238 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL. 



both had strong organizations, the Alliance made but slow 

 progress. Several Sub-Alliances were organized, however, 

 during that year. The complications which have followed an 

 effort to consolidate are numerous and difficult to explain. At 

 one time there were three separate organizations, each oper- 

 ating independently. After much trouble and discussion, the 

 different State bodies met at Little Rock, February 12, 1891, 

 and consolidated into one State organization. 



California. In the early part of 1890, Joe S. Barbee was 

 commissioned national organizer for the State of California, and 

 on April n, 1890, the first Sub- Alliance was organized at Sum- 

 merland, Santa Barbara County, with sixteen members and the 

 following officers : President, H. L. Williams ; Vice-President, 

 Mrs. Agnes S. Williams ; Secretary, C. T. Norcross ; Treasurer, 

 William Wales ; Chaplain, A. C. Doane. The first County 

 Alliance was organized at Santa Barbara, in Santa Barbara 

 County, on May 3, 1890, with President, H. L. Williams, Sum- 

 merland ; Vice-President, S. K. Shilling, Lompoc ; Secretary, 

 H. F. Cook, Cathedral Oak ; Treasurer, H. A. Nelson, Dos 

 Pueblas ; Chaplain, Henry Douglas, Goleta. The State Alli- 

 ance was formed at San Jose, November 21, 1890. 



Colorado. The first Alliances were organized in this State 

 in 1888, by R. S. W. Overstreet. On account of the sparsely 

 settled counties, hard times, and land troubles, it was found 

 difficult to push the work. In 1889 the organization took a 

 fresh start. The Northern or Open Alliance had been at work 

 in the State and had secured quite a membership. After care- 

 fully considering the matter, the two Alliances met together in 

 joint convention in December, 1889, and perfected a State 

 organization. 



The Dakotas. The Farmers' Alliance was introduced into 

 the Territory of Dakota in the fall of 1884. A number of farm- 

 ers met at Huron, now in South Dakota, on December 19, 1884, 

 and after adopting a series of resolutions adjourned until the 

 4th of February succeeding. Several Sub-Alliances had been 

 organized prior to this meeting, under a charter from the North- 

 ern or Open Alliance. At the meeting in February, a Ter- 

 ritorial organization was perfected, and the following officers 

 selected : President, J. L. Carlisle ; Vice-President, A. R. Mon- 



