The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-12-25
One of the most important subjects
to be considered is the basis of
AN ORGANIC UNION

1 OuO VI GIlS LuOSb 1uIpoI GIsu6 SuUJSCbS
to be considered is the basis of
| AN ORGANIC UNION
with the National Agricultural Wheel.
This was discussed at your last regular
meeting and the national lecturer ap-
pointed to visit tie National Agricul-
tural Wheel at it's regular session in
Nashville, Tennessee, IN December,
1887, and make overtures tending to-
ward such union. He was courteously
received and highly honored by that
body and his propositions and nego-
tiations treated with all the respect
due his important mission from this
honorable body. AS result, the
National Agricultural Wheel ad-
| journed its regular session at that
time and place, to meet with the Ma
tional Farmers Alliance and Co Opera
tive Union of America at this meeting.
That arrangement has been carried
out and they are here to-day, and
should have your immediate attention
and consideration until you have, if
possible, agreed upon a basis that will
place these two great orders that are
working and striving for the same
ends by the same methods under the
same Jurisdiction. So that as unit,
they may press forward, shoulder to
shoulder, united in one solid phalanx:
one motive, right; one thought, vic
tory; and one sentiment, fraternal love
actuating both.
Your attention is called to the neces-
sity of adopting and publishing the
policy that will be pursued as to the
extention of the organization into
THE NORTHERN STATES.
1t will be remembered at the time
of the organization of this order as
National Trade Union, the prime mo-
tive was to secure strong organiza-
tion of the producers of the Cotton
Belt of America It was argued that
an organization of that district meant
virtually an organization of the world
SO far as the production of cotton was
concerned and that, therefore, in that
direction was the best field to demon
strate the power and benefits of CO.
operation and organization. In pur-
suance of this doctrine, the work has
been pushed with most vigor in the
cotton States Until each has now
State Alliance. Other States are
knocking at the door and it seems that
there can be no good cause for deny
ing them admission. But the exten-
sion of the work into new territory
where new conditions and issues are
to be met, is attended with great re-
sponsibility and danger The danger
is, that the objects of the order and
the methods it proposes to wor by
will be misunderstood. 1t should be
remembered that the evils which now
afflict agriculture are of a general
character, and have been for years
developing and consequently no spas
modic effort will relieve, neither can
an effort directed by one idea alone be
adequate The relief measures must
be general in character and must be
applied in every possible way, and
contended for, with persistence and
determination that will be content
with slow and partial results for the
present generation and insure the
grandest benefits to posterity. Conse-
queptly great care must be exercised
that the ship of state be kept sailing
in the open waters of general reform,
ready to respond to and take advan-
tage of any favorable wind that may
be presented. The shoals and rocks
Of special ideas must be avoided as
containing the elements of disaster.
While all will admit that nothing
will be of as great service in promot-
ing the objects the Alliance seeks to
achieve as certain Legislative enact
ments, still nothing could be more dis
astrous to the order than to tie it to
that one channel of reform, because
by directing all effort in that direction,
it would soon be recognized as the
chief object of the order, and when
that was accomplished the necessity
for the existence of the order would
no longer remain and it would natur-
ally go to pieces. He who teaches as
a panacea for all, either party reform,
a money reform, land reform, or any
other special reform for general con-
ditions, must not be accepted as a