The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-04-06
FROM SECRETARY BARNES.
an Appeal to Alliancemen to Come Back
Together and Place the Order where II
ProOeriv Belongs,

40RSE1SL 8u0 48S SAS SeASA NASS
Properly Belongs.
Correspondence of the Progressive Farmer.
DEAR BRETHREN:-The most critical
period of the Alliance in North Caro-
lima since its organization is upon US.
It behooves each one Of us to look at
the conditions squarely and examine
''Where we are at" Just as long az
those outside of the Order fought US
and attacked our principles we stood
united, and our organization was seem
ingly invinc BILE. We have never SUFFERED
from these attacks, but grew stronger
in the faith. The trouble has been n
always will be from those inside the
Order. who unthoughtedly say and do
things they should not, while others
from selfish motives have done things
and led others to say and do things
strictly against Alliance principles, not
caring how much the A lliance suffered
90 they and their schemes succeeded.
These things have caused loss Of conf
dence among ourselves and on account
of them many have dropped out of our
ranks. Now what is to be donel The
question is what al we do to restore
our Order to a healthy condition . 1
think the first thing we should do is for
each one of US to read carefully the
declaration of purposes as published In
our constitution. The second thing, to
again take upon ourselves the obliga-
ton we made when we first joined the
Order. Especially, brethren, Task that
we read at least three times that part
of the obligation in Ritual, 4th and 9Th
paragraphs, commencing, L will
NJ wrong, etc." Also read what the
President promises the candidate be,
fore taking the obligation. Then breth-
rem let us stop and think and ask our
selves have we labored, as under the
declarations of purposes, 'in a strictly
bipartisan spirit Z" Have we fol
lowed the ID sin things essential unity,
and in all things charity Z" Also 9Th
Gin creating harmony and good will
among all mankind and brotherly love
among ourselves" and 6 b, ito sup,
press prejudice and unhealthy rivalry
and all selfish ambition" I say too
many of US have neglected these es-
Sentials-forgotten to do what We ought
to have done and have done those
things We should not have done.
Now, Brethren, after renewing our
obligations to each other and the Or
der let US resolve to go forward in our
Alliance work. Let US do something
by which every member, no matter
how poor, may see and feel that he is
getting a direct benefit. We know
that many have paid dues for years at
8 sacrifice from their small earnings
without being able to purchase through
our Business Agency. Many, who are
thoroughly imbued with Alliance Prin-
ciples have failed of late to pay their
dues, because they were unable to re
ceive cash for their products. Broth.
rem we are simply permitting our boat
20 drift with the current and to be
tossed about by every wind, and if we
do not at once bestir ourselves and use
our best efforts uuitedly our ship of
State" will soon be broken upon the
reefs.
We believed that your Executive
Committee had solved the problem
when they purchased this property for
Headquarters and repaired it and put
in machinery for shoe factory etc.,
and started them to work. Hundreds
OF letters poured in here from the
brethren from every direction. At
our State meeting this work was en-
dorsed without a dissenting voice yet
near the closing hours, without
thorough investigation, resolutions
were passed virtually stopping your
machinery-virtually bringing about
the confusion now in our Order.
The brethren who brought this about
no doubt were doing what they con
ceived to be right and proper, but 1 am
sure If the delegates and off cers had
been aware what effect these resolu-
tions would have had upon the organ
ization they never would have been
passed. In fact a State political con-
vention having been called for same
week Of your State meeting and against
the protests Of your Executive Com
mittee and Secretary Treasurer was
greatly responsible for this damage to
the Alliance since many of the officers
and delegates to our State meeting
were delegates to said convention, con
s~equently the work of the Alliance was
hurried and completed after many had
left to attend the convention. But we