106 AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. 



and consequently our president's active administration, is only about two 

 months old, and prior to its formation the same interests were repre- 

 sented by two national organizations. As I had the honor to be presi- 

 dent of one of those organizations, the National Farmers' Alliance and 

 Co-operative Union of America, not only during the five-sixths of the 

 past year, but from the very first 'organization of that order in January, 

 1887, it seems to me appropriate that I too deliver you an address. In 

 fact, so very important do I deem the message that I have to impart to 

 you that I offer no apology for its presentation, believing that my famil- 

 iarity with all the past methods of the National Alliance will enable me 

 to point out to you the lessons taught by the critical periods in its his- 

 tory, to give a clear and full conception of the writing between the lines 

 in its present strength and condition, and to suggest certain necessary 

 lines of action worthy of a careful consideration. A further reason for 

 the delivery of this address is that I have, up to this time, been filling 

 a responsible position as editor of your national ofncial organ, the 

 National Economist, and this position has brought me in direct weekly 

 communication with the whole order, which has forcibly impressed me 

 with many of the necessities of the order and shown the great impor- 

 tance of the consideration by this body of several questions which will 

 be the means of outlining a policy for said official organ to be guided 

 by during the coming year. This body, while discussing the . situation 

 and deliberating upon the policy to be pursued, should be thoroughly 

 conversant with the history of the past efforts and the present condition 

 of the order, and possibly suggestions as to the future by those who have 

 filled executive offices may be of service. They are, at least, offered 

 for consideration. 



In 1886 the Alliance movement of the South was confined principally 

 to the State of Texas. The State Alliance of that State had chartered a 

 few Sub-Alliances in Indian Territory, and a small number in the State 

 of Alabama. The report of the State secretary at the regular annual 

 meeting of that year showed that the order had grown from about six 

 hundred to over twenty-seven hundred Sub-Alliances during the year 

 that ended in August, 1886. As a natural and unavoidable consequence 

 of such rapid organization, the principles, objects, and methods of the 

 Alliance were very imperfectly understood by the majority of the mem- 

 bership. It was an election year in that State, and partisan feeling ran 

 high. Dissensions within the order were so great that a dissatisfied 

 minority met and organized themselves into an opposition State Alliance, 

 secured a charter from the State of Texas, and elected a corps of State 

 officers. The outlook for the order at that time was indeed unpromis- 



