The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1890-08-15

alliance and union has only been ~consoli-
dated since October, 1889. There were
tw o distinct orders up to the date mention
ed. the National Farmers Alliance and
Cooperate Union of America and the
National Agricultural Wheel. In Decem-
Der, 1889, at st. Louis, Mo-, the Farmers
and Laborers' Union beld its first regular
meeting and changed its name to the
National Farmers Alliance and Industrial
Union, under Which cognomen it non has
its prolific existence. The industrial
Union is generally left out when speaking
OF the organization. But the Farmers AL
lance is an older organization than any
of the others mentioned. 1t first started
at the same time in New York and Texas
about the year 1878, and was followed by
the Agricultural Wheel a few years later
and the Farmers Union in 1885. The al
lance that had its origin i'll New York
was a non-secIet organization and spread
rapidly westward. During the year 1884
it grew faster and its development vas re-
markable. Now the organization is very
strong North of the Ohio river and West
of Pennsylvania. The alliance started in
Texas was a benevolent association and
secured its charter from the State in 1880.
1t was a secret organization and began to
grow and develop at an astonishing rate
about the year 1888. Some idea can be
formed of its growth i'll that State from the
fact that i'll 1887 it contained a member
ship of over 100, 600, and, added to the
Farmers Union, then organized ir Louis
lana, 10, eco, it was quite formidable.
These two organizations associated them
selves together under the general laws of
Congress and secured an article of incor-
poration in the District of Columbia under
the name of the National Farmers ALI
ance and Co. operative Union. As has
been stated, a national organization was
completed with the National Agricultural
Wheel in October. 1889, under the name
of the National Farmers Alliance and In
dustrial Union.
The confusing part about the names
comes from the fact.that each State has it's
own particular name and so unions, wheels
and alliances exist all over the country.
But these are subordinate bodies and have
to conform to the constitution of the
national organization and obtain charters
from it. No alliance or union can Use or
perform any secret work other than that
permitted by the national Constitution.
With these orders existing in twenty-four
States of the Union its widespread influ-
ence can well be imagined. Politicians
gaze upon the alliance with a skeptical,
diplomatic eye and wonder if it is going
to supplant some of the great political par
ties. The leaders of the alliance declare
that the objects to be obtained by organi-
cation are not specially political.
The objects of the alliance, as expressed
in its declaration of purposes, are; First,
to labor for the government in a strictly
non-partisan spirit, and to bring about a
more perfect union of all classes; second,
to demand equal rights for all and special
privileges for none; third, 20 indorse the
motto, 'In Things Essential, Unity, and
IN All Things Charity" fourth, to de-
velop a better state, mentally, morally,
socially and financially; fifth, to constantly
strive to secure harmony and good will to
all mankind and brotherly love among
ourselves; sixth, to suppress personal,
local, sectional and national prejudices,
all unhealthy rivalry and all selfish ambi-
fI0n' seventh IN visit the hnnohs ul,ara
lacerated hearts are bleeding, to assuage
the suiferings of a brother or sister, to
bury the dead, care for the widows. edu-
cate the orphans, exercise charity towards
offenders, 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 Farm
ers' Alliance and Industrial Union until
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 man" These
are the expressed purposes of the order.
They have been in the declaration of pur-
poses ron the beginning.
The plan of action is to first agree upon
a needed reform and endeavor to persuade
each political party TO use its influence to
leeislate to that effect, and if all the par
ties fail, why, it will devise ways to en-
force it. The order recognizes that reform
must come through legislation, but it does
not necessarily requi. e a separate ticket in
the field. However, the order, if legisla-
ton cannot be shaped any other Nay, can
didly admits that it will nominate its own
candidates. One of the supposed needed
reforms in the way OF financial Legislation
which the alliance has originated is known
as the Sub-Treasury bill, now before Con-
gress. 1t is said that the bill has been in
dorsed by every order in the organization.
The gist OF it is simply this: Whenever a
county can show that over $500, 600 worth
of wheat, corn, oats and cotton has been
raised, a sub-treasury should be estab-
lished there to enable the farmer to de-
post his produce, whatever it may be, and
receive therefore in Treasury notes so per
cent. Of its value. The notes issued 20 pay
for corn or wheat or whatever stuff is de-
posted shall be legal tender. To say that
= ~