66 HISTORY OF THE WHEEL AND ALLIANCE. 



the Order, a reduction in the profits of his business. All 

 these men were naturally arrayed against the Order. 



No history had ever been written and circulated set- 

 ting forth the objects of the organization, and narrating its 

 origin and growth. This was a want greatly felt. The 

 enemies of the Order seized the opportunity to misrepre- 

 sent both its origin and objects. 



With the object to supply this want of literature, the 

 author left his home and proceeded to the locality where the 

 organization first had an existence. 



It was a cool, crisp and frosty morning, the 28th of 

 November, 1888, that the author stepped from the cars to 

 the platform at Carlisle, a little town on the Memphis and 

 Little Rock Railroad, and about fifteen miles southwest of 

 the site where the Agricultural Wheel first resolved itself 

 into tangible form. We had not long to wait. Col. 

 Morehead, the able and efficient secretary of the Arkansas 

 State Wheel, was there with his buggy, and we were soon 

 whirling away across the open prairie towards his quiet 

 country home. The bright sun kissed and warmed the 

 crisp morning breeze that imparted exhileration and new 

 life to the ride. 



With Col. Morehead at one's side, a ten-mile ride 

 proved but a short pleasure trip. We were soon at his 

 home, and hospitably entertained by his estimable wife and 

 family. But our trip was not intended for pleasure. The 

 wildest speculations had been indulged in with regard to 

 the origin of the Wheel. Foul and slanderous charges 

 had been given the semblance of truth by respectable (?) 

 politicians, * ( senile editors ' ' and ' 'potato lawyers. ' ' Every 

 wild rumor had been twisted and contorted into a shape to 

 reflect discredit on the organization. The Order was going 

 through its " trial period." The 'foulest slanders were 

 readily caught up by the enemies of the organization and 

 circulated with a zeal that indicated the severe extremities 



