, 1873-12-26
THE FARMERS Movement.
Statement by Hr. Charles ". Greene es
to Ills Connection with tho Do
catur Convention.
The Expressions Of Oranges and
Farmers Clubs on Paternat,sm,

FurlHerS IluuS on falefnal!SfTls
Press Comments on tho Illinois
State Farmers Convention.
stnsomcns by nlr. Charles ". Greene.
JAcxsoNvlLLE, Ill.,, Dec. ~. iB43
~ ths El'tor Of ths Chicago 141bans:
Sin: It waB with much BurpriBo that read In
tho report OF tho third days proceedings ut tho
Decatur Convention, q roforencc to myaelf
WHICH would place mo III worry unonviablo po-
aion before tho public, Ut tho san,o tin,o that 1t
coupled my name with tho publication, Of which
nm manager. Your reporter could hardly lavo
been unprecedented when hu detailed the charges
against me, md then onlystatcd tl,atI +" c1amcd'
to represent the State Horticultural Society,
without giving me tho benefit of that explanation
which defeated conspiracy to expol mo from
tho Convention, nnl theroby nullify
tho report OF tho Committee on l1cs-
olutlouB. So far rs tho personal wrong
Is concerned, tho public may hayo no espcoal
interest; but, as this Is undoubtedly tho incoI,-
ton of groat national roform-movoment, it ia
advisable TINT every vital circumstance connect
cd with it should bo definitely understood. The
dofeated minority in tho Convention, aud tho
subject raised by 1t should DO explained.
Mr.. Emory, Of Chicago, and myself, ,pere the
delegates from the State horticultural Society,
regularly appointed at Champaign, and for our
CREDENTIALS we offered the unimpeachablo
Testimony OF President F1agg (which tho Com
mitteo on Crcdcntials, or number of them, ro-
fused to accopt), aud finally OF DR.. Humphreys
D vico President Of tito horticultural Society,
WHO was present In tho Convention. We Ind
the honor to represent body Of as substantial
citizens Us there nro in tho State, themselves
representative mon. They arc mon whose
capital yields no return for years after invest
mcnt men who arc, therefore, deeply concoru-
cd for tho stability OF our institutions and tho
Integrity Of their public servants. We realized,
Eint this great reform for which both
Of US had earnestly laborcd through tho past
two yoars, had reached a crisis in its do
volopmsut when tho ideas which had created It
1A,,st be asserted a,,d sustained, or It would be-
cane by-word in the mouths of It's enemies
Quite unexpectedly was chosen by tho twenty
delegates from, my Congressional District 10
Having acquaintance with ouly two Of tho
twenty, um still at a loss to understand their
SenHonB for so doing.
The first sitting Of TINT Committee developed
ueGlucu utFothsty OF oplh0u. Few wBtc de-
tornlincd to dcnolnco tile old pastics and orgun-
i.o diBtlnctiyely now one. No ono need eha-
lengo the honesty OF thor purpose in 10 boliey-
lug and acting. Tho larger number howeyor
we're dooldealy Of tho opinion That neither partlos
narty,leaders nor partv-macl!iuery were neccs-
EclTes arc rulels; and maintained to the enl
that nominating Conventions should como frosh
from Tho people, aud thnt no necessity existed
for specific officers to call and, ii they are 30 in
in tnt1fr, F1.S
further held TINT tho necessary organization for
cooperative puy,osos would offer. III it Aas dur
lug tho past nix mouths Of unbrokon successes,
n!l necessary facilities for organized political
action, Tho contest in tho Com,nittee-room
was o tierce one, aud the friends Of tho devoted
halI-dozen mood NOT accusu them OF dirciiotioa
of duty In their onieayors to accomplish their
purpose.
Our report was finally adopted; mud although.
y Secretary Of the Committee, 1t became my
luty to express ita vicwa i'll written Language,
n1nnot Justly be charged with any furthcr re-
'po,lEibility than my support thereof in Com
non with my ton honorable colleagues. Your
:eport does tho Chairman. Gen. Anderson, and
Justice IN its reflections upon them. Tic Sec
end resolution in tho platform was admitted af-
ler tho report had been prepared It Ind been
presented as q separate resolution by DR.. Hoo
ton III the Convention, and the applaueo with
which it was received waB used as IN argument
III its behalf IN tho Committee.room. On my
motion, it waB Inserted to sayo a minority re- |
port, and to secure fnir hearing for the minor
.ty before the Convention. 1t will bo observed
fully onlbodiod in tho preamble md ilrst rololu.
tlon 10 that it is Lnt repetition. But it WAS
that last clalse which was all-importa1k to ita
movers aud friends. Tho Committee on Organi.
tatton had reported, through its Chairman, Dr..
Convention to deternne tho political action Of
Tie Association. Furthermore, the Vice-presi-
aonts wore clothed with ample powers to pro-
hoto partisan purposes, which, it WAS explained,
wero not Intended for present use, but to romain
latont, and DO ready upon OCCASION.
Bearing this in mind, it will bo readily dscoy-
cred that II our allegiance ia absoiyed from |
the old parties, and that we toiA not act longer
wltt y, them" it ia imperative that q now party
shall he formed, IT wo net at all. IIoro is con-
etrnctive authority for tho Immediate gearing
together OF tue latent party naachiuory. Whom,
therefore, the word ''wi]l" was changed to I
:. should By more thana two.thirtls majority it
was natural TINT there should be solno bad tenn
did assert itaelf.
While the work Of The Convention Ia admitted
to hive been very we'll doue, the friords OF FREQ
government (free from party-trammela and eau
cus homlnatlons) must not relax their watchful
care, leas, the Bprng-t1m may develop parti-
san policy which will very much dapppolnt their
present sanguine and Just expectations.
-, 70 quiet any Interpretations o. to myself,
let me hare record that am no politician, havo
Foted with both parties. according to tho charac-
lor OF the candidates, aud an no applicant for
lny Office in the gift Of tho people. My life
work lies IN another direction, and In this case
have only actod as QUO Of tho people (ruIers),
only desiring to secure the election Of Competent
EerYants u place Of many now employed. Very
respectfully, CHARLES ". GREENE,
The Farmers tlMI rnterIltkliaMls
To ns Euisor af The Chicago Itibuns:
SIR; From statement contained in your ro-
port OF the late Annual Convention OF tho 1lIi-
nols State FaEmors' Association, 1t would appoar
That tue Oranges Of Patrons Of uuebaudry
and tho Farmers' Clubs arc not 30 much In
harmony as might bo dosrod IN tho interest OF
ehe great roform-lnoyemont Of which tho faru1-