Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-07-23
Something Tangible Accomplished.


Tho real character and force Of the
Farmers movement in the west is in
teligently and clearly discussed BY
Mr.. S. NJ. Smith, the Secretary OF the
State Farmers Association in Illinois,
in reply to recent criticisms of num-
ber of journals, condeming tho ten
denotes of the farmers organization,
and charging that It's power has boen
misused or diverted to improper pur.
poses-such, for instance, as the de-
feat of Judge Lawrence, at the recent
judicial election. Mr.. Smith is to some
extent an. authorized representative
and spokesman for this new power in
the politics Of the country, and his
views merit careful examination.
Aside from the history of the growth
of the farmers clubs, the circum.
stances which called them into being
tho forces that have held them to-
gether, and tho progress they have
made up to this time, be makes three
points in,connection With the Farmers
movement:
First. The educational character
and effect of the clubs and oranges, in
awakening among the farmers real
izing sense of their own responsibility
for their own grievances. As Mr..
Smith expresses it the farmers adhere
moro than any other class to the doc.
trine that "wbatever is, is right" 1t
is difficult to arouse such class under
any circumstances, but moro difficult
than usual in the case of tho farmers,
because they live isolated lives, have
few near neighbors, each engrossed
with his own affairs, and rarely meet
ting his fellows in the way of general
discussion. The farmers clubs and
oranges have brought these people
together, their educational value has
thus been important, and they are
now prepared to enter on the work
of devising remedy for their griev-
ances.
Second. The complete freedom Of
the farmers from all past political as
sociations, leaving them at perfect
liberty, unrestrained by old political
associations or allegiance, to throw
their strength hereafter as to them
may seem best. This, Mr.. Smith
claims, is the greatest achievement of
the farmers associations. They have
most emphatically decided TO go into
politics on their own account; to break
off from all former political powcr,a
hold themselves responsible for the
corruption and abuses Of the future,
and the punishment thereof.
Third. Mr.. Smith disavows the idea
that it is the purpose Of the farmers
movement to make railroads carry
freight at loss. Hc notices that this
impression has got as far as the Lon
don Times. 1t is certain that q very
general impression has obtained among
railroad men and capitalists that the
farmers had determined to make the
railroads find profitable market for
their grain; in other words that rail-
roads must carry grain 10 market at
such terms as to make it profitable to
the producer, no matter what its price
in the market may be, or whether tho
railroads can so carry it or not. But
the farmers say that they do not ask
this, and that they only desire that
the railroads shall be constrained to
do their part of tho work of human
society at fair and reasonable profit
on the capital actually INFESTED; and
not exact charges framed to guaran-
tee dividends on fictitious capital stock,
in the interest Of stock jobbers on
Walnut street
1t is not probable the farmers move
ment will ever achieve any decided
show of strength in Pennsylvania, ex-
cept in one particular, and this en-
bodies a grievance under which all
classes suffer. The example of the
Western farmers organizing in the in.
terest of purity in politics and honesty
in administration will extend to this
State and the effect we believe will be
most beneficial. The farmers as q
class hold much stricter views of Of.
fetal accountability than the residents
of towns and cities, but their isolation
prevents this sentiment from having
its just weight. Organization win
cure this defeat in Pennsylvania and
elsewhere.-Akoona Tribune.