82 HISTORY OF THE WHEEL AND ALLIANCE. 



as far as Smith county, with two Wheels in Putnam, and 

 five in Jackson county, a progress of 150 miles in twelve 

 months. The number of subordinate Wheels has in- 

 creased from 875 to 1,333, a S^ n f 45$- The Colored 

 Wheel, which was not then in existence, now has 177 

 subordinate Wheels, and nine County Wheels, which have 

 been, since the meeting of this body, formed into a State 

 Weeel by our National Organizer, J. J. Matheny. We re- 

 port that 42,700 Wheelers are here represented, and the 

 number in Tennessee is not far from 50,000. The prin- 

 ciples of Wheelerism are growing, and not only are the 

 subordinate Wheels increasing in strength, but their 

 members are being educated in the cause, and becoming 

 more able and willing to uphold the Order. A willing 

 spirit is manifested in all quarters, and we believe that 

 this spirit will, in time, enable us to overcome all oppo- 

 sition, and finally lead to the reform which we desire to 

 secure. During the last year the State Business Agency 

 has been started, and has already done some good, though 

 like all new departures, the system has yet to be per- 

 fected, and we believe that the united intelligence of the 

 Order will be able to cope with the subject, and finally 

 bring about the great results of which it is capable. The 

 different counties are doing all they can to better the con- 

 dition of the producers, by establishing large warehouses, 

 which are already helping the farmers in the distribution 

 of their crops. Co-operative stores are also a success in 

 some of the counties, and we recommend that they be 

 run as much as possible in conjunction with the State 

 agency. The one dollar assessment has been met, to 

 some extent, and we believe that as Wheelers get to un- 

 derstand the principle better, the payment will be more 

 general. 



The office of the Commissioner of Agriculture is, to 

 a great extent, attributable to the action of the State Wheel 



