THE ALLIANCE IN TEXAS. 49 



his lecture on 'Personal Liberty,' to be given at the church at 7.30 P.M., was 

 read, and on motion the invitation was accepted. 



" Brother Jones of Erath County was called upon to tell something about 

 the Louisiana Farmers' Union. He stated that he visited the Union in session 

 at Ruston, Louisiana, in pursuance of an order from the acting president of 

 the Farmers' State Alliance, where he received a most cordial reception, 

 and found that the aims and purposes of the Union were similar to those of 

 the Alliance. 



*' Some interesting communications from the president, vice-president, and 

 lecturer of the ' National Alliance,' which recently met in Chicago, were read 

 by the chair. On motion, a vote of thanks was tendered Brother Macune, for 

 the interest he manifested in obtaining the information above referred to. 



"A communication from Mr. J. A. Tetts, the corresponding secretary of 

 the Louisiana Farmers' Union, was read ; also a communication from the 

 Union, which had been sent by the hand of Brother Evan Jones. 



" After spending the remainder of the day and much of the following fore- 

 noon in useless discussion, considerable ill-feeling was shown, and a desire to 

 obstruct proceedings was manifested to an extent not to be mistaken. Finally, 

 the acting president declared that he would entertain no further business 

 until he had stated the object of the meeting, and called upon the body to 

 elect a temporary president. He then read a message, stating the object of 

 the meeting, and making some recommendations. 



" MESSAGE OF THE ACTING PRESIDENT. 



" All the different classes and occupations of society are engaging in organi- 

 zation for mutual advancement and protection to a greater extent than ever 

 before in the history of the world. In fact, we may say that every calling is 

 organized. This thorough organization has created a new order of things. 

 Problems in regard to a calling or an occupation are constantly being pre- 

 sented, as that occupation becomes more thoroughly organized, and others 

 are being presented as other occupations with which they have dealings 

 become organized. The peculiar relations of large organizations to their own 

 members, to the government, and to other organizations, is a subject worthy 

 of the most profound study by all who exercise the right of citizenship. 



" However, the general relations and objects of organization we all under- 

 stand, and are pledged to support. Whatever other objects an organization 

 may have, especially an organization like our own, the grand central object, 

 around which all others revolve, and from which they draw life, is co-opera- 

 tion for mutual effort and advancement. I hold that co-operation, properly 

 understood and properly applied, will place a limit to the encroachments of 

 organized monopoly, and will be the means by which the mortgage-burdened 

 farmers can assert their freedom from the tyranny of organized capital, and 

 obtain the reward for honesty, industry, and frugality, which they so richly 

 deserve, and which they are now so unjustly denied. 



" Take for example a freight question as illustrated in this way: A car-load 

 of lumber from Galveston to Waco will probably cost you about forty dollars 



