The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-09-10
Ihe SaiIg Arsns.
Wednesday, September 10, 1879.
Western Oranges Appealing to Eastern Work
ingmen.
Prom the New York Tribune, sept.4.

From the New York Tribune, Sept T.
A communication has been received by
the President Of the New York Working
mems Central Council from s. NJ. Smith,
Secretary Of the Illinois State Farmers
Association, in regard to the proposed &C
ton Of the oranges of the West in the fall
campaign Dir. Smith says
1T seems TO me that the workingmen Of
the East have n common interest with the
farmers of the West in the objects aimed
at by our movement Our first aim has
been 10 secure cheaper rates of transpor
tation. As IL now stands you are paying
too high a price for your products, and we
are paving TOO high price for your man
ufactures simply because the railroads,
having the power aud wholly unrestraiued
by law, may take such toll for carrying our
products 10 the buyer as they choose.
This of course does not matter so much to
the manufacturer, as, unlike us, he may
set his own price upon his product, and af
ter he has fixed his profit it is of little con
sequence 20 him what the railroad charges
are, as they must be paid by the buyers,
and the only injury he sustains is in the
fact that his sales are greatly decreased by
the increased price which the consiguer
must pay for his goods from extortionate
charges Of transportation The farmer,
however, who has no voice in fixing the
price Of his products Is entirely at the
mercy Of the roads, which may take one
half, two-thirds, or three-fourths of his
grain, as they are doing, and thus rob him
Of all profit upon his labor. You might
save in It's purchase, If the price was what
il would be with reasonable rates of trans
portation.
The reading of this will show some.
thing Of the form Of our organization
The State Association iscomposed Of club,
and oranges. The clubs are open and the
grange a secret order To the grange pol
itical discussions are forbidden by the con
sttution, but men come into this Associa
ton free TO discuss politics, religion, OF
anything else, and are cooperating TO MAKE
good efforts in many ways.
The necessity of independent poltica
action seems forced upon Us from the fac
that all our efforts 20 bring the railroads :,
make equitable terms with us, or 30 secur,
the reform of other abuses that bear M
less heavily upon us, seem perfectly futile
without the aid of legislation. And to ge
laws passed that will favor labor at all
we must have lawmakers who are mani
testify in sympathy with the people, instea,
Of being what most Of them are now, tn
paid servants Of capital Most of tn
counties Of the State have nominated, q
intend TO do so, independent farmers ticb
cts, ignoring politics entirely, and maxim
integrity fitness, and sympathy for tn
cause OF the people the only qualification
for Offices. Should we succeed in carryin
these elections this fall a. there is lit
doubt we shall in most Of the counties, "
shall be able 10 make some changes
both State and National offices next yea
that will give us and the laboring classt
of the whole country some Of the return
without which, n you truly say, we sha
soon be crushed, aud without hope of r,
covery. Though we ask in these r,
forms nothing but simple justice. il wi
never be conceded until the demand
backed by the united voice and votes ,
all our tOiling millions and there SCENE
no other way for Us than to use the DOW,
which our numerical strength gives Us, an
become the rulers instead Of the victim
OF those who are trying 10 crush out Il
material wealth of the country, by foste
ing and building up few monoyed monol
ollsts at the expense of the labOring mi
lions. In these efforts, Il seems 10 me, "
may consistently act and receive the SUI
port aud corporation OF all industrial elias
es, since all are alike interested in the r,
forms we seek