FARMERS' ALLIANCE, a national or ganization for improving agricultural conditions, advancing social life, securing favorable legisla tion, etc.; at first non-political, then political, then nonpolitical again. Originating as a State body in Texas about 1876, it coalesced in 1887 with similar State bodies into a national one; and in 1889 joined the Knights of Labor in a common political party called the National Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union, with a platform demanding more greenbacks, unlimited free coinage of silver, no national banks, anti speculation laws and government ownership of all transportation lines. The southern branch added a demand for government loans at low rates, and sub-treasuries to buy and store farm products. In the West in 1890 the party put up its own candidates; in the South it adopted and dictated the Democratic; it carried the Kansas and Nebraska legislatures, held the balance in Illinois, Minnesota and South Dakota, and elected nine national repre sentatives, and one senator each from South Carolina (nominally Democrat), Kansas and South Dakota. In 1892 it fused with others
and called itself the People's Party (q.v.), and nominated for President James B. Weaver, who received 1,041,021 votes; but the southern branch declined to change its political affilia tions, and seceded, the Alliance proper going out of politics again. The Farmers Alliance, uniting with several other similar organizations, formed the Farmers' National Congress in 1914, which claimed to represent a membership of over 3,000,000 farmers. The congress advocated Federal aid for inland communications ; proper protection for co-operative enterprises; the illiteracy test for immigrants and the placing of a poll tax upon them. It opposed ship sub sidies and interstate liquor traffic in dry terri tory.