Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-10


brought to naught in one night. Something
must be done. The farmers got together
/ and consulted,
The result was the establishment of an
! organization under the name of the Farm.
ers' Alliance. The association was
not for aggressive purposes, merely
for protection, and as such i,
commended itself to the farmers of the
neighborhood. The first lodge was insti
tuted in 1870. In three years the order had
gained foothoid in three adjoining couu.
ties, but 1875 being year Of great political
excitement in Texas, the Alliance was
drawn into the mRlstrom of party ambi-
( tons, and the result was the com
plete disruption of the association.
iarfces remained.
A prominent and leading member of the
old Alliance was ". T. Baggett of Coryell
county, which adioins Lampasas The Al
lance had been d great aid to him: in
fact, it was his support, for when
it fell through the conditions We're
such that he could not retain
advantage to himself, and nc vas forced to
leave that country. He moved Westward,
and in 1879 settled in Parker county at a
settlement named Poolville In 1879 Parker
county was in about the same condition as
was Lampasas four years earlier The
farmers and StOckmen were at war with
eacn other aud the need for
organization for self protection by the
farmers was apparent. Among the relics
brought by W. I. Baggett from his Lam
pasas home was Il copy Of the old conStitu-
tiUu Of the Farmers Alliance. This he
showed the settlers near mis- new home, and
il met their necessities. The first lodge of
the Farmers Alliance was organized at
PoOlville, Parker county, Tex, july %
1874 That ba ard l..
present national organization. Among the
original members of this lodge were the
founder, ". I. Baggett, John W. Sullivan,
George W. MckibOons. j. y. Montgomery,
!. T. Reeves, jeff Womack and others.
They We're all farmers living III the
ueiEhbOrhood. and though they had every
faith III the efficacy of their organization as
d meaus Of protection against the eucroach-
mentS Of the stockmen, they little supposed
that they would survive, as al those men
toned have done, to see the seed they have
planted grow TO j tree whose branches
spread from one limit Of the nation to the
other.
The Farmers Alliance labored under
difficulties from its birth. Taking advantage
of its predecessor, this organization started
out with every allusion TO poll
ties stricken from its constitution
and platform of principles. The
original Lampasas platform of principles
had been burdened with commentaries and
structures upon the state policy, particu-
larry with reference to the method Of deal
ING with the public domain, then a leading
issue III state politics. But these features
were eliminated when the Poolyille ALI
ance was first organized, q decisive vote to
that effect having been taken. And SO
the Farmers Alliance started on a non
partisan basis, and the organizers hoped
Il =.
would be suffered 10 exist without meeting
that opposition which in those days was
popularity felt toward such institutions.
And for a time the Alliance tiourished
in its small unpretentious way.
The Poolville lodge gathered 10
its membership all the agIiculturists in
lis immediate vicinity, and within few
Central, Parker county The farmers in
that part Of Texas were mostly immigrants
from the Eastern and Northern states, men
Of small means and anxious to
better their condition by any
honorable means, caring little
for the politics of the state, to which they
We're for the most part strangers; and this
alliance found favor in their eyes. Soon
the farmers of the neighborlng counties be-
came interested, and the third lodge was
established in Jack county. In 1850, one
year after the first lodge was organized at
Poolyille, state concIave was held at
Central, Parker county, composed of dele
gates from twelve Sub-Alliances. Several
conferences had been held during the latter
part of 1879 looking to the formation of q
new constitution and ritual, but this work
was not competed until the latter part of
the ensuing year.
The principles of the order are set forth
as follows. these being the same as estab-
iished at the first state concIave, with the
exception of the second ana seventh sec
tions. which have been added since that
time:
l. TO labor for the education of the agri-
cultural classes in the science OF economical
government in strictly non-partisan
spirit.
- To indorse the motto: In things
essential unity; in all things charity
8 To develop better state mentally,
morally, socially and financially.
J. To create a better understanding for
sustaining civil officers in maintaining law
and order.
s. To constantly strive to secure entire
harmony and good will among all mankind
and brctherly love among ourselves.
+. To suppress personal, local, sectional
and national prejudiceS all unhealthful
rivalry and all selfish ambition.
:. The brightest jewels which it gamers
are the tears of widows and orphans, and
its imperative commands are TO visit
the homes where lacerated hearts are
10 aSsuage the sufferings OF a
brother or sister, bury the dead, care for
the widows and educate the orphans, to en-
ercise charity toward offenders, 10 con- |
strue words and deeds in their most |
favorable light. granting honesty of pur-
puse and good intentions 10 others, and 10 |
protect the principles Of the Alliance unto |
Heath. Its laws are reason and equity, its |
cardinal doctrines inspire purity of thought |
md life. and its intentions are peace on |
earth and good will toward men,
BIOGRAPHICAL.