30 THE AGRARIAN CRUSADE 



farmers' clubs, at first more or less independent of 

 each other but later banded together in state asso- 

 ciations. The most striking differences of these 

 clubs from the Granges were their lack of secrecy 

 and their avowed political purposes. Their estab- 

 lishment marks the definite entrance of the farmers 

 as a class into politics. During the years 1872 to 

 1875 the independent farmers' organizations multi- 

 plied much as the Granges did and for the same 

 reasons. The Middle West again was the scene 

 of their greatest power. In Illinois this movement 

 began even before the Grange appeared in the 

 State, and its growth during the early seventies 

 paralleled that of the secret order. In other States 

 also, notably in Kansas, there sprang up at this 

 time agricultural clubs of political complexion, and 

 where they existed in considerable numbers they 

 generally took the lead in the political activities of 

 the farmers' movement. Where the Grange had 

 the field practically to itself, as in Iowa and Minne- 

 sota, the restriction in the constitution of the order 

 as to political or partisan activity was evaded by 

 the simple expedient of holding meetings "outside 

 the gate, " at which platforms were adopted, can- 

 didates nominated, and plans made for county, 

 district, and state conventions. 



