Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-05-10
SAID SPIDER TO FLY.
First Move Of the Populists in the
Falls Camnaign.

1 80 hhhNs NY pun pm =
to have been adopted Saturday by the
Farmers Alliance OF Dickinson
County" They are signed simply
committee on resolutions" but Mr.
Kane said he knew but one man on
that committee-E. G. Bowling. There
is something humorous in them and
as campaign move they are unique:
WHEREAS; II has been currently re-
ported and, we fear, sometimes be-
lieved by our brother farmers that the
Farmers Alliance is a part Of the
Peoples Party; and
WHEREAS, We believe such false
report has injured the Alliance by
deterring good and worthy men Of
other parties from it, now, therefore,
| be IL
Resolved, by the Farmers Alliance
OF Dickinson county, Kansas, in con-
vention assembled, that in order to
correct such false impression, II such
exist, we make the following public
statements:
list, The aims and objects OF the
| Alliance are to educate, cultivate and
elevate the farmers as class by social
intercourse, mutual interchange of
thought and experiences, and such
other means as are at its command.
2nd, The Alliance is in nowise a
political organization, nor is It a part
OF any party whatever.
3rd, The Alliance does not oppose
nor antagonize any other order or or
| ganization.
4th, The Alliance invites farmers
Of all shades Of political belief to Join
the order and assures them that their
ideas and opinions shall be respected,
and be it further
Resolved, That we call upon all
sub-Alliances of the county which
have not already done so, to re-organ-
ize' and where none have been formed
to organize at least one in each town
ship.
Resolved, That copies of these res
olutions be given to the press of Dick
inson county for publication.
COMMITTEE on RESOLUTIONS.
The horse laugh that this stupen-
dously humorous proclamation will
receive will be the public's verdict
regarding it. No one who has lived
in Kansas five years will believe it,
nor are the resolutions intended for
the acceptance of anybody except
those gullible enough to be deceived
by the remarkable statements made
theirin.
Originally the Farmers Alliance
was a non-partisan organization, de-
voted to agricultural benefit 1t had
not weathered half OF 1890, however,
before it was in the hands Of the
Peoples party. "Sub-alliances" nomi-
mated Peoples party candidates; dis
tributed Populist literature behind
closed doors discussed ways and means
of defeating Republicanism in the
meetings, and every Farmers ALI
ance man knows that while n Repub-
lican might belong to the Alliance
and might retain knowledge of the
grips, signs and passwords. it was
made so almighty uncomfortable for
him that he speedily lost all desire to
attend the meetings.
Report says that orders have gone
out from Topeka Populist headquar-
tiers that in every community the ut
most cordially shall be extended to
the opposition by the Populists, the
old-time eNclusiveness is to be thrown
of and every possible means used to
secure the support Of lukewarm Re
publicans. These resolutions fit well
with the report. There is spider
and-ily tone about them that has
much significance. The Peoples Par
ty is in the resolutions posing under
soft and lleecy lambskin, but when
once the unsuspecting stranger has
been induced to come back into the
organization and 'at least one in each
township has been organized, presto,
changed and the Peoples Party is in
its old place again.
Don't let anybody be deceived by
such fair promises of "non-partisan-
ship" in the Farmers Alliance. Kan
sas knows what has happened in the
past.
The resolutions seem mighty sus-
picious at this stage of the State cam
paign.
Organization of farmers in a non
political, non-sectarian body to dis
cuss ways and means for the benefit
of themselves and furtherance of ag-
riculture is much TO be desired, but
the day when the Farmers Alliance Of
Kansas could fill that position is long,
long gone by. Some day there will
be strictly agricultural society in
this State-but it will never be the
Farmers Alliance again.