The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-06-19

Secretary Barnes Present and Made .
Good Speech.

NASHVILLE, N. @.
Mr.. EDTToR:-The County Alliance
convened with Coco Sub Alliance, No.
ISL, April 18th, 1894 Brother w. s.
Barnes was billed to be with us on
the occasion, and he came this time,
sure enough. Before brother Barnes
arrived a large crowd having already
assembled, brother w. H. Robbins,
Vice President of the County Alliance,
made a short but pointed speech, and
while he yet spoke, brother Barnes
came up, whereupon brother Robbins
introduced him and said that he was
very glad to meet his old schoolmate
again. The speaker said he had no
idea of meeting such a large crowd,
and that he had no setspeech, but that
he came to talk to the Alliance about
the products of home and farm.
| Nevertheless he touched on some of
the living, and I might say vital, issues
of the day. He dwelt to some extent
on the financial depression of the coun-
try, showing how, by unjust laws, the
rich are growing richer and the poor
growing poorer; how the classes are
growing rich at the expense of the
masses, etc. He then talked to all for
some time in regardt to raising poultry,
and fully explained the best mode of
Matching, raising and shipping poultry,
etc., and even told us how to keep off
the hawks.
After the speaking was Over all were
invited and partook of the sumptuous
dinner prepared by those big hearted
brethren and sisters of Coco and com
munity.
After dinner and at the proper time,
the Alliance was called to order and
opened in due form by Vice-President
Robbins. Our President, brother V.
B. Harter, was absent, for the first
time, on account of sickness.
After the regular routine Of business
was completed, the Alliance adjourned
to meet with Springhope Sub Alliance,
No. $50, at White Oak church, six C)
miles southwest of Nashville, second
Thursday in July next. This place Is
nearer the center of the county than
the Alliance ever met before, and the
indications are that this meeting will
be by far the largest and most inter
esting one ever held in the county.
OF course there are a few of the Subs
that are suspended and N that has
returned it's charter. This may sound
mighty sweet to those who are so much
opposed to the Order, and may seem
like verifying the statement so often
made that the Alliance is dying out;
but perhaps their happy smile will
change when they r ttold that it is
stronger in this county than it has been
since September 80, 1892. Twenty-six
Subs were represented at our last
meeting, and the membership Chose
reported in good standing) had in
creased about 80 per cent. since our
meeting in January. Yes, this is the
way the Alliance is dying out in this
county.
Brethren, as you are aware. this is
election year. What are you going to
do about it, Shall we again fall out,
call each other bad names, pull each
others hair and tell our brother he is
not fit to belong to the Order, just
because he don't see everything just as
we do9 Shall we again retard the
progress Of the Alliance by allowing
the seeds of discord and mistrust to be
soWn in ranks, causing many, per-
haps well meaning men to falter by
the wayside3 I tell you nay! but in
the language of that great and good
leader of the reform movement, our
lamented Polk, do your duty"
Stand shoulder to shoulder, wear no
party collar, but vote for principle
rather than party; and above all,
never let the Alliance banner trail in
the dust. The Alliance has a mission
to fill, no matter what party gets in
power and therefore mast not fail. For,
judging the future by the past, it seems
that no party a hold the Ereins of
government very long without becom-
ing corrupt. Even the Peoples party
"a party that is the real offspring of
the combined labor organizations
will, after it gets in power for a while,
no doubt, need to be checked by it's
~originators; or, in other words, the
Alliance should be kept strong enough
to hold all parties in subsection.
Wishing you and our noble Order