HISTORY OF THE FARMERS' ALLIANCE. 133 



the people from their homes cannot be charged to the 

 Alliance, but was simply an outburst of righteous indig- 

 nation, on the part of the people, against wrongs perpe- 

 trated which would have caused the patriotic blood of any 

 honest American citizen to boil. 



R. W. S. Overstreet was commissioned by the Na- 

 tional Farmers' Alliance and Co-operative Union to 

 organize in New Mexico and Colorado, and formed a 

 number of organizations in Costilla, Los Animas and 

 Huerfano counties. In these counties, however, the 

 population was not sufficient to secure the immediate 

 results and awake the enthusiasm anticipated, but the 

 necessity of organization was growing more apparent 

 even' day, and the knowledge disseminated by the Alli- 

 ance worked a wonderful change in the minds of the 

 people. 



In the year 1888 eastern Colorado had an unusual 

 amount of rainfall, and emmigrants from the East, at- 

 tracted by the level plains and fertile soil, settled in that 

 part of the State near the Kansas line. This part of the 

 State was considered productive without irrigation and 

 was, therefore, designated the " Rain-belt," and filled up 

 rapidly with home-seekers. It is putting it mildly to say 

 that these good people failed to see their fond hopes real- 

 ized, and many, having little to start with, were reduced 

 to almost destitute circumstances. Coal was high, no 

 wood to be obtained, and almost even-thing to buy, rigid 

 economy was of course necessary, In this extremity the 

 idea of co-operation suggested itself, and the National 

 Farmers' Alliance, offering them a source of relief, Kit 

 Carson county was thoroughly organized during the 

 spring of 1889. J. H. Brammier took a leading part in 

 the work as an organizer for the National Farmers' Alli- 

 ance. A few scattering organizations were also made in 

 adjoining counties. At the time of the organization of 



