116 THE AGRARIAN CRUSADE 



national body, at once sent organizers into most of 

 the Southern States; and local alliances, followed 

 rapidly by state organization, appeared in State 

 after State. When the next meeting was held in 

 October, 1887, delegates were present from nine 

 Southern States. 1 The "Demands" adopted at 

 this meeting were very like those which had split 

 the Texas Alliance in the preceding year, with the 

 addition of sections calling for the reduction of the 

 tariff to a revenue basis, a graduated income tax, 

 promotion of industrial and agricultural education, 

 restriction of immigration, and popular election of 

 United States senators. 



As the Alliance spread into Arkansas and some of 

 the adjoining States, it encountered another farm- 

 ers' association of a very similar character and pur- 

 pose. The Agricultural Wheel, as it was known, 

 originated in a local club in Prairie County, Arkan- 

 sas, in 1882, and soon expanded into a state-wide 

 organization. After amalgamating with another 

 agricultural order, known as the Brothers of Free- 

 dom, the Wheel began to roll into the adjoining 

 States. In 1886 delegates from Tennessee and 



1 By December, 1888, it was claimed that there were 10,000 alli- 

 ances in 16 States with a total membership of about 400,000. It was 

 evident that the organization of the farmers of the cotton belt was 

 rapidly being consummated. 



