The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-01-24
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE N. F.
A. & | u.

It was not my intention to say any
thing special about our Memphis SEES
sion. but there seems to be sufficient
misunder standing about it, even among
our reform papers. to warrant u few
words at this ii ne.
First, then, there was no personal an
tagOnism that I know Of between DR..
III bruue and myself. Previous to the
Memphis session he had no GARNER
friend Or admirer than myself. When
ever attacked l defended HIM, slnie
first met him at ST Louis three year.
ago.
Second, there was no diff renee IN
policy Of Alliance work up 20 late OF
that session that [ am aware or.
When we lost our President, Dr
Nactne wired me TO come to WASH
j1~rnn at once. [ had work planned
ont for a few weeks, so wrote
him of my plan, and showed my
confidence in hun by authorizing him
to act for me until my arrival. He
cordially approved OF my plans I'ur-
tny nv stay in Washington l consulted
with him freely and ~cOnfidentlatly IN
dec authorized him as chairman Il
the executive committee to make my
ar.D. iuCments for me, giving prefer
ence 20 the Southern States, wher" ne
was much better acquainted imam L
was We both agreed in the opinion
that the Alliance should be a nOn-par
tisau organic alton. We also agreed
that it was our duty to support the pO
Iiucll party that adopted demands.
So mat so far as | know there was no
difference In policy or methods between
us. I asked no one to support me:
There was no fight made on me that |
know CT. The brother who nominated
DR.. Macune stated that IT he were
elected President l would be elected
Vice by acciamatlpn When the .
tors friends became very earnest IN
their canvass for MIN and when he
stat-d that it was "A case of life or
death for him, | requested that my
Ds,la be withdrawn Ny friends would
not consent. They took the p sItlpn
that Dr.. MaCQne from the South had
h.!d the office for three ears, followed
bv Brother Jones for one year. q "
Brother Polk three years, all from III
Scum; that it was now only Jus5 aud
in the interest IF the Order that the
honor should go TO the North, parElcu
LARRY as the claim h3G been made uitl!6
North that the y. f. \. & | y was a
Southern Alliance. The contest was
not made on seCti0nallnes, for although
the vote was by ballot, feel sure am
Correct in saying that The delegates
from the following Southern States
voted for NE. viz: Virginia, Georgia,
North Carolina, Arkansas aud hiiS-
souri,, while the following NDrJnorn
States would have supported DE- Ma
cune: Pennsylvania, Ono, Illinois and
California. There Ia no reason for say
ing that your pOliti; al affiliations made
made anv difference, for we were both
av1wrd Peoples party men and whilst
I think it is true that all the DINO
Cratic delegates supporters OF the
doctor iC is also true that such stall
wart Peoples party men as Brothers
West, JamisOn, Mcdowell, Gardner,
Tracy. Robinson and Cole we're also.
1t Is ridiculous to say that "GIdeOns
Band" had anything to do with my
election. | have not and never have
had any connection with IL, directly or
indirectly, and know nothing OF It *
cep6 from hearsay.
l think it il unfair to claim that the
Executive Committee Of the Peoples
party met there for the purpose OF IN
terfering in our business No one
would have resented such interference
more quickly than I would. / 50 y no
euch indications. They were there as
at indianapolis and St. Louis, because
they could meet so many of their co
workers at less expense than in any
other way. 20 charge that they are
enemies of the Alliance, Or plotting for
it's downfall, is ridiculous, as CIm9 will
prove.
AT every session OF the Alliance we
must expect that delegates will have
their ~favOrIteS for Office. 10 the past
in our Order it has invariably been true
that the candidate for office has been
defeated. | hope in the future that it
will always prove true. then the office
will seek the man, and there w IL be no
heart burnings thr ugh disappoint-
ment. We cannot afford to permit so
grand an order with such noble objects
in view to be used to aid any indtvid
ual in his personal ambitions. Where
the attempt is made it Is our duty to
prevent it by all honorable means If
the time should ever come when the
majority Of our delega5es at any SEES
sion should consider toe election of any
particular person to office q necessity
for our Order, then we shall have
in this movement. Success. for our
principles, everything. TOD much
space mas already been consumed for
or against individuals. Push our de-
mand5 to the front Train yOur guns
on the opposition. and do not permit
yourself to be side tracked On minor
issues or personalities.
Yours fraternally,
Il. L LOUCKs.