70 HISTORY OF THE WHEEL AND ALLIANCE. 



had from every county having an organization, of the 

 condition, kind and value of crops. The idea was a good 

 one had it been carried into effect. The constitution was 

 amended so as to provide for the organization of County 

 Wheels, when as many as five Subordinate Wheels existed 

 in a county. This was another important step in the way 

 of progress, and the utility of the County Wheel in the 

 past has proven the wisdom of the action. The meetings 

 of the State Wheel were also changed from semi-annually 

 to annually, and the time of meeting fixed for the fourth 

 Wednesday in July of each year. A resolution petitioning 

 Congress to prohibit the dealing in futures in grain, provis- 

 ions and cotton, was passed. A committee was appointed 

 to consider the practicability of organizing a National 

 Wheel. The following resolution on the mortgage system 

 was passed: 



" WHEREAS, The mortgage system in general is a 

 blight upon the energy and industry of our common 

 country; and 



WHEREAS, The law granting mortgages is a barrier 

 to the material advancement of the agricultural interest of 

 the State, delegating to the tradesmen and the middle-men 

 the unqualified right of taking undue advantage of the 

 impoverished condition of our people, by extortionate 

 charges and forced sales, under its protection; thus, in a 

 measure, creating an artificial trade, beneficial alone to the 

 tradesmen, forcing the farmer to special instead of permit- 

 ting a diversity of crops; compelling him to go deeper and 

 deeper in debt, and final bankruptcy; and 



WHEREAS, We consider it to be the sacred duty of 

 our Legislature to enact laws granting equal rights to all 

 without burdening any; therefore be it 



Resolved, That it is the duty of every farmer and 

 laborer in the various counties of the State of Arkansas to 



