The leader., 1902-12-17
THE FARMERS LEAGUE.

THE FARMERS LEAGUE.
What is called the Farmers
League was organized at Mead
vile, Franklin county, on the 9th
of December.
DR.. A. NJ. Newman presided at
the initiatory meeting and G. H.
Willis acted as secretary. 59S
persons are reported as partici-
pating in the meeting. A decla-
ration of purposes and constitution
were adopted, after which the
League was closed to meet in
Meadville on the first Saturday
in January, 1903, and represen-
tatlves from adjoining counties
are invited to meet the promoters
to perfect a State organization.
A reading of the declaration
of purposes and constitution
adopted, shows that the organiza-
ton is patterned clos ely after the
old Farmers Alliance, and contem-
plates a State League, with sub
leagues in every county. Apro-
pos the whitecap excitement now
prevailing in Amite, Franklin and
portions of Lincoln county, The
Leader copies below the declara-
ton of purposes of the new organ
ization and resolution adopted
by the Meadville meeting:
PURPOSES.
Bound together by the strong
ties of home and financial inter
csts, we, the Farmers League,
deem it necessary to set forth our
purposes; therefore,
Resolved, LIST. To adopt the
motto: Unity and Charity.''
End. To elevate mankind men
tally, morally and financially.
Bird. To perfect a better sys-
tenn of upholding civil officers in
maintaining law and order.
4th. To exert our powers to
secure harmony among all man
kind and to promote the int erests
Of the laboring classes.
9Th. To harmonic racial differ
ences, to suppress riotous conduct
and to adopt better system for
controlling labor.
RESOLUTION.
''Resolved, That we will not toll
crate or cOuntenance any viola
tions of the law, Or any hoodlum-
ism of any kind in this county or
State, and that we will ever aid in
all reasonable demands to bring
such violators of the law to JUS
tice. "
If the above was the real ami
mus and object of the organiza-
ton, The Leader, with every 9th
er good citizen of Mississippi,
would bid it God-speed in it's Iaud-
able undertaking; but there is
strong circumstantiaI evidence
tending to show that this so-called
Farmers League, which comes be-
fore the public in such fair and
seductive guise, is largely respon-
sible for, and some of its mem
hers actually engaged in the reign
Of lawlessness now prevailing in
portions of these counties; that in
stead of exerting themselves to
the utmost to "qpholding civil
officers in maintaining law and or
der" and exercising all their
powers to secure harmony
among all mankind and promote
the interests of the laboring class
es," and at the same time seeking
ito harmonic racial differences,
suppress riotous conduct and
adopting better system for con-
trolling labor etc., they are en-
gagged in the very opposite of
these things-ignoring and defy
ing the civil authorities, stirring
up riot and discord instead of
bringing harmony and running
off and terrorizing laborers on en-
tire farms.
How high-sounding and fine,
yet how like mockery the
above resolution reads in the light
of the condition prevailing right
where this organization had its
birth! 1t is the hand of Esau but
the voice of Jacob.
In view of well-known facts and
circumstances, The Leader warns
all good, law-abiding farmers OF
Lincoln county to hold aloof and
give cold comfort to this new
movement with its fair profes.
sions, until it and its promoters
have vindicated themselves from
the evidences of bad faith in up
holding the very principles which
they avow.
We are very far from charging
or even intimating that every per.
son who has even thus far gone
into the new movement has beer
actuated by wrong motives or in.
tentions. Very far from it. Or
their face the declared objects Of
the League are worthy enough
and may well mislead the best Of