134 AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. 







Legislative Committee, also did some grand work for the order in 



that direction. Believing in direct methods, and at the same 

 time being conservative and consistent, his efforts were soon 

 felt in Congress, and the effects were seen- throughout the whole 

 country. 



President Polk soon had organizers at work in nearly every 

 North and Northwestern State, and the fruits ^f their labors 

 began to appear. As the result of such efforts, the States of 

 Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Cali- 

 fornia were added to the organization, with other States well 

 under way. The little difficulties in Texas and Missouri were 

 met and overcome by the prompt action of the national officers, 

 and the whole order was put on the high road of prosperity. 

 The vitality of the order was disclosed by the manner in which 

 .it withstood the shock of a hotly contested political campaign. 

 In this contest the Alliance was no passive factor. It made 

 itself both known and felt in many States. Its methods differed 

 somewhat in different sections, but the one idea of a change of 

 conditions obtained all through the contest. In the South, the 

 Alliance directed its efforts to the primaries, while in the North 

 and West it made the fight at the polls. In the South, the new 

 Alliance principle, known as the sub-treasury plan, furnished 

 the basis for nearly all contention. The Alliance stood squarely 

 upon that measure, and made its provisions the gauge of fealty. 

 Congressman after Congressman, who could not stand the test, 

 was deposed, and a tried Alliance man put in his place. In the 

 West, the St. Louis demands, or compact, were made the basis 

 of operations. 



The history of politics furnishes no parallel to the campaign 

 in the West, especially in Kansas and Dakota. Independent 

 candidates were nominated, and a square fight was made between 

 the reform element and the old political parties. As the cam- 

 paign advanced, the feeling became more bitter and intense. 

 An idea prevailed among the members of the orde'r that a fail- 

 ure would prove the destruction of the Alliance, and result in 

 the complete bankruptcy of nearly all its members. Because of 

 this belief, the struggle became fierce and strong. Past affili- 

 ations were forgotten ; party ties were broken ; and an entirely 

 new political alignment was effected. The two old parties aided 



