HISTORY OF THE FARMERS 1 ALLIANCE. 117 



' ' Every effort is being made to create a distrust in the 

 Order against the Exchange. There seems to be two sal- 

 ient points of attack at this time from the outside. First, 

 the Exchange. Second, any " Political " affiliation or co- 

 operation among the membership. Those that oppress and 

 grow rich at the expense of the many find that the Ex- 

 change is very much in their way. And those that have 

 so long controlled the legislation of the State are wonder- 

 fully exercised over the probability of the farmers taking a 

 hand in future legislation. 



"Co-operative stores, ware-houses, gins, oil-mills, guano 

 factories and other useful enterprises are common in many 

 localities in Georgia, owned and controlled by Alliance 

 men. The State is in a better condition financially than 

 for many years past. A much larger per cent, of farm 

 supplies were produced in 1889 than formerly. But little 

 in this line will be purchased in 1890. The masses are be- 

 ing educated more rapidly than we ever expected to see. 

 They have a better understanding of their business and 

 how farming stands related to other callings, and especially 

 to the real reasons of oppression and debt all over our land. 

 The monetary system of the country is being thoroughly 

 understood and universally condemned by the membership ; 

 transportation as it affects the farmer is being looked into, 

 and a demand is being made in Georgia that railroads shall 

 no longer be used to build up centers at the expense of the 

 rural sections of the State; and no denial will be taken 

 until this evil is done with. The Alliance people of Geor- 

 gia are reading and thinking, and this is one of the most 

 hopeful signs of the Order and its success. We have en- 

 deavored to keep a lecturer in the field all the time, and 

 this has been a great agency in the education and persever- 

 ance of the brotherhood, as well as to cause the outside 

 world to view us from a different standpoint. Alliancemen 

 in Georgia are strong in faith and hope that the Order will 



