The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-02-02
NATIONAL PRESIDENT LOIgks
Makes Ruling about Politics In the
Alliance.


Alliance.
A few days ago | received letter
asking for a decision on the following
point: "Can an alliance discuss such
political questions as government
ownership Of railways, the sub-treas-
ury plan of issuing money, etc" The
president Of the alliance had ruled
that the order was partisan.
hence could not discuss political
questions. My answer of course was
that it was not only in order, but it
was the duty of every alliance to
discuss every plank of our platform,
and advisable to discuss state and
other issues of interest to us a.
individuals and as class. Too
many of our writer's and speakers are
not careful enough in the use of
the terms, non-political and non
partisan. We are a political or
ganization, indeed; a distinctively
political organization, as every plank
in our demands is political. They
all relate to the science of govern
ment. Each and every one Of them
requires political action to crystalize
them into law. But we are dis.
tinctly non-partisan organization.
We require no pledge of support for
any political party. We do not even
require pledge to support our de-
mands. The Alliance is an educa-
tional organization. We welcome
into our order men of all political
affiliations, and discuss political
questions regardless of political
parties, as they affect our interests,
leaving to each individual the right
to support or reject, as i'll his
Judgment he deems best. In this We
differ widely from partisan organiza-
tions. The Democratic club is q
partisan organization, III that 1t de.
mands support of the Democratic
party as a test of membership, The
same is true of the Republican
league, for the Republican party
and Industrial Legion, for the PEG.
pies party. Should the members Of
any of these fail IN their support
they are liable to expulsion. 1t il
not SO with a member of the ALI
ance. So long as other classes ant
professions organize by themselves il
non-partisan organization, it will b.
wise for the farmers to follow theil
example. Indeed it is a necessit,
for lis to organize for self protec
ton.
1t would be fatal mistake for u
to become partisan organization
that is, the tool of any political par
ty. 1t is our duty to formulate ant
discuss our demands, regardless O
how it may effect any party. If tn
advocacy and support of our demand
hurt any political party it is thei
own fault. We offered them to al
parties alike, with the implied prom
Use of support if they adopted them
On the other hand if it helps a par
ty because they have adopted tn
same demands, it is their legitimat
reward for doing so. 1t would b
exceedingly unwlse for US to dro]
any demand simply because a pollti
cal party had adopted it. We mus
push it until it is enacted into law
| The Alliance man who is an Allianc
man first and partisan after will US
political parties just as he uses an,
other tool for the accomplishment
of a given purpose. support tn
Peoples party because I believe it i
the best tool for the purpose.
would as soon think of using on m
} farm a forked stick for a pillow,
, sickle to cut my wheat, a fail t
{ threash it, and market it on horse
back with stone in one end of tn
sack to balance it, and expect t
make fortune raising wheat at 5
cents per bushel, as to think c
succeeding in having our demand
{ enacted into law by supporting
PoI1lI"i pa ohto was hS h'i Ii
I, them. Still, that is a matter {
< Judgment and not a test of men
: bership. Education in our prime
: piles or demands will eventually lea
+ to unity Of action. AS | understaE
1t, it is our duty to organize in
-, non-partlsan order to tormulat
discuss and promulate our politics
demands in a non-partisan spiri
and press them to enactment in
: law by such methods as our jud:
: ment commends. The great recess
e tY is to start the farmers to thin
e ing, reading, studying the science ,
y government. When they do thu
r will rise in their might, and, unitir
v with organized labor, will wipe OF
4 every vestige of special class priv
4 leges. Organize, educate, agitat
v The republic and our free instit
lions must be saved.
Fraternally, III. L. LoUCKs.