The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-28
An Interesting History of the Great Organ
iHntiOn.

An Interesting History of the Great Organ
igation.
At last the farmers in the south and west
seem to be organizing in earnest
remarkable movement under the name of the
Farmers Alliance started in Texas about ten
years ago. 1t made considerable Roadway for the
first five or six years but its real boom began in 1855.
Since that time its growth has been swift beyond
precedent, AMI it now challenges attention as one
of the most earnest and serious organized efforts
ever made by any class of people in any country
Within the past year or two the Farmers Alliance
has taken hold in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and
the Carolinas, and THE CONSTITUTION has taken the
pains to lay before its readers in the city and coun
try full and unparalleled and impartial account
of the status of this organization, its members its
purposes, and what it has effected up TO this date.
We felt that this could be done with best authority
from the lips of Senator r. II. jackson, who is the
president of the state alliance. THE CONSTITUTION
requested from President jackson this statement
which he gave with pleasure, coming TO Atlanta
upon our invitation, accompanied by Mr.. l. }.
Stephens chairman OF the executive committee of
the state. We commend what follows 20 the
thoughtful consideration of all men interested in
the south, as this movement has reached such pre-
portions as must challenge the attention of those in
terested in the public problem, no matter whether
they approve or criticize its purposes
a History of the Farmers Alliance.
"What is the present membership of the
Farmers allance?'
1--WE have million and half in the west We
have two hundred and fifty thousand in Texas |
see from your paper this morning that we have six
teen thousand members in North Carolina. These
figures vast they are, do not give fair idea Of
what our membership really is, as our growth is so
rapid that no census can be completed before our
growth would have made the census much below
the real figures, l can best illustrate this with
Georgia.
1--WE want TO hear about Georgia. What is the
history of the organization in this slater"
about nine months ago. Mr., ]. b. Wilkes, an
organizer aom the National alliance reached Heard
county, in this state. He eXpOunded the principles
Of The order, showed the farmers exactly what the
alliance would accomplish, and organized the first
sub-Aliance tn Troup county, Just below the line
of Heard. From this mustard seed has grown the
greatharveSt IN about six months he succeeded in
organizing subAniances in seventeen counties in
Georgia. President c. w. Macnne of the National
Alliance then ordered state convention in Geor-
gia. This was held in Fort Valley on December
20th seventeen counties being represented with
membership of perhaps ten thousand. This con-
vention adopted the constitution and bylaws of
the Georgia Farmers alliance. / was elected presi-
dent; J. s. C. Glenn Of Thomas county, was elected
president Il. i. Burks, Of Chiplcy secretary
]. II. Daniel, of Sumter, treasurer; Rev. Simeon
Maxwell of Talbotton, chaplain. From
that date the real growth in Georgia
began. ! sure we have added fifteen
thousand members in the past month 1 have Mt
work between twenty and thirty organizers in the
state of Georgia. and | must have Il hundred ap-
pcatlons file for new alliances in this
state. The membership in Georgia cannot be less
than $4,000 members, against 10000 two months
ago. This illustrates the rapidity OF its growth and
also emphasizes the need Of some purely farmers
organization, by which the farmers can protc c
themselves. If there was not such need, and If
this need was not understood deep down in the
hearts OF the farmers such growth would not
have been possible. This will Illustrate what
mean when | say that could not give you in fig
ures the probable membership Of the order. 1t is
spreading like prairie fire."
How many states are you organized in?''
"There are about fourteen states organized, but
new ones aIe being added constantly For instance
South Carolina is now taking hold with sub.alli-
ances, and q state convention will be called in a
short time This is the case in many other states"
HAS the Farmers alliance Absorbed other organl-
cations among fGrners?'
"Undoubtedly 1t has absorbed the "Farmers'
Wheel" which was very strong organization in
the west It absorbed farmers organization of
10000 members in Louisiana. These other orders
have been absorbed by the Farmers alliance sim
ply because it is broader, more comprehensive,
more hopeful and more devoted, and proposes
gTander work than any organization ever offered
to the farmers Of this country"
"You allude above to the needs ofthe farmer that
brought about the FARMERS Al1auceE'
"The farmer needed everything He needed pro-
lection against the merchant in selling to him at
usurious rates credit or high goods for ca h. lie
needed protection IN the sale Of his produce. lie
needed O bank in which his lands would be secur-
ity for money at moderate interest. In short he
needed organization because although the great
producer of the country, and in vast numerical
majority, he was the helpless end deenseless prey
of all trades and oil classes through the lack Of or
ganiAtion on his part. Every other class and in
dustry was organized. Tho farmer saw cotton
corners made by spectators, which reduced the
price of his cotton when it had topass out Of his
hands. He saW syndlcates organized TO initiate the
price of everything that he bought and reduce the
price Of everything he sold. The railroads organ
led against him, the manufacturers Organized
against him. and the farmer really did not apure-
date the fact that he master Of the situation If
he was only organized, but was helpless because lie
had not Organized, The farmer produces cotton
seed and sells it about TO indvduals Immediately
the oil mills organize trust to handle his product
and name its price. lie produces sugar. and
sells 10 from hand TO mouth. The manufacturers
organize trust to dictate its price, and 80 in every
department. There was pool in. every trade and
in every quarter organized to dictate terms TO the
farmer, who, ignorant Of his strength, submitted
II has been amazing spectacle, that Il class OF
men, producing the basis Of our national wealth say
seven tenths Of the whole-the banking bonus Of
Of this government aud furnishing nearly three
fOIfthS OF fDteh Ol country was without
ganZntion, without protection, aud was the help
less feast Of small bands Of commercial syndlcates
that flltcncd on their gains and kept them poor"
"How does the Farmers' Alliance propose TO
remedy these cTils?'
by organization and cooperation Those are
the two wotchwords, When we get banded together
80 tlalt ten million farmers VIII move as one man,
the details win settle themselves The awful
rnagi u Of ten million free men banded together
with one purpose north, syuth east and wcst viii
command attention"
"What are tie immediate details you pTOpOSe2'
"Let nc take nay county, Heard, as an example.
We appointed 0 trade committee TO call ON the ner-
chants Of Franklin, and ask bid from each FOR the
alliance trade. Two merchants made bids which
We accepted for the fall and winter trade. These
bids were n certain per cent advance on the cost
for cnsh. These merchants agreed 10 submit their
bills % our Trade committee and thus guarantee the
correctness OF their chargCA They were tbcreupOn
deu0m mated trade houses' for Heard county Our
members 4 once locked 70 these stores. carrying