CHAPTER IV. 



HISTORY OF THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE. 



THE FIRST Farmers' Alliance, having a permanent 

 existence, was organized at Poolville, Parker county, 

 Texas, July 28th, 1879. It seems, however, that the name 

 originated in L,ampasas county, Texas, about four years 

 previous to the organization at Poolville. The organiza- 

 tion in L,ampasas county was for the purpose of .protecting 

 the farmers from the depredations of the wealthy cattle 

 kings, who preferred that the country should remain in an 

 unsettled state. The existence of this organization, how- 

 ever, was of but short duration. Among its members was 

 W. T. Baggett, of Cory ell county, who, in 1879, moved 

 to Parker county, and there organized the first Alliance at 

 Poolville. It seems that the organization in L-ampasas and 

 adjoining counties, though originally organized for the 

 protection of the farmers, had become, through the selfish- 

 ness of some of its members, a means by which they 

 expected to secure political prominence and lucrative 

 positions. This proved fatal to its existence and the 

 organization soon died out At the time of the organiza- 

 tion at Poolville everything of a partisan political nature 

 was eliminated from the original declaration of principles, 

 and from this small beginning the Order was destined to 

 become one of the grandest agricultural organizations in 

 the world. The declaration of principles has been but 

 slightly changed since. The second and seventh articles 

 have been added to those adopted by the Poolville organi- 



