The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-17
AN ALLIANCE LETTER.

correspondence of the Progressive Farmer.
"Tnis rubbing together Of heads, so
to speak, is very potential in removing
prejudices and false notions, which are
recognized stumbling blocks in the
way of the progress and growth of a
country" and, / might add, the up
building OF the Alliance.
Firstly, how shall we proceed to re
move the false notions that have
gained entrance into the heads Of a
number Of people about the AlIiance9
Aud how did it happen that these
false ideas were received by these for
mer members3 To answer this ques-
ton as l understand it, it is not my de-
sire to wound the feelings Of any
brother, but to state facts as I have
9 them. The year 1891 the State
Alliance met at MoreheRd City with a
delegate from every county inthe State
save one. This unprecedented growth Of
an organic alton of farmers alarmed the
politicians. A Isl of names for officers
of the Alliance we're said to have been
made out in r sIeigh by politicians.
The State Alliance did not take these
men for its off Sers. immediately Sons
newspapers OF the State started the
cry that our noble Order had gone into
politics. This false cry has TO a con
siderable extent decreased tde member
ship. Bu5, brethren, it is not YET dead,
and if the men who went out because
they honestly believed it had gone into
politics will nov return and help fight
the battle of the oppressed, they will
be accorded the right hand Of fellow
ship with the same cjrdiality as il
they had never been fooled. Why,
brother, there has not been any changes
made in the declaration of principles
OF the Alliance. They are the s8men0W
they we're when it was said it had gone
into politics. You were told at your
initiation that the obligation you
were about to take would not in
teriere with your religion nor
your politics. So far as I know, this
has been strictly adhered 60. O.her
secret organizations cay the same thing
to applicants for membership, and l
have not heard Of the Masonic order
ever having been charged with having
gone into politics, neither has the Old
F Howe, PIshian Knights nor any
other organization that I know any
thing about Now there must have.
been &C me cause for hurliUg this charge
at the Alliance WHAT was it, l be
lieve it Was because the politician saw
that tbs organization OF farmers and
laborers into a compact union with it's
incident education would be a death
blow to their ia time practices; hence
the false cry that it had gone into poll
tics.
am aware that g ms ,rity Of the
people who Left the Allisn nee on this &C.
count were men who { fiji lated with the
Democratic party. Now it is to tn SO
men thai we must appeal TO come back.
For the &C ion Of the last State Alliance
in cho lsiEg its President and Business
AkCug anu DCGl oihL AiCTh1uiStg ~ III
are ell Democrats, Is su ficient proof
OF the nou-p 3~rt!sanship OF tee Oder
While Goth these gentle uea have held
trua to the political party Of their
choico, they have at all times and On
all occasions stood with IN wavering
devotion by the Alliance. They have
at all times Recognized the necessity
and i'm cortanc9 of a fraternRl and COM.
pact organization Of farmers. They
know that every 9th n C aIling and pro
fession have their organic stions; they
also know that parry fl iation does
not deter the members Of these organ
iz3tior 8 from working in harm my for
the best in erest5 nt tntir respective
callings. a recent case in point ia the
North ClrJlina Bar Association. In
ID king var tie list o; i5s memberah D
1 rec}2n "a the names OF men who
500 Reward $1O0.