New-York tribune., 1873-07-22
THE FARMERS WAR.


ACTING WITH THE MoyENEST-JUDGE CRAIG NOT
COMMITTED TO DECIDE IN FAVOR OF THE FAhn-
ERs-ATTITUDE OF THE POLITICIANS
fypoM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrBUsBI
Chicago, July 17.-Though not the best
place even I'm Illinois, 10 the history or catch tho
sprit OF the great Fsrmers Movement" which threat
ems to turn the political world OF the West ana perhaps
OF the whole country, upside down Chicago Is Rooo
point from which 20 observe its eject upon partes as
well as upon trade and In the study OF tne proOe'
over which the West ia greatly excited, it's wen
70 nae this city chiefly from which 10 trace ous
the lines that lead down to the roots of the whole mat
Ter For I find even Chicago prophets " al
nj whenever they attempt 10 explain the preseh
or forete the OF this great uprising OF the isr
ers so that iG will not be odd II stranger, during the
first few days OF his sojourn here should he not hue
confused by the Babel of voices he hears about MN ana
feel constrained to receive and repeat many OF hs nst
impressions with the reservation that more Intimate
aeouaiutance with the farmers themselves, careiui
study OF their present condition aud future prospects,
and personal observation OF the relations now exsthe
between them and the railway companies may make
correction Of many OF those impressions necessary ne
work OF investigation may prodtaby be begun mere, ou
It be continued among the wheat and corneidS Oh
the central part OF this State in the stores OF CmcaRob
rivals, the merchants OF st. Louis Cincinnati ana 10
ledo, and throughout the Northwest wherever the
farmers wholly dependent upon the railroads. ana
especially those Of Illinois to take their grain to market
THE ORANGES NEUTRAL IN POLITICS.
Before nquring about the operation Of the new rail-
way law Of Illinois desire to correct one or two very
| natural msapprehensons that exist In the East in
regard 70 the movement this State. The first is in
regard to the relation Of the Grange the order known
as the Patrons of Husbandry 10 the late Judicial
elections 1t is probably not known to many Of THE
TRBUNEs readers that the farmers have two separate
and dis act organizations in Illinois. The history Of
onH fll ayna mari of ne
each takes in the present controversy, hope to
| obtain from official sources In the mean time 10
| will be sufficient to say that the Oranges had
| nothing to do with the late defeat OF Judge
Lawrence the choice Of 80 many representatives oi
the farmers to local judicial offices That campaign was
managed by another organization-the State Farmers
Assocation-wbich is open and professedly political
Many Of it's members perhaps majority, are Grangers
but while the order is rapidly spreading all over
the West aud processes everywhere the same Objects
the promotion of the intellectual and material interests
OF its members. the other Is local party Iorihed OK
presy for the purpose OF electng men to ONCE VINO
shall represent the agricultural interests OF the State
and 10 secure the passage OF such laws as as they con
sidered necessary 10 protect them from extortion.
| JUDGE CRAIG USPLEDGED A. TO HIS DECISIONS.
Again have heard u reported In the East that jugs
Craig before his election, pledged himself to the iarnf
ers 20 decide controversies between them ana the ran
road companies in favor OF the former. Sad indeed
|
| All confidence in the courts would be destroyed and
nothing but anarchy and confusion could result But
have the assurance OF both Judge Crags friends ana
his opponents that nc made such pledge, and thai
! the farmers never required him to make any
| agreement incompatible with his oath OF once
He has. since his election, assured o prominent
railroad man OF this city that, had he been on
the Bench. he should have been obliged TO decide as
Judce Lawrence did that the Railroad law OF 1871 was
unconstitutional; and prominent representative OF
the Farmers Association has told me that the personal
| fight that was made against Judge Lawrence was not
on account of that decision but because the farmers
thought that Lawrence had insulted them and tneir
cause in various WAYS had deed them TO defeat him.
and had undertaken to organize the people against
them How much Judge Lawrences defeat astonished
the people of this State and OF tue whole country ana
what an impetus it gave t9 the new movement through
out the West, is already known. S~S,
TIE TIE FF88EfGCIEAaSsss FF88EfGCIASs NOT NOT n TIE TIE MOVEMENT
Do the farmers propose to form new political party
is question often heard asked in the East t Is
question which am yet unable to answer. No one
remain long IN Chicago read the daily wspapers
and talk with the men VIII have been accustomed 10
manage the political affairs OF this State without diseoy-
ering that the most of the politicians On
seat. They are generally at great loss what TO do.
Loading Administration Republicans of the State do not
dare TO oppose the Farmers movement because Il has
already demonstrated its ability TO defeat the Repub-
party II 1t IT. they do not to JOIN it and
give hearty support because they think may result
in the formation OF new party which will be antag-
onstic TO the old Republican organization and 10 which
they may have little personal influence The Admiuis
trson organs therefore treating the movement re
specially and striving TO commit themselves either for
against 1t as little possible. They give farmers
the same advice that the carpet-baggers OF Louis
lana offer TO the refOrmers. "If you are
in earnest" they say, "snd Will stand by tho
Republican party II attento the reforms but there's
safety outside Of fold and any preense OF reform
that does not recognize the Republican party as it's cr
instrument is sham" 1--WE are for the farmers" sl.e
leading politician to me day two ago. "if they
don't undertake TO suppant the Republican party :" Ge
seemed 20 think that be owed glance the Admin-
stration party first justice to the farmers afterwarc
The leaders Of the opposition active and arc
striving to shape the movement in such way that they
control it and high in its councils
The FreeTraders especially aborng TO convince the
farmers that they much oppressed BY tariffs as
By high or unusty discriminating rates OF freight ana
tomake Free Trade Of the principal panks in the plat
form Of the new party, should one be organized Fhs
Ohica0o tribune, representing the Liberal Republican
FeeTrsde portion of the opposition and The Oh{eaoo
Times, which now holds rather anomalous position
In regard TO parties, both laborng to this end but
the farmers have yet given very little public ex.
preston upon the subject and It is impossible TO pre-
diet what course they will take regard TO the tariff
The farmers OF the State have thus far apparently
rather avoided the politicians and the names Of those
who have been most active in extending the Farmers
State Association and establishing Granges are not
those OF men who have figured largely in politics. or
were until recently widely known in the state.
THE NEW RAILROAD LAW.
VIEWS OF RAILROAD MAN-oNLY ONE ROAD NOW
PAYING SEVEN PER CENT DIyIDEND-rHK
NEW LAW A PROBABLE INJURY TO Chicago .