The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-08-26

The NATIONAL REYoRM ASSOCIATION AND THE
FALL ELEcTIoEs-THE LAND QUESTION AHp Social
rsh.-lt appears that meeting OF the National Re-
form Association of the Second Ward is to be held
in The Park on Thursday next, and that Senator
Walker, of Wisconsin, is to address the meeting.
As the herald Of" coming events which cast their
shadows before" il may not be amiss for us to in
form readers of the nature and objects of this
movement. 1t is organization intended, avow-
eddy, to influence the coming elections and it pos
sesses its rami6cations in every ward in the city
The first meeting is to be held in the Second ward,
and every other ward in succession is to be agita-
ed. The main feature in the movement is the land
question, and the following pledge has been adopted
by the officers and the Central Committee, con-
sisting of one member from each wards
We whose names annexed, DESTROYS of restoring
to his natural rights to land do solemniy agree,
that win not vote for any man for the Presidency
or Congress, who will not pledge himself In wiring 70
all the influence of his station II elected to pre-
vent all further traffic In the public lands OF the states
and of the United States and to them to be laid
In farms lots for the free and exclusive use OF
actual settlers for any for the Governorship
or the Legislature who will not SO pledge himself TO
the freedom Of the public lands to limiatc on OF the
quantity Of land to be obtained by any individual
hereafter in this State to the exemption OF the home
stead from any future debt mortgage and to limi
tation to ten OF the hours Of daily labor On public
works or in establishments chartered by law.
John H. Keyser, of the Industrial Congre IS, is
the member for the Second ward, and also the city
secretary. The general secretary is George ii.
Evans, and the treasurer John McCafhl, jr.
Besides the city of New York, the association
has branches in Brooklyn, williamsburg, Green
Point, Hoboken, and Jersey City. The principle
contained in the foregoing pledge is to be made an
issue for the fall elections together with the fol-
lowing
Prohibition Of government debts. Repeal of lawsfo
the collection Of debt. Direct taxation Freedom OF
trade. DISARMAMENT of the standing army and navy.
The various plans Of cooperation and association for
the organization of labor The best system OF town
ship education the expense TO be paid by tax to be
raised in the township, and hot to go out OF 1t.
This "Young A aerca ~ party intend, also,
with the land question, issue for the Presidential
election ia 1852 The same party obtained from
Mr.. Van Setback, late democratic candidate for
the mayoraty of New York, the following DECLARE
ton, as quid pro quo for their support;
at would be a source Of unminged delight to me
that the general government should parcel out the
public lands free OF cost to the people who would cul
tivate them
1t seems that Wisconsin, in the far West, is the
focus of this agitation, and that its great gun is
Senator Walker. That ii has obtained firm foot
hold there, cannot be denied, as appears from the
following resolution, passed unanimously by the
yearly conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Con-
nexion held at Waworth, in November, 1913:
Resolved That the principles advocated by the Ma
tional Reform Association the principles of the
Holy Scriptures and such, ought to be advocated
and supported by the Church OF Christ.
What Mr.. Walkers ideas are, may be gathered
from the following extracts from his letter to A. E.
Elmorc
Il am in favor OF limiting the quantity Of land
which any individual may hereafter acquire in the
State of " isconsin.n - In favor of pre-
venting all further traffic in the lands of Wisconsin
and OF the United States am in favor Of
maintaining the principle of the present homestead
exemption law Of Wisconsin; and am opposed to any
change therein that does not recognise the right
man TO a home, without regard to pecunisry value
and limited only by the necessities and comforts
the possessor and his family" . "A great funda-
mental principle which entertain as the basis of my
traffic speculate in that which he cannot produce
or the quantity Of which he cannot increase
This National Reform Society has also taken
root IN Ohio, and is everywhere sort of secret
organization. Mr.. Walker says of it, in his speech
before the Senate, on the 18th inst: Secret So
ceties Of the most powerful and holy kind that
were formed for secular ends. have been based
upon the doctrines of land reform. These doctrines
are working themselves into the very soul Of
society-ihey must and will have hearing"