The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1893-02-08
speedily replenish the Oil in tho

Q0OuWlnheO dIO Will Sop10 WV
around our necks, as the OK is led to
the slaughter, suffer ourselves led
into the enemy's camp and there be
compelled to do the bidding Of the
crafty, scheming henchmen Of plu-
t~ocracy in order that the select few
can reap the rich spoils Of office?
These, my friends, are momentoas
questions for US to answer, upon
which hang the destiny, not only OF
the Farmers Alliance, but Of the
whole nation. Such questions must
be answered by each one of US sepa-
rately and individually. If we an
swer in the affirmative we shall at
once throw off the garb or habill-
ments of Alliancemen, as many
weak kneed brethren have already
done, and work openly and above
board in the future for our task mas
tiers. But if we answer in the mega
| tive, then it behooves us as men and
as patriots to buckle on our armor,
VOW to God imploring his help,
VOW to country, family and conscl-
ence that we will be free men in the
future in fact as we'll as in name, or
VOW that we will grow gray IN the
service and die in the harness. We
have often been tauted with the
ieer, Il thought the Alliance was non
political" Well, yes; but our thoughts
often leads US in forbidden paths,
the only thing about the Alliance
that it's enemies dread is it's indepen-
dent politics. The very first and
most important of our demands
the abolition of National banks
bears the imprint on it's face, as we'll
as all the others, that the order is In
tensely political. Would not a com-
pany of sensible men be considered
"chumps' indeed if they expected Or
dreamed that there was any other
way to abolish National banks be-
sides crushing them at the ballot
box? Tie fact that Alliancemen did
not vote at the last national election
for the abolition of National banks
makes it doubly sure that u coun-
try will continue to be cursed with
National banks until another ma
! tional election rolls around; and we
.sssasn have the privilege of, fasten-
neeEs by oss sdiiiisaa 5saFaz'aa 33H
Let US now take a peep at other
labor organizations. The knights
of Labor has survived the storms of
twenty two years, and it has all this
time been non political. What has
it accomplished d.Ving its long life
to compare with ~ youngest sister,
the Farmers Alliance 1t has uc-
ceeded in retaining it's identity and
holding together a membership suff-
cient to prolong its existence, but it
is powerless, within itself, to success.
fully grapple with the master issues
affecting the destiny Of our nation
as well as the welfare of thousands
of its poorest members who worst
of all need relief. The most that it
is competent. within itself, to do is
through strikes and boycotts. It
sometimes, very rarely, obtains and
keeps up fair wages for first class
journeymen mechanics, a class suff-
| GENTLY able to take car Of them
selves.
The Rights Of Labor, Amalga-
mated Association Of Iron and Steel
Workers, Locomotive Engineers
Union, Long S~horemen, etc, when
they feel eggrieved can, through
their officers, order a strike. After
much idleness, confusion, often blood
shed and the loss Of thousands OF
dollars in wages, they can order the
strike off. Sometimes, very rarely
though, their demands are acceded
to for less hours per day, more
wages, or a reduction prevented; but
in a great majority Of cases labor
comes out loses. But the poor wo-
men and children who have no. Or
~ganization to demand eight hours
for them and no one to plead their
cause, toll on in the New England
mills twelve and half to fourteen
hours per day, and a check on the
manufacturing company's store on
Saturday night is their wages. Or,
worse still, hundreds of others in
large cities who are compelled to
make one dozen mems draws for
forty cents or starye. That class
never has MOI never will receive any
substantial benefit from such labor
organizations unless the organizations
change their tactics. Instead of Or
dering strikes and contending for
ten hours per day for eight hours
work, if they would educate their
members to vote for measures, re-
CARELESS of party, that would bring
financial relief to the whole country,