HISTORY OF THE FARMERS* ALLIANCE. 121 



ing steps were taken to extend the Order into unorganized 

 territory. 



The second annual meeting of the State Alliance 

 was held in the city of Nevada, commencing on the 2ist 

 day of August, 1888, and continuing for three days. J. 

 \V. Anthony was elected President and G. W. Register, 

 Secretary. Up to this date 615 charters had been issued 

 and the membership was over 13,000. From August, 

 1888, till December of the same year, but little was done 

 in the way of organizing. The position which the Order 

 took upon certain matters pertaining to legislation provoked 

 considerable opposition from the professional politicians 

 of both parties, who did all they could to sow seeds of 

 discord among the members of the Order. After the 

 elections were over and the politicians had done with the 

 people, the Order again prospered and built up more rap- 

 idly than ever. The third annual meeting of the State 

 Alliance met at Springfield on the 23d day of August, 1889. 

 Thirty-eight counties were represented in this meeting 

 and the membership numbered over twenty thousand. 

 This was one of the most interesting meetings the Order 

 had ever held in the State. The Missouri State Wheel 

 had been called to meet at the same time and place. At 

 this meeting a consolidation was effected of the Wheel 

 and Alliance, which took the name of Farmers' and La- 

 borers' Union. H. W. Hickman was chosen President 

 and J. W. Rogers, Secretary. The membership in the 

 State at the present time (May, 1890,) is about one hun- 

 dred and fifty thousand. There are nearly four thousand 

 subordinate Unions in the State. In the way of co-opera- 

 tive enterprises but little has been done until recently . Some 

 co-operative stores are in successful operation, and a num- 

 ber of mills being built or contemplated. The Order has 

 a Business Agency established at St. Louis, with J. B. 

 Dines as manager. On the whole the outlook for much 



