, 1873-06-11

for transportation, have for some time been
causing dissatisfaction among the farmers
Of the Mississippi valley. The foundation
of their complaint is that when they send
their corn to market the freight charges eat
up all the profit. They also have constant
disputes about passenger fairs, and espe-
cially in Illinois and Iowa these contfover-
sizes have for months past been carried on
in the Legislature, aud in the Courts, and
they are now forming the groundwork of
a new political party there. This new
party is an organization Of the agricultural
interests and their trading connexions, the
lodges being called "Granges Their
object Is to influence the elections and con-
troll Legislatures so ms the more successful
Iy to fight the Railroads and bring down
charges, and in Iowa they even go so far
as to propose putting ia the field a candi-
date for Governor next autumn. The poll
ticians look upon the movement with
anxiety as threatening an upturning of the
usual political organizations, aud the Rail-
way managers view the situation with
some trepidation. The shares and bonds
of these Western Railways are nearly all
owned in the Atlantic States 0riu Nufope,
so that there is very little home feeling for
their defence IL casts three bushels Of
Western Corn to lay down one at the sea-
board, and hence the stories hat are { III
of corn being burnt in the Wet for fuel
can readi be be ieved This .o,Iiug was
to d certain extent the motive prompting
Pres deut Grant to recommend Congress to
provide a cheap freight Railway from the
West to the s,aboard, hut Congress did
nothing further than to authorize a Com
m!ttee to inquire irCO the matter during
the recess, and this failure to act has in
creased the dissatisfaction. The farmers are
determined to make the Railways reduce
their prices and tins is the object of heir
movement. The Railways, il any divi-
dends are to be paid, probably cannot re-
duce their charges, unless their traffic is
greatly increased. The truth is that The
West has been entirely overbuiIt with rail-
ways, and high charges are compelled by
want OF trade. These high charges ma
turuIIy anger the railway customers, and
hence the conflict, Last week a " Farmers
Safe Convention" met at Springfield,
Illinois, to consider the subjec', AT watch,
among a large representation, General
Palmer, the asst Goteru0r of Illinois, aud
General Beyegidge, the present Governor,
attended. The Convention adopted reso-
buttons concerning the Railroads ald de-
handing thai they be pl.ld uuder Gov
eminent control, and be compelled to
reduce Their charges. Governor Beveridgc,
in the course Of an address TO the Conyen-
ton, said ue recognized the fact that the
Railroads were eXacting e@lortio. ate prices
from farmers, and IN king unjust discrimi-
nations in treights, but he cautioned the
people to avoid masking war upon the
Railroads, but to bring them under the
proper contro, OF the people through their
representatives. He wished the State
Legislature to pass a law which would
bring the question directly before the
Courts, and have the matter decided at
once, to see whether the Legislature had
the power to regulate the rates OF freiohts
and passenger charges Oh railroads, and to
prevent unjust discrimination, The Con-
V%ention, stepping aside from its purpose,
however, adopted resolutions in reference
to members of Congress accepting extra
pay, the tariff, and other matters, and this
caused great disputing, and finally on the
second day, more than half those in attend
ance having disappeared, the proceedings
closed amid much confusion. The resolu-
tions, consequently, lose much OF the force