80 AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. 



the subjects impossible. It is therefore suggested that you try to get all the 

 business presented to the body on the first day and referred to the com- 

 mittees ; that the committees be made small and expected to work and report 

 promptly. So great an amount of work as you have before you must neces- 

 sarily be done largely by committees, unless much time is consumed in its 

 execution. 



" One of the most important subjects to be considered is the basis of an 

 organic union with the National Agricultural Wheel. This was discussed at 

 your last regular meeting, and the national lecturer appointed to visit the 

 National Agricultural Wheel at its regular session in Nashville, Tennessee, in 

 December, 1887, and make overtures tending toward such union. He was 

 courteously received and highly honored by that body, and his propositions 

 and negotiations treated with all the respect due his important mission from 

 this honorable body. As a result, the National Agricultural Wheel adjourned 

 its regular session at that time and place, to meet with the National Farmers' 

 Alliance and Co-operative Union of America, at this meeting. That arrange- 

 ment has been carried out, and they are here to-day, and should have your 

 immediate attention and consideration until you have, if possible, agreed 

 upon a basis that will place these two great orders, that are working and 

 striving for the same ends by the same methods, under the same jurisdiction ; 

 so that as a unit, they may press forward, shoulder to shoulder, united in one 

 solid phalanx : one motive, right ; one thought, victory ; and one sentiment, 

 fraternal love, actuating botfy. 



" Your attention is called to the necessity of adopting and publishing the 

 policy that will be pursued as to the extension of the organization into the 

 Northern States. 



" It will be remembered, at the time of the organization of this order as a 

 national trade-union, the prime motive was to secure a strong organization 

 of the producers of the cotton belt of America. It was argued that an organ- 

 ization of that district meant virtually an organization of the world, so far as 

 the production of cotton was concerned ; and that, therefore, in that direction 

 was the best field to demonstrate the power and benefits of co-operation and 

 organization. In pursuance of this doctrine, the work has been pushed with 

 most vigor in the cotton States, until each has now a State Alliance. Other 

 States are knocking at the door, and it seems that there can be no good 

 cause for denying them admission. But the extension of the work into new 

 territory, where new conditions and issues are to be met, is attended with 

 great responsibility and danger. The danger is, that the objects of the order 

 and the methods it proposes to work by will be misunderstood. It should be 

 remembered that the evils which now afflict agriculture are of a general char- 

 acter, and have been for years developing, and consequently no spasmodic 

 effort will relieve, neither can an effort directed by one idea alone be ade- 

 quate. The relief measures must be general in character and must be applied 

 in every possible way, and contended for with a persistence and determi- 

 nation that will be content with slow and partial results for the present genera- 

 tion, and insure the grandest benefits to posterity. Consequently, great care 



