In many ways the Southern Farmers" Alliance showed a more comprehensive approach to the depression problems of the American frontier than that of the Grange. .
Both organizations brought farmers together, but the Grangers had much less of an idea of where their problems stemmed from. Unlike the Grange's dramatic stand against tyranny, the Alliance's cause focused on more everyday issues. Finally, rather than attacking easy culprits with hasty laws, like the Grange, the Alliance took a more sensible political approach.
Although the Grange brought farmers together in protest, they were basically an "organized mob" of angry farmers wanting change immediately. Their Farmers" Declaration of Independence, stating their suffrage under "oppression and abuse", only better indicated their lack of knowledge concerning the real stem of their problems. The Southern Farmers" Alliance, rather than becoming a dramatic reform group, founded their unity based on personal experience. Under the harsh conditions of depression, they supported each other, turning to organization, education and cooperation.
The Grangers" dramatic cause stood up against tyranny and monopoly, accusing middlemen. Grain elevators were charged with exploitation of the farmers" crops by buying them for less than their value and overcharging farmers. The railroads were accused of charging higher rates in rural areas, therefore "discriminating" against the farmers. The Alliance acted on issues that hit closer to home, pursuing live community issues such as equal rights for all, and calling for measures to increase money supply, improve public schools, agricultural colleges, and women's status.
The approach of the Grangers to their issues was a direct attack on close-to-home culprits (i.e. railroads and grain elevators) which included the formation of new laws establishing maximum rates railroads and grain elevators could charge, and outlawing other practices possibly representing "unjust discrimination and distortion".
