228 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL. 



i 



authority to work and charter subordinate lodges in any State 

 or Territory in the United States. The next meeting of the 

 General Assembly was held at Fairfield, Illinois, in December, 

 1887. 



The next General Assembly was held at Murphysborough in 

 October, 1888. Several important measures were discussed. 

 A Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association Printing Company was 

 formed, and general satisfaction seemed to prevail over what 

 had been done in the past, and what might be done in the 

 future. 



The next General Assembly met at Mt. Vernon, Illinois, in 

 November, 1889. Again a rapid and permanent growth was 

 apparent on every side. The order had passed the turning 

 point, and was now on the highway of prosperity. 



The last meeting of the General Assembly was held at Spring- 

 field, Illinois, November, 1 890. This order sent fraternal dele- 

 gates to the National Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union at 

 Ocala, in December, 1890. 



Such, briefly, are the history, aims, and purposes of an 

 organization that has done, and is doing, good and earnest work 

 in the line of reform. 



The Farmers' Political League. This organization origi- 

 nated among the farmers of Massachusetts, during their contest 

 with the manufacturers of oleomargarine. For a number of 

 years the farmers had petitioned the legislature for a law to 

 prohibit the coloring of oleo like butter, and, as is usual in 

 such cases, these demands were entirely ignored. Early in the 

 fall of 1889 it was suggested that a Farmers' Political League be 

 organized to carry these reforms squarely into politics, and make 

 them the issue in all primaries, caucuses, and conventions, of all 

 parties. The idea met with instant favor. The Farmers' League 

 of Massachusetts was temporarily organized in October, and 

 there not being time enough to perfect permanent organizations 

 in every township, in season for elections, the plan was adopted 

 of circulating a pledge among the voters in agricultural districts, 

 irrespective of party, whereby they bound themselves " to vote 

 only for such candidates for governor and for the state legisla- 

 ture, as shall pledge themselves to work and vote for a bill 

 to prohibit the coloring of oleo like butter." A State League 



