The Bossier banner., 1893-05-25
To the Farmers Alliance Men
of Bossier.

Union to be helu with the ROCKY
Mount subunions, on the End Tues
day III April, [ was very much panied
and disappointed at failing to meet
quorum there, and consequently
we had no meeting. There were only
three subunious represented by q
meager attendance, and no word from
any of the others, and neither the
President, nor Vice President, nor
Lecturer, of the Parish Union were
there.
This is very discouriging and hui
initiating to members who wish and
are trying to carry on the work which
has only just begun by the Order i'll
the parish and State, and in the
several States where the Order has
been In existence.
1t looks as though great proper
ton of the brotherhood have looked
on the Alliance as political organi-
zation and seemed to think its mis-
sion and work was done when our
State election was past.
This is sad mistake as to the
aims and purposes of the Order, and
has had a disastrous result on the
membership. Some have had for an
excuse for their waning interest i'll
the Alliance, that designing men
professional politicians-have got
into it from selfish motives, and have
undertaken to use the Alliance as a
tool to further their own selfish ends.
Although there may be some truth in
these chargas, it should not be held
as sufficient excuse for abandoning
the fight with monopoly and corrup
ton in high places. Politics is only
secondary consideration in the aims
and purposes of the Order and the
good it has already done outside of
politics is far-reaching and wide
spread, affecting favorably every in
dustrial interest of the country. Look
at the crushing of the bagging
Trust" which has benefited every
farmer in the South, and in benefit
ting the farmer has accidentally ben
eftted every other legitimate indus
try of the country.
1t is too plain to be controverted
that the organized and concerted
action of the Alliance was what killed
that monopoly, thereby saving to
every cotton grower a good many
dollars clean cash on every cotton
crop. Look at the effect on our leg
islators, both State aud National, of
the warnings served on many of them
by the Alliance as to their future acts
in public life and on how it has affec-
ted legislation in favor of the common
people. See how the office seeker
would first try to conciliate the ALI
ance when offering for any Office
knowing that without the votes of
Alliance men it was impracticable to
reach the coveted office. And look
at the good it has accomplished to
the laboring people in many ways,
socially as well as financially, and
then say if you can afford to let the
Order go down! In our own State,
besides the items just mentioned, we
all know that the defeat of the lot
terry company was largely due to the
determined and uncompromising
opposition of the Farmers Union,
in fact it is very doubtful if it would
have been possible for the people of
the State to have moved in such an
unbroken line of battle on this ter
rible monster only through the
thorough organization accomplished
by means of the Alliance. Profes-
slonal politicians and corrupt cor
porate monopolies saw and felt the
power of the Farmers Alliance, who
never give a thought to the farmers
in an unorganized condition and
every man for himself. We our
selves have seen and felt our
strength, power and influence in a
co operative body which was never
possessed by the laboring classes
before.
AS have said before, the mission
of the Alliance is not done, it is only
just begun, if we will do onr duty
There are great things yet to be ac.
complished, and which can be &C.
complished in legitimate way by
the united efforts of the people
through the Alliance, that can never
be reached in a disorganized con
dition. There are some elarine
evils in our social and governmental
economy that should be corrected
besides many things pretaining te
onr everyday home interests all OF
which go to make up the sum tota
of proper and legitimate work fol-
the Alliance. We need some radi
cal reforms in our convict system
In our road laws and our free schoo
or educational interests ETC., etc.
! All of which can be much more
quickly and effectively brought
about by the concert of action made
possible and easy through the ALI
ance. Besides all the above induce