132 AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. 



of indebtedness, both public and private, swell the above sum to more 

 than $30,000,000,000. When we consider the fact that the annual in- 

 crease of all agricultural interests is less than three per cent, it does not 

 take more than an ordinary observer to realize that it is only a matter of 

 time when the eight per cent annual tribute will absorb all the land 

 in the country, as it has certainly done in other parts of the world. 

 Statistics show that more than 200,000,000 acres of land have been 

 granted to various railroad companies. Foreign syndicates own more 

 than 20,000,000 acres. In addition to this, the comparative statistics 

 show that there is a tendency to increase the number of large farms in 

 the United States, and that the number of small farms is growing less 

 each year. 



We recommend to this body that they take immediate action to fur- 

 nish some relief to the many thousands of farmers whose only hope in 

 being able to lift the mortgages from their homes and farms is through 

 the early action of Congress, to devise some method to protect their 

 interests and give to them the fruits of their labor. 



J. F. TILLMAN, Chairman, 

 S. B. ERWIN, 

 W. H. BARTON, 

 B. J. KENDRICK. 



The following resolutions were read and adopted : 



Whereas, The National Economist, our adopted official national 

 organ, has so boldly and fearlessly advocated our cause and defended 

 our principles ; therefore be it 



Resolved by this national body, That we heartily approve of the course 

 it has pursued, and recommend that every member of the order should 

 subscribe and read the paper, as one of the best means of education in 

 the way of industrial freedom. 



The Committee on Secret Work reported and exemplified the secret 

 work. 



The meeting adjourned at 6 P.M., to meet the first Tuesday in Decem- 

 ber, 1890, at Jacksonville, Florida. 



