Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1893-01-25
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT.
President Loucks Defines the Distinction
Between Political and Partisan.

OFFICIAL DOCUMENT.
President Loucks Dednes the Distinction
Between Political and Partisan.
A few days ago I received q letter
asking for a decision on the following
point: Can an alliance discuss such
political questions as government own
ership of railways the sub-treasury
plan Of issuing money, etc."
The president of the alliance had
ruled that the order was non-partisan,
hence could not discuss political ques-
tions- My answer, of course, was that
1t was not only in order, but it was
duty of every alliance to discuss every
plank in our platform, and advisable
to discuss state and other issues of in
terest to us as individuals and as a
class. Too many of our writers and
speakers are not careful enough in the
use OF the terms, non-political and nom
partisan. We are political organiza-
tion, indeed, as every plank in our de-
mands is political. They all relate to
the science of government
Each and every one of them requires
political action to crystalize them into
law. But we are distinctly nonparti-
san organization. We require no pledge
of support for any polit cal party. We
do not even require pledge to support
our demands. The alliance is an edu-
cational organization. We welcome in
to our order men of all political affilia-
ton, and discuss political questions re-
gardless of political parties. as they at
feet our interests, leaving to each indi-
vidual the right to support or reject, as
in his judgment he deems best We
differ widely from partisan organiza-
tions The democratic club is a parti-
san organization, in that it demands
support of the democratic party as test
of membership. The same is true of
the republican league, for the repub-
hcan party and the industrial legion,
for the peoples party. Should the
members of any of these fail in their
support they are liable to expulsion.
1t is not so with a member of the alli-
ance. So long as other classes and pro-
LESSONS organize by themselves in nom
partisan organizations, it will be wise
for the farmer to follow their example.
Indeed, it is necessity for us to organ
ize FOR self protection
It would be fatal mistake for us to
become a partizan organization; that
is, the tool of any political party. It is
our duty to formulate and discuss our
demands, regardless of how it may
effect any party. If the advocacy and
support of our demands hurt any politi-
cal party it is their own fault
We offered them to all parties alike,
with the implied promise of support if
they adopted them. On the other
hand, II 1t helps a party because they
have adopted the same demands, it is
so. 1t would be exceedingly unwise for
us to drop any demand simply because
a political party had adopted it. We
must push it until it is enacted into
law. The allianceman who is an
allianceman first and partisan after
will use political parties just as he
uses any other tool for the accomplish
ment of given purpose. support
the peoples party because believe it
Is the best tool for the purpose I
would as soon think of using ON my
farm forked stick for plow, a sickle
to cut my wheat, fail to thresh it and
market it on horse with stone in one
end Of the sack to balance it, and expect
to make a fortune raising wheat at
fifty cents per bushel, as to think of
succeeding in having our demands en-
acted into law by supporting a political
party that was fighting them Still,
1t is matter of judgment and not
a test of membership. Education
in our principles or demands will
eventually lead to unity of ac-
ton. AS understand it is our
duty to organize in non-partisan or
der, formulate, discuss and promulgate
our political demands in a non partisan
spirit, and press them to enactment
into law by such methods as our iudp-
ment commends. The great necessity
is to start the farmers to thinking,
reading, studying the science of govern
ment. When they do they will rise in
their might, and, uniting with organ
lied labor, will wipe out every vestige
of special class privileges.
Organize. educate, agitate. The re-
public and our free institutions must be
saved Fraternally, II. L. LoUCKs.