68 HISTORY OF THE WHEEL AND ALLIANCE. 



is a faithful account of the objects and origin of the Order. 

 While its objects were to ''ameliorate the condition of the 

 farmer in every possible manner," it was never intended to 

 be a "secret political order." As Brother Tedford aptly 

 remarks, its was born of ' ' monopoly and oppression. ' ' It 

 discussed political questions, for otherwise it could not 

 have discussed monopolies. It looked hopefully forward 

 to the time when it would be powerful enough to control 

 legislation ; not from a partisan standpoint, nor as a political 

 party, but as an independent factor, too honest to be 

 cajoled or bought off, and too powerful to be crushed. 

 May we still hope that their fond anticipations may be 

 realized. It is true there were many ups and downs 

 many obstacles to overcome which the world will never 

 know. But beginning with the seven brave, true men 

 who met in the McBee school house, on the night of the 

 1 5th of February, 1882, and including others who joined 

 shortly afterwards, the grand struggle for independence 

 has been going on until the power of the organization is 

 not only felt by the cross-roads' merchant, who looked 

 upon the farmers as servants to be used by him, but is 

 feared alike by the infamous trusts that have become an 

 incubus upon our body politic, and the political rings and 

 combinations that are responsible for them. Of the seven 

 original founders of the Wheel six are still living. H. B. 

 Loakey, perhaps the youngest of the seven, is dead. Six 

 of them were owners of land. They were all Democrats 

 by birth, education and practice. They were simple, 

 practical farmers. They were not political schemers, nor 

 were they influenced by those who were. They were 

 moved and actuated by an impulse born of self protection. 

 They saw the necessity of organization. Their minds 

 grasped the grand possibilities that might emanate from 

 one grand combination of the farming element. They 

 rnay have "builded wiser than they knew;" their efforts 



