The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-03-07
COME TO THE RESCUE
TO SAVE THE COUNTRY FROM TYR
AMY, HEED THESE WORDS.

TO SAVE THE COUNTRY FROM TYR
AMY, HEED THESE WORDS.
General Van Dervoort Issues Circular No.
of the Industrial Legion, Setting Forth
the Objects and Necessity of the Organ
ization-Pun Together.
: The Industrial legion is the Peoples
Party club and bears the same relation
to our party as the Republican and Dem
ocratic leagues do to those parties. 1t
was organized by the national execu-
tive committee at Memphis Nov. 10,
1892, being mainly the idea of Chairman
Taubeneck and George F. Washburn.
They had just been through campaign
without any organization, without even
committees in many cases. Even where
they had in some states the people were
untrue to our cause.
There were many orders of many
kinds. The farmers societies and Knights
Of Labor had done grand work in edu-
eating the people. The agricultural in
terest had about seven bands, while the
Knights of Labor and the federated
trades and unions represented all work
ers of the city and town population. The
silver leagues were mainly in the mining
states. All of these were nonpartisan,
and if they were not pretended to be,
and each had a strong element belonging
to the old parties who fought political
action.
So to none of these could the national
committee look for dollar They could
not lawfully use the funds for political
purposes, and the only way the committee
could get means was to issue appeals
through the press and take up collections
at meetings. Thousands of good people
were Disguised with the eternal passing
of the hat that was feature of many of
the meetings. The lack of money caused
the loss OF many votes and prevented in
telligent work. The different orders l
allude to each cost a large sum of money.
Some of them pay large salaries and
travelling expenses, but mainly they per-
formed good work and accomplished
their mission by starting the good work
forward
To remedy this situation the Industrial
legion was organized. Those present at
the first meeting, who were known as
charter members, included the national
executive committee and the officers and
leading members of the National Farm
ers' Alliance. Every farm and labor Or
der was represented in this meeting, and
they all recognized that the great need
was partisan political club to which
all could belong, and which should be
systematically organized in a practical
way right from the beginning Thou
sands were not eligible to membership
in the orders we have had, and while we
We're shouting equal rights to all and
special privileges to none" many of our
voters could not get inside the doors, for
they were all secret societies, bound by
ritual and oath, and naturally looked
with suspicion upon those who were not
likewise committed.
The national executive committee
launched the legion with the following in
dorsement, which has been renewed ev-
cry time they have held meeting since
that date: 1--WE kindly request that the
Peoples Party state, county and local
committee in every state in the Union
do all in their power and lend helping
hand to organize the Industrial legion.
Push the organization into every state,
county, precinct and school district in
the land. H. E. Taubeneck, chairman;
J. Fl. Turner, secretary; M. c. Rankin,
treasurer"
Under these instructions we have
planted the legion in % different states
and all of the territories. We have COM
missioned over 700 recruiting officers,
handled an enormous correspondence,
consulted in person or by mail with the
party leaders and host Of the rank and
file, written many articles for the press
explaining and defending the legion and
can honestly say that we are thoroughly
established, that it is no longer an ex-
pertinent, and that we are ready to move
as fast as the people will call for char
tiers.
We have had our troubles, have run
across the cloven foot and seen the
horns of the party mischief maker and
professional boodler, have been SANDER
ed by the people who make merchandise
Of the labor vote, but in the main, while
the yoke has not been light, the work has
been labor Of love. We design to Sc
cure the cooperation of all persons SYM
pathizing with our party to unite in mu-
tual work to raise money, to buy, circu-
late and sell libraries, secure subscribers
to newspapers, and by discussion, papers
and speakers to educate our members
and get them to do missionary work
among the people. It is political econ
omy club, standing for fair ballot and
honest count and filling all the duties of
silver league.
Our creed is the Omaha platform, and
we stand by it and maintain it until
duly authorized convention of the Peo-
ple's Party order change. We raise
money by the methods used in the other
societies, and we admit women and young
people oFboth sexes over IA, because we
beliexe in our motto and desire to inter
eeyan in the holy work. We give sup
Ipers, concerts and all kinds of entertain
ments and have good music furnished
by glee clubs to enliven the occasions