THE ALLIANCE IN NEW YORK. 231 



it ; that the Grange forbade all interference in politics, and this should 

 be strictly political work, but not party. 



Our meeting organized at the court-house in Rochester, and a com- 

 mittee was appointed to consider and report name, constitution, and 

 by-laws for a farmers' organization. That committee consisted of the 

 following men : Rev. B. T. Roberts, Prof. A. A. Hopkins, F. P. Root, 

 John R. Garretson, and Jesse Deney. 



That committee, after considerable discussion, reported the name of 

 Farmers' Alliance, and constitution and by-laws, which were adopted by 

 the meeting. I have not now a copy of the constitution at hand, but know 

 that none but farmers were eligible ; but all who were engaged in any 

 branch of husbandry could become members, by the payment of an 

 annual fee. The officers then elected, were : F. P. Root of Brockport, 

 President ; Mr. Ely of Rochester, Vice-President ; and A. A. Hopkins of 

 Rochester, Secretary and Treasurer. 



This organization was in February, or the first of March, 1875. It 

 embraced only the county of Monroe, but soon after a call was issued 

 for a State meeting at Rochester, to organize a State Alliance. The call 

 was responded to by representative farmers throughout Western New 

 York, and an organization was effected to be known as the New York 

 Farmers' Alliance. The constitution adopted by the Monroe County 

 Alliance was also adopted by the State Alliance. The objects of this 

 organization, as set forth, were to work out reforms in the State laws 

 affecting the farming interest, and to urge an equal representation from 

 our class in the legislation of the State. The course as most approved, 

 and to which members were pledged, was to attend primary meetings of 

 each political party, to which they were severally connected, and to urge 

 the nomination of such men as were favorable to our interests ; and when 

 each party could succeed in their aim, each would vote their own ticket ; 

 but if one failed and the other succeeded, all should turn in and elect the 

 candidate who favored us ; otherwise, if neither candidate favored our 

 views, an independent candidate should be nominated. The officers 

 elected for the State Alliance were : President, F. P. Root of Brock- 

 port ; Secretary and Treasurer, Prof. A. Dan of Wyoming County. The 

 name of the Vice-President I have lost. 



The next annual meeting was appointed at Syracuse, New York, which 

 meeting was well attended, and an address was given by the president, 

 and the objects and reforms most sought for were discussed during two 

 days of the session. An election of officers for the ensuing year resulted 

 as follows : President, Hon. Harris Lewis of Herkimer County ; Prof. 

 A. Dan was re-elected Secretary and Treasurer. The next annual meet- 



