222 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL. 



each congressional district (or perhaps two), to meet with me on the 

 .part of Louisiana, and form a constitution to be submitted to that same 

 meeting for ratification. This constitution, in its general principles, was 

 strictly democratic, guarding and protecting the rights of States to con- 

 trol their own affairs. It also embodied a system of organizing, and, 

 when submitted, was unanimously ratified. Just here set in a boom for 

 the Alliance. It was but a short time until the whole South was organ- 

 ized. Brother Macune was chosen president, being put in nomination 

 by myself. His energy and ability pressed the work, with what result 

 you must be familiar. 



It will be useless for me to follow the subject further, as it is already 

 history. I will only add that the Farmers' Union dropped its own 

 ritual and secret work and adopted that of the Texas Alliance. The 

 Alliance work became the secret work of the National Farmers' Alliance 

 and Co-operative Order Union. The officers and members of that 

 body honored me with positions of confidence and trust. They elected 

 me first Vice-President at the organization meeting. At the first 

 annual meeting I was placed on the Committee on Secret Work. At 

 the second, when the Farmers and Laborers' Union was formed, I was 

 made chairman of the Committee on Secret Work, and together with 

 the balance of the committee helped form the present secret work of 

 the order. 



The complete details of the consolidation of the Union and the 

 Alliance will be found in the history of the Alliance, in another 

 part of this book. In this simple, plain statement of Brother 

 Tetts is found the clearest evidence of devotion to the cause of 

 distressed agriculture, and an earnest desire to promote its 

 interest. This conscientious discharge of duty on the part of 

 the pioneers of this movement is the bulwark of its power, and 

 the unwritten source of its success. The members of this Union 

 have always proved true ; ready at any and all times to battle 

 for the right as they saw it. Too much credit cannot be given 

 them for their fidelity to the cause of agriculture. The follow- 

 ing is a copy of the declaration of principles and constitution of 

 the State Farmers' Union of Louisiana : 



CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF LINCOLN PARISH FARMERS' CLUB, No. i, 

 ORGANIZED IN 1881. 



ART. i. This club shall be constituted of at least ten members, who 

 shall be practical farmers, whose chief interest and dependence for sup- 



