The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-06

Specimens Of the Hymnal with which
the Money Power Was Terrorired.

found the society equipped with a ritual
very similar to that OF the average
secret organization. n the high-muck-
a-mucks and the squeegees were inst
as important and dignihed as their
functions would permit them to be-. In
the course of a lodge meeting at least
an hour was given to an exchange of
experiences. something after the fash
ion OF a Methodist campmeeting. when
the brothers and sisters arose in turn
n told how the great red dragon had
fastened its claws within their vftals.
or how they were writing in the ten
tacles of the octopus. or how they were
CALLED by the chains of industrial slav-
cry. Between these experiences" the
lodge. led by a strong-lunged brother.
would break into song. the tune being
some well-known air with words pre-
pared 10 express the political or moral
sentiments which stood behind his po-
lftical organization.
We are reminded OF all his by some
selections taken from the official song
ritual as used in the Kansas lodges.
which were sent to us by +. w. Arnold.
editor of the Alton Empire. The first
of these relates to the terror which
h organization OF the Farmers alli-
ance was carrying to the money. and
h first W verses run as follows:
on. Al n i went out TO sec
The plough boys on their ranches;
We found them In a sycamore tree,
A-studying up the branches.
And so they formed a little band,
And called IL ar Alliance:
They strutted round like fightin' cocks
And bid the world defiance.
The song book a several sets of
verses set to the tune Of Yankee Doo-
die" One referred to the aims and
purposes of the alliance and also the
manner in which these urpos were
received by the general public. one
verse being as follows:
They said the plan they'd hit upon
Put all men on a level:
The men outside would nod and wink
And say. You'll play the devil"
1t will be remembered that one of
the aims Of the alliance was to destroy
the local merchant and do away with
the middle men in every department
of trade. Here are a couple OF verses
referring to that:
Oh. how the merchant snorted when
The news was spread around,
And how the jobbers spouted when
They found themselves aground.
And now the granger gets his goods
Way down at bottom prices;
And pays the cash like money kings
For all his little spices.
One song pore the title, THE Runs-
way Banker and IL concluded with
the following chorus:
DE banke runs, Ia, ha,
DE victim stay, no no!
1t must be now de kingdoms comm
And de year of jubilo.
Here are a couple Of verses referring
to the manner In which populism ex-
pected and intended to correct all the
evils under the sun. together with a
boast OF how congress was to be whip
ped INTO line:
Here comes the good old alliance train.
My God. tits just in time
To save poor wretched families
From poverty n crime;
The headlight turned toward Washing.
ton
And steam gauge running high,
As we go marching to victory.
Now. keep the engines putting. boys,
And leave the narrow gauge;
II run monopoly from the throne,
The bankers from the stage;
Wen turn old congress inside out
And set the cabinet free.
w Illt We 90 HldTtulDk, etc.
Perhaps the most popular of all the
songs. however, was the one entitled
Old Parties. Goodbye" In
those days populism was fighting dem
ocacy just as vigorously as IL fought
r~epublicanism, n fusion was a thing
Here are two verses from
fine old hymn:
IL was no more than a year ago
/ was in love with my party so,
near aught else l never would go,
Like the rest ! made a great blow;
Goodbye, my party, goodbye.
The party is on the downward track.
Picking its teeth with a tariff tack,
plainly states, II will never go
back"
Goodbye. my party. goodbye.
One great favorite was entitled
Harrison Badges" and IL refers to the
alleged poverty which came to the
American people under the administra-
ton of that president, one verse pro-
reeding tunefully as follows:
common folks wear them. sleeping
or walking.
Their number and size a mere matter
Of chance:
But the dearest. protected, aesthetic
anu tdhihk
Are those that are worn on the seats
OF our pants.
In its earliest days the populist or
was very active I'm the cause
OF temperance and prohibition. n
many OF the songs are devoted to a
sarcastic review OF the bibulous propen-
Of democrats and republicans.
II a verse which. IL IL had not
been written 50 long ago. might per-
he regarded as referring to the
practices OF the present state board OF
charities:
At the polls to-day I sit thinking,
drunkenness. of you,
And the homes that o are darken-
ing every day;
And ! see men getting full. spite Of all
that we Al do.
Though they try to put the liquor all
away.
Kansas City Journal.
Largest silver Mine.