The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-03-30
A LETTER
FROM THE STATE PRESIDENT TO THE
MEMBERS or THE ALLIANCE or
NORTH CAROLINA.
OFFICIAL CIRCULAR No. =
OFFICE OF MARION BCTLER,


GOLDsBoRo, \. {. March II. 1898.
TIE THE MEMBERS OF THE SUR-ALLI-
ANCEs OF NORTH CAROLINA:
On Feb. 10th the State Execu-
tive Committee and State President
of the \. {. f. 5. \. sent out for
your consideration and action a joint
address. Recent events make it
necessary for me to supplement
what was then said. The Executive
Committee, lam sure. would join in
this address if they were in session.
All of You have, no doubt, learned
through various sources of the at
tempt of the legislature to repeal
the charter Of the State Alliance.
This action was taken by that body
without cause and without evidence
or even the shadow of proof that the
Alliance had in any way violated
the terms of its charter. To say
this is the most nigh handed, unjust
and cowardly piece of legislation
ever attempted by any legislature of
North Carolina, is &c state il mildly.
And as your chief officer, / feel that
it is my duty to give You the inside
of this matter as | see it. We think
We state fact that 20 one will
question, when We say to begin with
that the majority of the members Of
the legislature of 1898 were not
friendly to the Alliance as an organ
lzatlon; as non-partisan organiza-
ton, they feared and hated it, for it
would be natural for partisans to do
SO. Un0er one consideration only
could they love it, that is, if it would
become an intensely partisan organ
izatlon, and be partisan for their
party.
But there we've still other persons
who were behind the legislature who
urged that body to take the action
that it did. Who were thew They
were the same persons who tried to
prejudice you against the officers
and management of the Alliance last
summer and fall, by wilfullv living
while they knew the truth: they are
the men who charged that the unds
of the Alliance were being used to
to pay political speakers aud to run
partisan papers; they are the men
who advised You not 10 attend YOUR
Alliance meetings nor to pay YOUR
dues; they are the men who advised
you to disband the sub-lodges and
return your charters. These are the
same men wke stood behind the
scenes prompting the legislature and
lnstigating it to take such action.
Even after the "Joint Address. !"
signed by the State President and
the Executive Committee a majority
of whom are Democrats. was issued,
and the several cards written by Bro.
W. A. Graham, the Trustee of the
S b. A. f. were published, all Civ
ing the lie to the false and SANDER
Gus charges, these same malicious
towards and covert enemies of the
Alliance some of whom. who claimed
to be members of the Order, still IN
sisted that the funds of the Alliance
had been used to further the inter
ests of the Peoples party; in short
they used all their develish ingenu-
ity to still further arouse the part;-
san prejudice of the legislature. On
these presentations Though that
body professed that 1T was on other
grounds and for other reasons1 the
house passed the bill repeating the
charter of the State Alliance. 1t
was decided IN a secret political
Caucus to force this bill thr ough
without 5 debate or giving any one a
hearing. The progrsme was earned
put IN the House. In fact the bill
was passed not only without giving
, hearing In committee, not only
without allowing debate on the
floor. but even without being read
On the second and third readings, 50
thar those who were not In the Sc
ret political caucus scarcely knew
What they we're voting ON. The
Dill was sentoyer to the senate with
'nt engrossment TO be passed by that
,ody IN the same indecent haste.
Being notified BY telegram of such
nigh handed proceedings your State