I3 8 HISTORY OF THE WHEEL AND ALLIANCE. 



ducer and consumer, the buyer and the seller, the methods 

 should be changed, the process shortened and the expenses 

 reduced, and plans adopted that will more justly and sat- 

 isfactorily distribute the profits and give to labor a fair 

 share of its earnings. We believe that in co-operation a 

 remedy may be found for most of the evils and inequali- 

 ties growing out of the methods now in general use; that 

 in co-operation exists, as we believe, the very essence of 

 justice, fairness and equity; that when well understood and 

 closely observed, its principles, by intelligent and honest 

 management, may be successfully applied to most, if not 

 all, of the business pursuits and enterprises of the country; 

 that it possesses the elementary forces for solving the vexed 

 question of capital and labor, and for breaking the power 

 of monopoly; and, hence, we shall urge the study and 

 practice of co-operation in the Alliance as a mighty lever 

 that would lift the burdens and weight from labor and the 

 productive industries of the country that are lying with 

 such crushing force upon them, and by which the possi- 

 bilities of the Alliance for carrying out its good work may 

 be increased and strengthened. 



POLITICAL MATTERS. 



" Without disturbing political party lines or party 

 affiliations, or provoking partisan feelings or strife, we 

 shall boldly enter into the discussion and investigation of 

 all laws, public measures, and governmental policies that 

 have a direct or remote bearing on the productive indus- 

 tries of the country and its material welfare generally; 

 approving the good and condemning the bad, offering 

 through the ballot and other means in our reach such 

 remedies for existing evils and threatening dangers as we 

 believe the public interest demands. 



" We shall teach unfaltering hostility to all class legis- 



