THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE. 87 



to abolish his custom of docking American cotton six per cent for the bagging, 

 provided it was wrapped in good substantial bagging made of cotton, it would 

 seem to solve the question entirely. Perhaps the true solution would be to 

 establish the cotton mills in the cotton-growing districts ; but that will take 

 time, effort, and changes in many present customs, laws, and conditions. 

 One of the most important inducements to manufacturers is cheap money, 

 and one of the greatest aids to cheap money are insurance companies ; they 

 control vast sums, thatxfor absolutely safe investments, are content with low 

 rate of interest, and interest on the money invested in a plant of three or 

 four millions is of more importance than the freights on the cotton or coal 

 they use. Cheap money will have to be secured before many factories are 

 located. 



"The importance of an Alliance Insurance Company, therefore, is not to 

 be overlooked. From the moment the farmer sells ffis bale of cotton, it is 

 not only insured, but everything it touches and every man that owns it is 

 insured, and the cotton pays it all. Everything and nearly everybody in this 

 country pays tribute to the insurance companies. Why not, then, have the 

 strongest stock insurance company in America, with two departments, one life 

 and one fire, the capital stock of which would be used in loans to cotton fac- 

 tories in the cotton States? It is certainly worthy of consideration. 



" You can perhaps accomplish much good by adopting suitable memorials 

 to Congress, expressive of your sentiment in regard to the various questions 

 in which our order is deeply and financially interested. This important 

 method of bringing the wants and necessities, as well as the wishes, of the 

 petitioners before Congress, is prosecuted with vigor with other classes, and 

 has long been neglected by the agriculturist^. 



44 The relations with other labor organizations are satisfactory and friendly, 

 but have not been attended with as much intercourse as is probably advisable 

 and necessary, to insure a thorough understanding of objects and methods. 

 You are therefore requested to provide for a committee of one for each 

 labor organization known to exist ; to officially communicate with such orders 

 and secure any information they may be willing to give as to their objects and 

 methods, and that such committee-men report promptly all such information 

 to your chief executive, to the end that he may at all times be informed as to 

 the diplomatic relations of the order, and be competent to take such action 

 as the exigencies of the situation may require. At your last session, a com- 

 mittee was provided for by the body, and appointed by the chair, to visit the 

 executive officers of the Farmers 1 Alliance of the Northern and Western States, 

 with a view of negotiating a basis on which a union might be achieved. Your 

 president corresponded with the said officers, and made an appointment with 

 them to meet said committee at Des Moines, Iowa, in January last. No re- 

 port has been received from the chairman of the committee ; consequently 

 your executive has no information to guide him in taking any further action 

 in regard to the Alliance of the Northwest, i 



" The influence brought to bear by labor agitation has been productive of 

 action by Congress, that will probably result in the establishment of a cabinet 



