102 HISTORY OF THE WHEEL AND ALLIANCE. 



to all the County Alliances of the State, if that officer deem 

 said report of sufficient importance. 



3. Your committee recommend that each County 

 Alliance in the cotton district hold a called meeting for dis- 

 cussion and action on the cotton problem as soon after 

 receiving notice of this recommendation as possible. 



4. Your committee suggests that the State secretary 

 or corresponding State secretary, if such an officer should 

 be elected, shall write to the general agent of the pooled 

 railroad lines in Texas as to the best rates that said pooled 

 lines will give on cotton shipments, and report such 

 answer to each county secretary. Also, to get statements 

 concerning best rates on cotton from railroad lines not in 

 the pool, for transmission to the County Alliances. 



E. D. MACREADY, 



B. F. ELLIS, 



R. M. CHAMPION. 



Much important business was transacted at this meet- 

 ing, the details of which would prove of but little interest 

 to the reader. During the year many co-operative enter- 

 prises had been established with a success which 

 demonstrated that the efforts of the organization had not 

 been in vain. The Southern Mercury was adopted as the 

 official organ of the State. Shortly after the Cleburne 

 meeting, President Andy Dunlap, Vice- President, J. D. 

 Eddleman, and John H. Harrison, chairman ol the execu- 

 tive committee, resigned their offices and C. W. Macune 

 became president of the Texas State Alliance. He at once 

 set about to perform the duties of his office, which by this 

 time had increased in extent and responsibility. Mr. 

 Macune at once saw and grasped the situation. He early 

 conceived the idea of a National organization of the 

 farmers. With this view he sent Hon. Evan Jones as a 

 delegate to confer with the Farmers' Union in Louisiana. 



