Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-01-10
Nartpa XHertaeta,
Origin of the Farmers Alliance.
Cor. Country Gentlemen.


Since the organization known as
the farmers Alliance has become so
general and successful throughout the
West and South, in getting farmers to
cooperate for their rights and inter-
ests in business and in politics, it
is not amiss to state the origin and
original purpose of the association.
All other branches of business hav-
ing their associations for mutual bene-
fit, why should not the farmers or
ganize for like protection and bene-
fit? In January, 1875, a call was is
sued by the Western New York
Farmers Club for a meeting of the
farmers of Monroe county at Roches-
ter, to organize farmers association.
Early in February following, such
meeting assembled and effected an
organization, with constitution and
bylaws, to be known as the Farm
ers' Alliance. Its chief object was to
effect legislation in the interest of the
agriculturist, not by distinct party
action, but through each political par
ty to secure nomination and election
of candidates pledged to support such
Just and equal laws as would bear on
the interests of agriculture, also to Sc
cure equal representation of the farm
ing class in the legislature of the
State.
This first organization embraced
only Monroe county and could be of
no general benefit. Hence, within
a short period we issued a call for a
meeting for a State organization at
Rochester, which brought together
representative farmers from other
parts of the State, and State alliance
was organized on the model of the
county alliance, with recommends.
ton to form county alliances through.
out the State. The officers of this al
lance were: President, Hon. F. P
Root, of Monroe; vice-president, A
Hoffman, of Chemung; secretary
and treasurer, A. A. Hopkins, of RO'
chester. The first annual meeting
thereafter was held at Syracuse, n
Y, when the first alliance addres:
was given by the president. The oh
jects especially aimed at were (D ;
reform in assessment and taxation
(2) equal railroad freights to shippers
and especially pro rata freights to al
way freightage, taking extra cost o
handling; (3) the enactment of law
to authorize cooperative farm insur
ance, together with other reforms il
legislation, and to favor equal repre-
sentation in the law-making powe
of the State.
The second president elected wa
Hon. Harris Lewis of Montgomer,
county, representing the eastern por
tiCn of the State, and making the in
terest of the alliance extend through
out the State. This organization eS
tended to other States, and in 1878 @
1879 q call was made for a nations
meeting to be held at Chicago. A
that meeting Monroe county n. Y
farmer. w. ]. Fowler, who CAV
special instructions in alliance WORK
was elected president. From thu
time onward the organization sprea
throughout the West and South unit
it has become an acknowledged pow
er in the political status of thos
States.
1t has been claimed by some Yves
ern writer that the Farmers Alliant
had its birth at Chicago, when Fow
er was elected president of the M
tional Alliance, but this State organ
zatiOn had been running some four
more years prior to the Chical
meeting. A. A. Hopkins gave nan
to the organization, of which fact
have personal knowledge, havir
been a member of the committe vii
Mr.. Hopkins that reported name ar
constitution for the association. VIII
may yet be the outcome of the organ
zation I will not augur, but 1 belle
its end is not far distant, as it has e
tered on dangerous ground and is a
vocating impracticable measures.
class political party must be Of she
duration. F. p. Roof.
Monroe Co., N. Y, Dec. II.
RuokInnSo Arnino Saliva