The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-06-20
AN "1Nv1DIoUs COMPARISON"
The Mistakes Made By Members of the
Alliance.

W0en a OOarQ OF GraQ0 Is OESahAAON
in one of our large cities, the initiation
fees range between S. and $50, and the
annual dues range from S. to $3O.
When a Farmers Alliance is organized
the initiation fee is so cents and the
annual dues $1.OO in case of males and
8 cents under the new constitution In
case of females.
When a board of trade meets every
member is on hand, or is fined, unless a
sufficient reason is given for his alb
sence. The meetings are well attended,
and the members pull together, and
accomplish the results sought for. If
necessary, the members will chip in
and raise at a single meeting from 800
to SIC, 1000.
When a Farmers Alliance meets
about three months after the organiza-
tion-not half of the members are pres
emit, and no one is fined. If there is
any money to be raised, some one sug
gests a fair, or an oyster supper or
some other process for raising money
equally trivial. There is little system
in the movement, too often, and very
little money is raised.
When anything transpires in a city
that hurts a business man, or is likely
to hurt his influence, especial meeting
of the board of trade is called, and
there is a first class howl and a super
lative amount of kicking until the in
jury is corrected.
When anything hurts a former CON
nected with the Alliance, nine times
out of ten there is no special meeting
of the organization, OF if there is there
is hardly a quorum. They may pass a
preamble and resolution, or send off a
letter or two; but usually very little
or nothing or accomplished in a prac-
tical way.
AS unpleasant and unpalatable the
comparison may be, the foregoing are
about the facts, but more The board
of trade man pays his fees and dues
promptly; in many instances the
Farmers Alliance man pays when he
pleases, and the local treasury, the
State treasury and the national treas
ury become poorer and poorer each
year instead of richer and richer by
reason of prompt payment of these OBJ
legations.
Tie board of trade man either pays
promptly or is bounced out; and if
they are bounced out they are made
the object of so much chagrin that
they soon bounce in again, pay up
their dues, and sometimes enough fines
in addition to purchase a horse.
The board Of trade men always have
a surplus in the treasury; they pur-
chase valuable land and erect valuable
buildings, and in course of time they
WELD an influence second to no crgani-
zation in their city.
The Farmers Alliance man is carried
along until his organization is too
weak and it's officers too Indifferent to
make any attempt to collect the back
fees and dues. Instead Of purchasing
property and erecting buildings, it is
usually the way to rent, and it has
been known to be the case that the rent
remained unpaid so long that all the
Alliance property, real and personal,
would not begin to pay the arrearages.
How is any organizati IN under the
sun going to succeed when members so
far forget their obligations and pledges
as to allow their organization to move
on without a single solid effort to help
it by personal influence or the contri-
button of a single dime?
We must get down to business, and,
if we cannot learn elsewhere, we can
take lessons from those who are uc-
cessful in building up their organiza-
tions in our large cities.
It is a pleasure to note that the fore
going does not apply to all Alliances or
to all members, but in too many in
stances the half of the truth has not
been told. Now ''let us geta move on, :"
and let us all pull together-frst apollo
giving to one another for our remiss-
ness in the past and pledging anew to
stand together. An old farmer recent
" well said, unless something is done
mighty soon, we are all going to the
wall" Yes, unless we are more loyal
to our organization and to each other,
we will not only go to the wall, but de-
serve to go there. It will take very
little effort on the part Of every farmer
and every other member of the Farm
ers' Alliance to bring the organization
up to a condition where we can not
only deserve respect, but command it,
and the admiration, as we'll as the at
tention, of our most cruel ad~versaries.
van you do your part to bring about
this glorious eraQ PTATN TPrTH