76 HISTORY Otf THE WHEEL AND ALLIANCE. 



accomplished much good. Men are coming up to their 

 contracts better than formerly; buying cheaper and get- 

 ting nearer value for their products. This enables them 

 to pay and be less dependent upon the merchants." 



In September, 1888, the State Wheel again met at 

 Booneville. Delegates were elected to the meeting of the 

 National Wheel at Meridian, and instructed to vote for 

 consolidation with the Farmers' Alliance. The entire 

 delegation voted for the minority report. of the committee 

 on Constitution and By-Laws, which differed from the ma- 

 jority report, only, in providing that each State should 

 control the eligibility and management of its colored pop- 

 ulation as it thought best. 



The organization in Mississippi has never been 

 pushed vigorously, except in a few counties, where it is 

 in a healthy, growing condition. 



THE WHEEL IN TEXAS. 



On the 5th day of April, 18.84, G - W. Ritchie, of 

 Cleburne, organized Lone Star Wheel, No. i. It was the 

 first Wheel in Texas. The first County Wheel was organ- 

 ized at Hickory Grove, near Paris, July loth, 1885. 



The State Wheel was organized at Moore's Springs, 

 three miles east of Paris, August 25th, 1886. John R. 

 Johnson, ex- President of the Grand Wheel of Arkansas, 

 assisted in the organization. The State Wheel meets on 

 the fourth Wednesday in August of each year. 



The second annual meeting of the Texas State 

 Wheel was held with Hamilton Wheel, No. 6, at Sumner 

 Academy, Lamar county, on the 24th day of August, 

 1887. At this meeting a proposition was made by the 

 Texas Farmers' Alliance for the consolidation of the two 

 Orders; but as the proposition contemplated the entire 

 surrender of the identity of the Wheel it was not enter- 

 tained. Among other important business transacted at 



