THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE. l6l 



instructions and without a precedent ; that they had been cautious and 

 conservative ; that the work had required a vast amount of work and 

 expense, all of which had been paid by the chairman from his own 

 salary; and that the growth of sentiment in Congress was the most 

 forcible testimonial of the efficient work of this committee. He 

 cautioned the order as to the great responsibility resting upon this body 

 at this time, as to what action it takes in regard to the political situation. 

 The order could never participate in any partisan political effort, and in 

 the South it was opposed to giving its sanction to any independent or 

 third party move on the part of the members, while in the West and 

 Northwest the delegates claim that the order will retrograde if such 

 sanction is not given. In this emergency he thought he had a compro- 

 mise to offer that would meet the case exactly, and that was for this 

 body to hereby say that it gives its sanction and call for a meeting to 

 be held about February, 1892, to be composed of delegates from all 

 organizations of producers, upon a fair basis of representation, for the 

 purpose of a general and thorough conference upon the demands of 

 each, and to the end that all may agree upon a joint set of demands 

 just prior to the next national campaign, and agree upon the proper 

 methods for enforcing such demands. If the people by delegates com- 

 ing direct from them agree that a third party move is necessary, it need 

 not be feared ; and that the next session of this Supreme Council elect 

 delegates from this order to represent it in said national conference of 

 productive organizations, for political purposes. 



Motion of Livingston of Georgia duly seconded and carried, that all 

 of the above report be adopted, except such parts as modify the con- 

 stitution, and that they be referred to Committee on Constitution. 



AFTERNOON SESSION. . 



On motion, special order was suspended to hear the report from the 

 Investigating Committee, which was made by the chairman, as fol- 

 lows : 



Your committee appointed to investigate the rumors and reports pub- 

 lished implicating the character, integrity, and fidelity to duty of the 

 president of this organization, the chairman of the Executive Board, and 

 the president of the Georgia State Alliance, and this at the earnest solici- 

 tude of the brethren named, state that they have discharged the duty 

 assigned them to the fullest of their ability, and respectfully report 



i. That they have been unable to ascertain a single fact implicating 

 in any way, shape, or form, the high character and standing and per- 



