242 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL. 



Kansas. Some time during the year 1887, a number of Sub- 

 Alliances were formed in Cowley County, through the efforts of 

 a visiting friend from Texas, who was stopping with a farmer 

 in that county. It is from this beginning that the Alliance in 

 Kansas took its start. Later, W. Shires, a regular organizer, 

 came into the State, and started a few more Sub-Alliances. 

 About this time Brother W. P. Brush went to Cowley County, 

 and succeeded in organizing the first County Alliance. Authority 

 was given Brother Brush to organize the State. A meeting was 

 called for that purpose in December, 1888, and an organization 

 was perfected by electing B. H. Clover of Cambridge, President, 

 and J. B. French, Hutchinson, Secretary. 



The growth of the Alliance in this State has been phenomenal. 



Kentucky. The first Farmers' Alliance was organized in 

 Trigg County, by F. T. Rogers, in December, 1886. At first 

 the work progressed very slowly, and was abandoned by some of 

 the first who made the attempt. In February, 1888, Brother 

 B. F. Davis was commissioned for the work, and began in ear- 

 nest the difficult task. He succeeded so well that a State organ- 

 ization was completed at Ezel, Morgan County, June 7, 1888. 

 J. E. Quicksall was chosen President ; J. M. Raney, Vice-Presi- 

 dent ; B. F. Davis, Secretary ; Charles Pack, Treasurer ; and 

 Sherman Pack, Lecturer. August 29, 1889, the Alliance and 

 Wheel consolidated, with S. B. Irwin, President ; J. E. Quicksall, 

 Vice-President ; B. F. Davis, Secretary ; Charles Pack, Treas- 

 urer ; and J. F. Gale, Lecturer. The order has grown rapidly 

 since that date. 



Louisiana. The Farmers' Union of this State had been 

 quite extensively organized before the Alliance was introduced. 

 The first Alliance was organized by J. W. DeSpain and J. Groves, 

 in one of the parishes west of Red River. The second Alliance 

 was organized in De Soto Parish, October 8, 1886. After this it 

 spread rapidly throughout this portion of the State. In May, 

 1887, the Union and the Alliance united, forming the State 

 Union, the Alliances surrendering their charters and taking out 

 others from the Union. From this time on the order has grown 

 rapidly. The first officers of the Consolidated Union were : 

 President, J. M. Stallings, Venice; Secretary, O. W. Wright, 

 Munnville ; Treasurer, W. J. Spinks ; Lecturer, W. J. Smith ; 



