Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1890-08-11
THE FARMERs ALLIANCE.

A Little History Showing How 1t Was
Formed and What 1t Came From.
The following is taken from an article
which appeared some TIM since in The
National Economist:
"The National FarmSes. Alliance and
Industrial union as national Organiza-
ton dates from the first day of October,
1889, at which time it was formed by a
proclamation of consolidation Of two
orders, one of which was the National
Farmers Alliance and Cooperative
Union of America and the other was the
National Agricultural Wheel This con-
solidation had been provided for in De.
cember, 1888, by joint meeting of the
two national bodies, at which national
constitution had been agreed upon, and
that the same should be submitted to the
orders in the various states for ratifica-
ton, and when three-fOurths of the state
organizations should ratify it was
made the duty of the presidents of the
two organizations to issue proclamations
dissolving the two old organizations as
then existing and consolidating them
under the name of the Farmers and La
borers' Union of America.
"All this was properly done, and the
Farmers and Laborers' union held its
first regular meeting in st. Louis, Mo-,
in December, 1889, and changed its name
to the National Farmers Alliance and
Industrial union. The Farmers was
first started at probably the same time
in two states-Texas and New York
about the year 1878, the Agricultural
Wheel few years later and the Farm
ers' union in 1885. The Alliance started
in New York, spread westward as a non
secret organization, and took up period
of rapid growth and development about
the year 1884 or 1885, which has resulted
in very strong organization north of che
Ohio river and west of Pennsylvania.
1.-THE Alliance in Texas was chartered
as benevolent association by the state
in 1880, and as secret organization it
took on its rapid growth and develop
ment about the year 1883. In 1887 it
contained membership in that state
numbering over 100, 900, and united with
the Farmers union, at that time organ
lied in Louisiana, 10000 strong. These
two organizations associated themselves
together under the general laws of con-
gress regulating the incorporation of ma
tiona1 trade unions, and secured an arti-
Gle of incorporation in the District Of
Columbia as national trade union I'M
der the name of THE National Farm
ers' Alliance and Cooperative union"
and this order, us above stated, COM
pleted its consolidation with the Nation
al Agricultural Wheel on. the first day Of
October, 1889.
persons engagst n any of the follow
ing occupations are excluded from mem
bership: Merchants, bankers, brokers,
commission merchants, cotton, grain or
produce buyers, lawyers, city doctors,
preachers and school teachers, land
agents, book agents, peddlers, canvas
sers, livery stable keepers and saw mill
men, all dealers, spectators and gam
blers, and any others whose greatest in
terests do not harmonic with farming
When person is engaged in farming,
and in addition thereto follows one of
the above named occupations that are
not admitted, the law is that he can not
be admitted, but the association is al
lowed to make some exceptions to this
rule, under conditions prescribed in the
laws of the order"