THE ALLIANCE IN TEXAS. 41 



The meeting was called to order by President Dimlap, and, 

 after an address of welcome by Mr. Grain of Cleburne, and a 

 response by President Dunlap and Brother McWhorter, the 

 usual routine of business was taken up. 



The meeting took hold of the business before it in earnest. 

 Among the many resolutions was the following : 



" It is the sense of this body that we put forth our best efforts as individ- 

 uals, and also as an organization, to have the Commissioner of Agriculture 

 elevated to the position of a cabinet officer in the government, and that we 

 ask our representatives in Congress to urge the same." 



Unanimously adopted. 



The following officers were elected for the ensuing year : 

 A. Dunlap, President ; D. J. Eddlcman, Vice-President ; H. G. 

 Moore, Secretary ; J. A. Landers, Treasurer ; J. M. Brooks, 

 Chaplain ; G. W. Belcher, Lecturer. 



The following resolutions were adopted, to be added to the 



Declaration of Purposes : 



>. 



" i! That as an organization we do not antagonize other organizations, 

 which have for their object the amelioration of the condition of any class of 

 our citizens. But we will not form a coalition with any other organization. 



" 2. That as citizens we have a right to belong to any organization, politi- 

 cal party, or church, we may see proper, but as a Farmers' Alliance we will 

 not consider such subjects within our body." 



[The constitution was subsequently adopted without these resolutions, 

 thereby making them statutory law. Committee of 'Revision. .] 



The Committee on Good of the .Order and Demands made 

 the following report : 



"We, the delegates to the Grand State Farmers 1 Alliance of Texas, in 

 convention assembled at Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas, A.D. 1886, do 

 hereby recommend and demand of our State and national governments, 

 according as the same shall come under the jurisdiction of the one or the 

 other, such legislation as shall secure to our people freedom from the onerous 

 and shameful abuses that the industrial classes are now suffering at the hands 

 of arrogant capitalists and powerful corporations. 



"We demand, 



"i. The recognition by incorporation of trade-unions, co-operative stores, 

 and such other associations as may be organized by the industrial classes to 

 improve their financial condition, or to promote their general welfare. 



