The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-06-23
PARTY LEADERS LOOK WITH uN.
EAslNEss UPON THE NEW
UNION.
RAPID STRIDES MADE
In Recent Years BY Farmers Alliance
Which Has AS It's Purpose the
Betterment Of Its Many
Members.

Chia June 22.-The national
j leaders Of both political parties have
lately had their attention directed TO
the possibility ~ the Farmers union
going into active politics. While 1t
would perhaps be putting II little
toe sharply to say thar they are
jaarmed over the possibility IT is
gfowth of the organization N already
causing some uneasiness.
| The Farmers union was not Or
ganized for political purposes and the
/ leadels of the movement insist that
lpolitics viii be barred But this
statenient ~ not reassaring to ttc
/ politicians, who remember how The
j lleaders OF the Farmers alliance years
iagt declared there would be no pot
ticians in the organization and how
| d few years later the alliance played
havoc with the olaer political parties.
There Is a striking similarity between
he new organization and the old In
| their place OF origin, purposes and
growth the Two have been almost
identical
The first Farmers alliance haa iis
birth In LamDass county, Texas. in
tiS7G The objects OF this pioneer as
isociation were purely local. and con-
| fined to defence against the depreda-
ltions OF cattle and land thieves.
Farmers Union Gains Strength.
The movement was taken up. how
ever. by other counties, and in 1856.
| a Farmers State alliance was formed
Its declaration Of principles included
1.-The education of the agricultural
Iclasses In the science III economical
government i'll strictly bipartisan
spirit and the development Of a
BETTER state mentally. morally sl-
leia1iy ana financially.
In the meanwhile organizations Of
FARMERS were growing In adjacent
sites In Arkansas was the Wheel. SO
called. which first saw light In a
school house In western Arkansas In
I1SS2. In Louisiana was the Farmers
Iunion. Delegates from the later net
with delegates from the Texas Far
mers' State alliance, at Waco. in 1887.
and out Of the two bodies was formed
| the National Farmers Alliance and
Co Operative Union Of America. At
Meridian, Miss. December 3. 1883.
| was held a convention between this
Organization and he National Agrlcnl
tla;al Wheel. and from II was evolved
/ the Farmers and Laborers Union or
America Al the next annual meeting
held In st. Louis In 1889 the name Of
THAT organization, which had now
lspread TO that of the National Far
mers' Alliance and Industrial union,
name by which II continued TO be
known until its dissolution some years
later, TO be revived In the Populist
party.
As before stated. the origin and his
tory of the Farmers alliance and the
Fa: mers' union present many points
OF striking similarity.
Like the older organization. the
Farmers union had it's origin in
Texas. II was in Ralnes county. that
state. that ten men met on August
2s 1902, and formed an organization
to be called the Farmers unionA The
lobject and aims Of the organization
were SCI forth in the following con-
Istitution:
Aims Of the Association.
To discourage as much as possible
the present mortgage and credit sys-
TEN.
To assist our members IN buying
and selling.
To labor for the education Of the
agricultural classes in the science OF
crop diversihcaton and scientific cul-
ture.
To constantly strive to secure en-
tire harmony and good will among
an mankind and brotheriy love among
ourselves.
To form a more adequate union
with those in authority for a more
rigid and impartial enforcement Of
the law. that crime vice and i'm
morality may be suppressed.
II would garner the Tears Of the dis
tresscd. the blood Of the martyrs. the
laughter 81 innocent children. the
sweat OF honest labor ana the virtue
of a happy home as the brightest
Jewels known
This is no political pastg. and shall
forever abs ain from even 50 much as
a discussion of partyism. Yet We do
rot feel that &c is right to place
shackles upon the limbs OF paddock
fuon the lips Of ans one who may
Wish 10 discuss for edncational par
poses the science Of government for
unon This rock al important strue-
tines mus rest for either mental.
rro1al or financial Development
That the membels Of the union
fase seen nj 10 constrne the last
ef.rss Of their constitution 10 their
,co1cluasd an Thlrd Raxsl