheless
achieved great victory for the princi-
pies involved, fare sumptuously as we'll.
There should be no word of censure for
either, as this is a matter of method,
and the order will say: ''In things es-
sential unity, in all things charity"
Let every member grid up his loans for
the money fight and the principles in
volved in the demands. National
Economist.