THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE. 65 



propagate the work, was kept up, and confidence in the results 

 of their efforts was well founded. It is well worthy of notice 

 that these brethren received no salary, their only remuneration 

 being the fee for organizing, which, though small, was enough 

 to make them self-sustaining. A similar condition was never 

 before known. 



In the spring of 1887, President Macune sent these organizers 

 into the States of Missouri, North Carolina, Alabama, Florida, 

 Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, and Tennessee. Here was an 

 attempt to organize eight States, with only $500 in the treas- 

 ury, and even that was a loan from the State Alliance of Texas. 

 The venture was very successful, and fully met the expectation 

 which President Macune, in his good judgment, had anticipated. 

 From this time until the National meeting at Shreveport, the 

 work of propagation was incessant and effective. Cheering 

 news came in from nearly all the States, and a large National 

 meeting became assured. As this was the first meeting after 

 its organization, it was looked forward to with some anxiety. 

 Visions of the fate of the Grange frequently came up, and 

 prophets were not wanting who predicted quick and certain 

 destruction. Filled with a determination to discharge every 

 duty faithfully and well ; anxious to avoid the rocks and pitfalls 

 that had proved the Waterloo of other efforts of a similar nature ; 

 and, above all, trusting to the honesty, fidelity, and integrity of 

 one another, the brethren, representing nine States, met together 

 in regular annual session. 



The brethren were unacquainted with one another, and not 

 exactly certain of the proper methods, or the most important 

 purposes to serve. But the meeting soon developed a large 

 number of able men, who have since proved themselves as such, 

 by their fidelity and constancy to the cause of the Alliance. 

 Among these were Colonel L. L. Polk and S. B. Alexander, 

 of North Carolina; R. T. Love, C. T. Smithson, and W. R. 

 Lacy, of Mississippi ; Moore and Ansley, of Arkansas ; Oswald 

 Wilson, of Florida; S. M. Adams and H. P. Bone, of Alabama; 

 Tanner, Pratt, and Stallings, of Louisiana ; Johnson and Despain, 

 of Missouri ; McDowell and Gardner, of Tennessee ; the usual 

 number of old reliables from Texas, and many others. 



