CHAPTER II. 



UNRECORDED HISTORY OF THE ALLIANCE. 



THE origin of the Farmers' Alliance is not so clearly denned 

 as to leave no room for conjecture. Nearly every other reform 

 movement can date back to some particular time when the first 

 efforts were made that resulted in forming the organization. 

 The Knights of Labor, the Grange, the Farmers' Mutual Benefit 

 Association, the Wheel, the Farmers' Union, all have the satis- 

 faction of giving the details of their initial meeting. Not so 

 with the Alliance. Until recently, it has been an accepted theory 

 that it started in the States of New York and Texas at about the 

 same time, in 1874 or 1875. It was believed that the Alliance, 

 originating in New York, found its way to the west, and that it is 

 now represented by what is designated as the Northwestern Alli- 

 ance ; while the one which originated in Texas was taken east and 

 north, and is now known as the National Farmers' Alliance and 

 Industrial Union. 



This coincidence of origin has always appeared unnatural, 

 and considerable speculation has been indulged in the attempt 

 to clear up the seeming mystery. But nothing tangible has 

 been reached until recently. Whether this is a true solution or 

 not remains to be more clearly proven. It seems quite plausible 

 at least, and the reader can take it for what it is worth. Mr. G. 

 Campbell, of Kansas, claims that the Alliance originated in that 

 State, and makes the following statement to substantiate its 

 correctness : 



" It will be remembered that, early in the sixties, Congress granted the 

 M., K. & T. and the L., L. & G. railway companies a tract of land in and 

 through the State of Kansas, to aid in the construction of their roads. At the 

 time this grant was made, there was a tract of land lying in the southeastern 

 part of the State, known as the Osage ceded lands, which was reserved from 

 the operation of the grant, inasmuch as it was not a part of the public lands 

 of the State. When the roads were built, however, these lands had been 

 treated for and were a part of the public domain, and were patented to the 

 respective railway companies. 

 JO 



