The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-02-15

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remainder to go towards extinguishing the pub
lie debt. The reading of this document created
some applause and not little merriment.
The author of the petition descanted at some
length upon its merits. He said 1.-THE wealth
makers are robbed by the non-producers, and
the plan here proposed is the only true remedy
1t takes away the power to steal, Ogden, with
an Income OF four hundred thousand dollars, and
Assor, with thIoe millions annually, by the out.
raseous Partially of our laws to the rich. scarce
~ pay more taxes than the common farmer. Let
Us unite AMI forIa aew party TO stand between.
the present political parties, and make every
candidate pledge himself to stand upon our
| PLATFORM
Senator Landrigau, OF Edward county, ac,;.
Gentaily present, was called upon He said, in
substance: an Il farmer in name and practice.
tnt not speaker. In your efforts to free YOUR.
selves from the pernicoas influences, as well az
the bhghting crushing power of rings and cor.
ruptionl''s, Jon have my hearty sympathy and
cooperation to tbs best of my ability You all
feel that we are terribly oppressed, our crop. the
product Of our hard earnings, sacrificed, and all
to the great gain of railroad ,nonopol.es. Our
great error in dealing With these mighty corpo.
rations, that in truth have no souls. WAS in nor
guarding our rights by inserting in every char.
Ter granted them our right to regulate their
schedules of freights and fares for pgsseursr,
1t Is naturally their interest TO make money and
yours to save money, and they have the advnn-
tage Of great wealth ind its consequent power,
while We have become almos. iurovo~i.h.a IN
paying enormous tributes 10 them. We mus. do.
mand in an unmistakatle manner what we,wapt.
and mako them understand tina. we arc in earn.
est. Our remedy now is q. the ballot box. We
must throw away party and 20 for men know.
to be good and true-mcn whom threats will
not swerve, nor brides seduce from our cause,
You have pleHty OF such men in every township
in your county and all over the state. You
must not send 10 represent you in the State
Legislature, nor il Congress, railroad attorneys,
bank directors, nor n.onopolis,s. The reason Of
the defeat OF the bi u regulating tariff. &c, on
railroads two years ago was because there were
too many railroad attorneys in The Legislature.
1t is truo we have law on the subject. bu. il
was amended BY these men SO 80 10 defes. the
ends for which it was originally devised Ia
our Senate to-day % out of 80 Senator. are rail-
road men, and a large number OF them railroad
attorneys. He gave the history OF certain rail.
road legislation, showing the r4pacitv Of such
corporations. One was an act giving q railroad
company power 70 condemn private property
without just compensation or any approach 70 it,
Every professional member but one voted :a-
that outrageous bill. Re showed The unjust
discrimination Of the new revenue laws in f.vor
OF the rich, exemp,!ng :her property from taxa
C0n while taxing enormous amounts from the
poor. The ide. seems to be 20 get all the rev.
eRuo out Of the farmer that is possible We
farmers want these laws 30 amended as 10 work
equally upon all imposing no undue share of
taxation upon any one. Meetings such az these
DO good, bu. alone will ba ineffective You will
cry in vain 70: help from the present lawmakers.
You must 20 to the polls and right your own
wrongs. Applause.
On being recalled TO explain wherein the pres.
ent law regulating railroad freights &c, is
worthless, no said: 1T is because il does no.
specify the amounts to be charged 1t i. vague
and indefinite, The original bill was specific in
mentioning the exact amounts that nigh. be
charged. This clause the cunninl, railroad
agents in the Legislature struck out" He also
eseo!isted pretty severely Beveridge'. spp0iutees
or RAILROAD and warehouse COMM -sioners. They
arc all IN the iuteves, OF our enemies. and the
Governor fatty refused to put farmer in the
board. be was especially severe upon Robin.
son, whom ne knew to be "a unfit man.
The comr. Zee on resolutions, &C., reported in
t,vor of tao convention organizing Iato a society
to be known as the LA Sale County Farmers
Association" to consist OF Oranges and Farmers
Clubs, Agricultural Societies or any other organ.
izt'ion having the same object IN view.
The officers of .his association shall consist Of
president two vice.p presidents, one secretary
and one treasurer, who shall constitute an exc
cu,ive committee for the transaction o. business
The officers shall! be elected annually on tho
frs, Saturday III February a, the Court House
in Ottawa.
The members of the society shall consist of
delegates from the above named organization in
the ratio of one delegate for each % members.
Providing that have unorganized towns shall
two delegates each.
The committee further recommended that the
society appoint committee Of one from each
town for the purpose of facilitating township
organization aud reporting the nature and mum.
Der of societies Already furnished throughout the