226 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL. 



questions of public policy, as connected with agriculture, would 

 soon arouse the farmers to greater activity. 



Since 1887 the order has grown considerably in certain locali- 

 ties. It is not definitely known just how many members it has. 

 A safe estimate would be from 125,000 to 175,000. At the- 

 present time its largest membership is in the States of Iowa, 

 Nebraska, and Minnesota. This order is not necessarily secret, 

 but confines its membership to the agricultural classes. 



DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES OF THE NORTHWESTERN FARMERS' 



ALLIANCE. 



1. The free and unlimited coinage of silver. 



2. The abolition of national banks and the substitution for their notes 

 of legal treasury notes, and the increase of currency to $50 per capita. 



3. Government ownership of all railroads and telegraphs. 



4. The prohibition of alien ownership of land, and of gambling in 

 stocks, options, and futures. 



5. The adoption of a constitutional amendment requiring the election 

 of President and Vice- President, and United States Senators, by direct 

 vote of the people. 



6. The Australian ballot system. 



The Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association. The order 

 originated, it seems, in this way: In the fall of 1882 or 1883 

 (some give one date and some the other), five neighboring farm- 

 ers of Johnson County, Illinois, of more than ordinary deter- 

 mination and independence of character, happened on the same 

 day at their local wheat market, each with a load of wheat. 

 The local buyers refused to take it, claiming that the market 

 was so unsettled they dare not make figures. The farmers 

 believed this was a method agreed upon between the buyers, 

 for the sole purpose of depressing the market and plucking 

 them. After a brief consultation, a committee was quietly sent 

 to the telegraph office, and wired for the city market. The 

 answer came, highly satisfactory, showing the market not only 

 firm but actually rising. They then telegraphed to the railroad 

 authorities to know if they could get a car. There happened 

 to be a car already upon the track, which was not just then to 

 be used, as the regular buyers had stopped buying for the time. 



