THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE. 99 



First, That a joint committee of five on the part of the National 

 Farmers' Alliance and a like number on the part of the National Farm- 

 ers and Laborers' Union be appointed, with authority to formulate a 

 plan for a confederation of said organizations and of other known agri- 

 cultural and industrial organizations in the United States, to the end 

 that immediate and practical co-operation may be secured for the ac- 

 complishment of the objects common to all. 



Second, That the autonomy of said organization be preserved intact 

 until such time as the way may be found clear to effect organic union, 

 if the same should hereafter be found necessary. 



A. J. STREETER (111.), Chairman, 

 ROBERT C. PATTY (Miss.), Secretary. 



SECOND DAY. 

 President Jones delivered his annual address : 



To the Officers and Members of the Farmers and Laborers* Union of 



America, greeting. 



DEAR BROTHERS : This is certainly an auspicious occasion, it being the 

 first meeting of our organization ; an organization that to-day stands 

 without a peer in its influence for good not to the farmers and laborers 

 only, that you represent, but to every legitimate and necessary interest 

 of a free and independent government ; and upon the perpetuation of 

 its principles and their influence upon our people depend the prosperity 

 and liberty of all classes, and the stability and power of our nation. 

 An organization whose fundamental principles are founded upon equity 

 and justice, and whost cardinal doctrines inspire peace on earth, a love 

 of liberty, and good-will to all mankind ; an organization whose rise and 

 progress are without a parallel, and which is destined in no distant day 

 to embrace the entire agriculture and laborers of the world, and whose 

 power and influence shall protect their liberty and interest from the 

 encroachment of rings, trusts, and soulless combinations, which are 

 absorbing all of the profits of labor, and thereby paralyzing the indus- 

 tries of our country. 



The wonderful growth of our order during the brief period of ten 

 years, and the rapid strides it has taken in establishing its various busi- 

 ness enterprises, based upon fair and equitable principles, have had a 

 salutary influence upon commerce, and excited the admiration and 

 respect of the business world. 



It has also aroused the hostility of the greedy and avaricious trusts, 

 rings, and monopolistic combinations, to such an extent that great and 



