Farmer-General

in France, one of a company which, under the mon: archy, contracted with the govern: ment for the privilege of collecting certain taxes, paying over to the government a certain fixed sum each year and taking the proceeds of the taxes as their equivalent. The company was abolished at the Revolution. Farmer’s Alliance, a general term for an American a ociation of agrieulturists which was founded in 1873. originally in Texas, where it was organized for the purpose of coéper at i on against cattle thieves. In 1887 _ its members had increased to over 100,- 000, its scope was greatly extended and it consolidated with the Farmers Union of Louisiana, becoming incorporated under the laws of the Dis. trict of Columbia, as ‘the National Farmers’ Alliance and Codperative Union. In 1880 the National Agricultural Wheel was organized in Arkansas, and brgnches were formed ix other States. These two organizations were consolidated at St. Louis. Mo., Oct. 1, 1889, under the name of the National Farmers’ Alliance and Industrial Union, with a member shir then estimated at from 1,600,000 te 2.500,000. This society is in active operation in all the Southern and ‘Western States (except Ohio and Wy: oming), and in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Another organization, called the National Farmers’ Alliance, was formed in Chicago in 1880, and is now the general representative of State alliances formed in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota.