The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-09-19
TIE FARMERS ALLIANCE.
HIstory OF this Remarkable Organization
From its Inception Only
Few Years Ago.
IT'S WONDERFUL GROWTH.
(Iron and Steel Bulletin.

| This organization has leaped into promi-
nence with q suddenness surprising Its
members and all others. AS National
Alliance it only dates from October, 1859
It now has over thirty State organizations
and more than 100000 men and women
MS its members. Our readers will be
pleased to have a synopsis of the history
objects, and proposed methods OF this
great combination.
The Farmers Alliance started in New
York and Texas about the year 1873, and
was followed by the Agricultural Wheel-a
few years later and the Farmers Union in
1885. The Alliance that had its origin in
New York was non-secret organization,
and spread rapidly westward. During the
year 1884 it grew faster and its dedelop-
ment was remarkable Now the organiza-
ton is very strong north of the Ohio river
and west of Pennsylvania. The Alliance
started in Texas was benevolent associa-
ton, and secured its charter from the
State in 1880. 1t was q secret organiza-
ton, and began to grow and develop at an
astonishing rate about the year 1888.
Some idea can be formed of its growth in
that State from the fact that in 1887 it
contained a membership of over 100000,
and, added to the Farmers Union then
organized in Louisiana, 10000, it was
quite formidable. These two organiza-
tons associated themselves together
under the general laws of Congress and
secured articles of Incorporation in the
District of Columbia under the name of
the National Farmers Alliance & Indus
| vi 81
in October, 1889, this association absorbed
the National Agricultural Wheel Associa-
ton. 1.-THE Farmers Alliance" is the
name by which it is popularity known.
There is no red flag in this organiza-
ton, but the stars and stripes and the
constitution are upheld. 1t is an organi-
cation of farmers, and no person not over
sixteen years old is eligible for member
ship. Women are admitted to full men,
bership and WELD potent influence. The
word farmer US used here is d generic
term, and includes under it's heading q
mechanic, country doctor, country
preacher, q farm laborer, and country
school teacher. Any Of these callings
become member it is essential to believe
in the existence Of Supreme Being who
rules and governs the universe. The
atheist, the pantheist, the deist, the evo-
lutonist, and the agnostic has no place in
the Alliance. The bylaws and rules of
the Alliance take good care to specify
those who are not eligible for membership,
as followa: Brokers, bankers, merchants,
commission merchants, city doctors, cot
ton, grain, or produce buyers, peddlers,
canvassers, livery stable keepers, specula-
tors, land agents, book agents, gamblers,
saw-mill men, and, in fact, every one is
excluded whose greatest interests do not
harmonic with farming When q man
has one of the excluded occupations and
is q farmer besides he is not admitted
However, the Alliance is allowed to make
some exceptions to the rule, and these
exceptions are capable of liberal consruc-
ton. Each association has a president,
ce-president, secretary, treasurer, and
doorkeeper. Women pay no initiation
| fees or dues. The initiation fee for men
is 50 cents.
The objects of the Alliance, as expressed
in its declaration of purposes, are: /. To
labor for the Government in strictly
bipartisan spirit, and to bring about a
more perfect union Of all classes. 3 To
demand equal rights for all and special
privileges for none. 3. To indorse the
motto, In Things Essential Unity, and in
All Things Charity" A. To develop a
better state, mentally, morally, socially,
and financially. 3. To constantly strive
to secure harmony and good will to all
mankind and brotherly love among our
selves. 8. To suppress personal, local,
sectional, and national prejudices, all un-
healthy rivalry, and all selfish ambition
I. To visit the homes where lacerated
hearts are bleeding, to assuage the suf-
| ferings Of a brother or sister, to bury the
dead, care for the widows, educate the
orphans. exercise charity towards Offend
ers, construe words and deeds in their
most favorable light, grant honesty of
purpose and good intentions to others,
and to protect the principles of the
Farmers Alliance & Industrial Union till
death Its laws are reason and equity;
its cardinal doctrines inspire purity of
thought and life; its intention is, "On
earth peace and good will to men,"
The plan of action is to first agree upon
a needed reform and endeavor to persuade
each political party to use its influence to
legislate to that effect, and, if all the par
ties fail, then it will devise WAYS to en-
force it, The order recognizes that reform
must come through legislation, but it does
not necessarily require a separate ticket
in the field. However, the order, if legis-
lation cannot be shaped any other way,
candidly admits that it will nominate its
own candidates. One of the supposed
needed reforms in the way Of financial
legislation which the Alliance has origi-
mated is known as the sub-treasury BILL
now before congress. 1t is said that the
bill has been Endorsed by every order in
the organization. The gist of it is simply
| this: Whenever county can show that
over 100000 worth of wheat, corn, oats,
and cotton has been raised sub-treasury
should lie established there to enable the
farmer to deposit his produce, whatever it
may be, and receive therefor in treasury
notes so per cent of its value. These
notes, issued to pay for corn, or wheat, or
whatever stuff is deposited, shall be legal
tender. To say that this bill has stag
gered many of the congressman having
farmers for their constituents is putting
il mildly
1t is claimed that already the Alliance
has accomplished a great deal during its
short existence. State Alliance exchanges
have been established, with strong capt.
tai stock paid in, that enable the farmer
to purchase machinery and commodities
at Wholesale prices. In fact millions of
dollars are said to have been saved by re-
ducing the profits of the merchants and
middlemen. 1t is further claimed that,
under the influence of the order, Sec
tional prejudice is fast disappearing. 1t
should be said that the order fayors the
free coinage of silver, and in South Caro-