THE ALLIANCE IN TEXAS. 51 



"Fourth. To consider and determine upon the propriety of adopting a 

 second or co-operative degree, which has been considerably promulgated 

 among the Alliances. 



"Fifth. And for such other purposes as the absolute necessities of the 

 order may imperatively demand. 



" All duly accredited delegates to the regular meeting of the said State 

 Alliance held in August, 1886, at Cleburne, Texas, are hereby notified to 

 attend this above-called session of said State Alliance, and will be recognized 

 as the members composing said called session, as provided in Art. n, Sec. 6, 

 of the constitution of said Farmers 1 State Alliance of Texas. 



" C. W. MACUNE, 



" Chairman of the Executive Committee and ex officio President 

 of the Farmers 1 State Alliance of Texas. 



"Thus you see this is a business meeting, and I will not consume your 

 time by speaking. These objects need no explanation, unless it be the last. 

 I would like to say a few words upon that. 



" While filling my position as chairman of the Executive Committee, and 

 acting as president of this association, I have been the recipient of a great 

 number of letters from the different parts of the State, asking information or 

 instruction in Alliance work, or offering suggestions, etc. The result has 

 been that the imperfections and necessities of the order have been made 

 visible, and it is to the result of information and experience gained in this way 

 that I now wish to call your attention. 



" Under the head of: ' Such other purposes as the absolute necessities of 

 the order imperatively demand ; ' the following suggestions are made : 



" There should be a code of laws enacted by this body, which would consti- 

 tute the statutory law of the order. The constitution, as the organic law, can 

 only express principles, and should be supplemented by a statutory law that 

 will explain and provide for a uniform and certain method of carrying out the 

 principles enunciated in the constitution. Resolutions, such as it has been 

 the custom of this body to pass, do not seem to meet the demand, and it is 

 suggested that resolutions be passed when it is desired to express a senti- 

 ment, or as advisory measures, but that all commands of this body, prescrib- 

 ing anything or prohibiting anything, be enacted as laws, and have a uniform 

 style of caption ; e.g. ' Be it enacted by the Farmers 1 State Alliance of 

 Texas, in regular (or called) session assembled. 1 



" The statutory law should embrace clear and distinct provisions defining 

 the duties, powers, and responsibilities of the president of the State Alliance, 

 and of every other officer, or chairman, or member of the standing committee 

 of the State Alliance. It should prescribe a method of trial, by which the 

 State Alliance may try a County Alliance, and one by which a County Alliance 

 may try a Sub-Alliance. There should be a legal form for the commissions of 

 all officers and committee-men. The present method of appointing and com- 

 missioning organizing officers has resulted in some sections having too many, 

 and some sections are yet unorganized, and does not seem to meet the 



