202 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL. 



much work of a solid nature was perfected. Some changes in 

 the constitution were made, one of which, the dropping of the 

 word " white " from the eligibility clause, caused a spirited debate. 

 A committee was appointed to confer with delegates from other 

 States, to take into consideration the formation of a National 

 Wheel. Regularly chosen delegations were present from the 

 States of Tennessee and Kentucky, who, in connection with 

 the delegates from Arkansas, met in convention, drafted a con- 

 stitution and by-laws for a National Wheel, and elected Isaac 

 McCracken, National President, A. E. Gardner, Secretary-Treas- 

 urer, and Isom P. Langley, Lecturer. 



The question of eligibility was settled by making provision 

 for separate organizations for the colored members. This action 

 was immediately ratified by the State Wheel of Arkansas, and 

 subsequently by the States of Kentucky and Tennessee. Isaac 

 McCracken was also chosen president of the State, with R. H. 

 Morehead as secretary. The formation of the National Wheel 

 gave renewed impetus to the growth of the order. Soon the 

 States of Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, and the Indian 

 Territory were added to the list, while the work had been begun 

 in several others. 



The first meeting of the National Wheel was held at McKen- 

 zie, Tennessee, on November 8, 1887. It was disclosed at this 

 meeting that the membership numbered fully 500,000, and was 

 increasing with wonderful rapidity. President Isaac McCracken 

 delivered the following address : 



Brother Wheelers of the National Organization, and Visiting Brethren : 



This is indeed an occasion of great pleasure to me, to meet with as 

 large and intelligent a body of Wheelers as I see before me, coming as 

 you do from different States, and representing exclusively an agricultural 

 constituency. 



I feel and recognize the importance of a gathering together of farmers 

 from the different parts of these United States, with a view to the 

 amelioration of the condition of those following the oldest vocation in 

 the world, and the only one of divine origin. Justly may we feel proud 

 of the rapid strides Wheelerism "has made since the formation of this 

 national organization, less than sixteen months ago. We had, at the 

 organization of the National Agricultural Wheel, but three State Wheels, 



