INTRODUCTORY HISTORY. 9 



when too late. Organize for better laws ; for through legisla- 

 tion comes prosperity or adversity. 



During the past quarter of a century, the farmers of this 

 country have labored, and others have made the laws. What 

 has been the result ? The non-producer has thrived while tjhe 

 producer has grown poor. Not only have the non-producers 

 organized against the farmers, but almost all other producers. 

 There is hardly a manufactured product, or even a raw material, 

 that is not subject to the guidance of an organization or com- 

 bination of the whole, excepting the products of the farm. This 

 means the spoliation of all who cannot meet this force with 

 similar power. That being true, the farmer becomes the easy 

 prey of all, and receives the treatment his own neglect brings 

 upon him. All non-producers are the avowed enemies of pro- 

 ducers, and should be so considered in all propositions of eco- 

 nomics. When they organize, it is for the purpose of increasing 

 their strength, which in turn makes them a correspondingly 

 more dangerous enemy, and increases the necessity of stronger 

 defence. In the vast amount of national legislation of the past 

 twenty-five years, there is not one single act which was passed 

 in the interest of the farmer. Search through the whole mass, 

 and not one will be found that was introduced, passed, and put 

 upon the statute books, for the sole benefit of agriculture. 

 Until this is changed, and labor in production is made to bring 

 a reward, industry is useless and economy is folly. 



Because of these facts and conditions, some action on the 

 part of the farmers toward legislative reform became necessary. 

 The National Farmers' Congress, which was organized in 1875, 

 seems to have been the first to formulate ideas in conformity 

 with such a proposition. At each annual session, the necessity 

 for some change in agricultural legislation became more and 

 more apparent. This congress, which may be considered the 

 pioneer, gave way to the Farmers' Alliance, of which we shall 

 now undertake to give a history. 



