The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-06-09
Gldeon's Band Exposed.
Atlanta Journal.

Gide0n'S Band Exposed.
Atlanta Journal.
''Gideon's Band" promises to play q
lively palt in the campaign against the
Third Party in Georgia.
i twill be rememb bered thatthe existence
Of secret, oath-bound circle within the
Alliance, organized for the special pur-
pose of capturing the Offices and ruling
the politics of the country was first re-
vealed to the public by the Rev. j. T. w.
Vernon, of Hart County, in q speech
made at Lavonia, Franklin County, on
the night of the 14th of May.
In his reply to the Third Party voters on
that occasion, Mr.. Vernon said that he had
come to tell the people of the s'goose that
laid the egg that hatched the Third Party"
That "goose," he said. was secret inner
circle formed inside the Alliance. The
"band' was to consist ofonly thirty mem
bers from each County, and these thirty
were to manipulate the politics of the AL
lance and control the Offices.
Mr.. Vernon's announcement created q
sensation throughout the State, especially
in Alliance circles; and in view of the
public interest aroused in it, he has been
induced to give to the public exactly
what he knows about this mysterious
"Gideon's Band"
Mr.. Vernon is Baptist minister OF
Hart County. he is widely known and
universally respected. He was the first
President of the Hart County Alliance,
and for two years has been County Lee.
turer. He Is 20 years old, but alert and
vigilant still. Whatever he says will bear
weight wherever he is known.
Here liz Mr.. Vernon's statement as CIV
en- to the Journals Hartwell correspond
ent:
HARrwELL, GA, May 3O.-In an inter
view to-day.with the Journal correspond
emit Mr.. J. T. W. Vernon took occasion to
make statement of his knowledge OF
"Gideon's Band" with view to setting
himself right and correcting any errone-
Gus impressions that may have gotten
abroad.
s'In the first place." said Mr.. Vernon,
IT did not say at Lavonta that the State
Alliance had anything to do directly Win
'Gideon's Band It was while was In
attendance on the State Alliance as del
egate from Hart County, however, that
first learned Of the existence of this
band.
"Mr. DeJarrett, of Greene County, told
me all know about the organization. He
a "band" in each County in the eighth
Congressional District, and that a man
had been appointed to do the same work
In each of the other districts.
81 was told that sGideon's Band was
something like Free Masonry-one de-
gree higher than the regular Alliance and
That it would not conflict with my politi-
cal or religious views. Being Mason, l
knew that if it was like Masonry 1t was
good thing, so with this assurance from
Mr.. DeJarrett, Brother MacFarlan and
myself were initiated into what we after
wards found to be one of the foulest ma
chimes Of political corruption ever con-
cocted on American soil.
Gas it seems to be something new un-
der the SUM- I would lik- to know who
printed all of DeJarrett's blanks, for he
had lot with him. The initiation fee
was 81. I was to pay him when I got the
band made up in my County.
~ consider such an organization clear
case Of conspiracy against the principles
Of the Alliance, and would, theEefore,
have nothing to do with 1t as soon as
discovered its real nature.
"When DR.. Robbins was on his rounds
lecturing the County Alliances In the 9th
district laat fall, DeJarrett was with him,
and they came to my house. DeJarrett
then wanted to know if had the band,
ready for him to organize. / told him l
had done nothing. saw at once that he
was crestfallen, for he had lost his golden
fleece
s'This is all know personally about
sGideon's Band have heard OF some
thing that happened at Ocala that gave
rise to the band which, if proved to be
true, would be worse than dynamite in
the Third Party camp.
ssBrotlher MacFarlan, who Joined the
band the same time did, was ut Lavo-
mia wher I exposed the thing. He Is q
truthful man, and 7 knew I could appeal
to him to correct then and there any false
statements might make.
"Brotker MaoF Farlan DIDN'T say word
in answer to my statement, as everyone
present at Lavonia that night will testify.
/ am sorry that he or any other good man
should suffer himself to be shorn Of his
locks by 8 Delilah and fall into the hands
of the Philistines."
Mr.. Vernon said that he hoped the
Democratic press Of the State would give
publicity to this statement in justice to
him. 'tI can't be heard much longer" he
said, "as I am in my SEVENTEEN year; but
/ still love my God, my country, my wife
and children, and white supremacy. ]
hope and pray that the last trace of the
Third Party may be wiped ont at this
falls election, never to be resurrected Tor
the sake Of greed and Office"