The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-07-16
he Sailg Arsns,
Wednesday, July le, 1873.
Farmers Movement as New Party

Farmers Movement as New Party
CANroN Ill July ~, lSo''
Editor OF The Chicago Tribune ell,
Il Il am led to infer by editorials III
Tribune that you are disposed TO favor
a movement which has been lnaugurateG
he farmers, looking to the formation Oh
+ itical party which shall give greater
milton and protection TO their peculiar
i ests than has been heretofore done by
noliticaI parties which have ruled the !
Try -, =
& I'M a Young man, Just years old. |
81 vet 10 cast my first vote am a
teacher, and am preparing to make
|N w my profession | cannot very well
politics. All good citizens should
some interest in the administration oi
c affairs, and | recognize the import
of association and organization IN the
{ herance of particular views or princi-
understand that the TTib,Pe is oppos
both the Republican and Democratic
les, and, as far as 1t favors any party,
Sposed TO favor this new Farmers par
Now. as | am not a farmer, and do
expect To follow agricultural pursuits,
ht I to ally myself with this new move
\ nt2 BY doing so, do | not admit that
ners have wrongs which can be re
i ssed in no other manner And, again,
armers are supposed to be in MAORI
"a this country, il they should become
rranzed into political party as to get
troll of the Government, would they not
disposed to favor themselves as a class,
IN II It should be 20 the detriment oi
Il or classes? And if this state Of thing,
build be brought about would we not be
ing encouragement to mechanics IN To-
tiles where they might be in majority
run tickets OF their own? In short n
Farmers Movement becomes success
might we not expect other interests I,
ynbine and run tickets of their own
|nd. If this thing should swallow up eX
ing parties, might we not look fer wal
classes instead Of a war of races!
would like 10 have yUd discuss these
nts in the Tribune, as ! regard them a
nv important considerations for the peo
+. lple Just ct this time, as it seems tina
ey are the principal arguments pu
th by the opponents OF the Farmers
ovement
8 Now. sir.you no doubt think, from read
4 L the foregoing, that | am in opposition
s the Movement. Ii 90, you are mistaken
a | assure you that, il the Farmer,
ovement has embodied in it the prlncl
es [ think il has, am with it, and for
4 nj shall do all in my power TO promote 1t
81 ccess. | am, very truly, yours,
T.. W. GALLAGHER
ANSWER BY THE TRIBUNE
The qist Of the foregoing letter seems
embodied in the inquiry. Ought
" myself with this new movement Il
DING sn, do | not admit that farmers ha'
rangs which can be rcdrcsscd in no othI
hammer ?" Not exactly. You merely a.
nit that farmers have wrongs which al
4 bt likely 10 be- rcdressed in any oth'
manner Whether any person ought
= ly himself with this new movement 1t
cnds upon whether he thinks the NOV
rent ON the whole better one than IA
Surty nov existing. A. "a general trut
We should say that some kind of
4 movement Is better than stagnatio
8rhc Democratic party has been stapna
hese fourteen years The Republican pa
a has been stagnant about four years. III
4 unditiou Of stagnlucy set in rs soon
. he work for which the party W
4 formed had been accomplished. Subsidit
A un- Credit Mobiliers salary grabs, cl
4 tom house frauds, ten. Butler, Leet
4 Stocking san Domingo, Chorpenni
claims. carpet hagism, then came IN as .
ually as animalcules in stagnant wat,
Vr.aeqt of some kind Is the thiugwantG
was needed last year II is needed 81
more this year, and will be- needed mo
and more every year ill il comes. II
farmers can give Il to u-, they will be e
/ tiled tD the thanks of everybody save Z
Aice.huIders
The phrase Farmers Movement
yerhnp. misleading In Iowa. the W.
Anti Monopoly has been adopted
designate the same movement that Is hp
called Farmers Movement We are d
aware that the farmers contemplate uaki
war upon the interests of mechanics,
miners. or sailors, or fishermen. or clcr
men or any other vocation. Nor do
,ce how they could accomplish harm
other yocatious even II a party, of Win
they should constitute large numerc
majority, should get POSSESSION of eve
flee In the country. from President dow
AZ the beginning OF such movements the
gill always be more or less confusion l.
/ aordinary demands will be set up. fll
eaded persons will have their say. M
iay, for a time, take the lead Bun va ii
j my run common sense will prevail y
ave expressed our qualification AT +.
ourth Of July address of MIR $.
smith, Secretary OF the Illinois Sta
'armers Association, "a gentleman wi
whom we have not been able at all tin
% agree. NJ. smith is the leader p
.r"isHeS of the Farmers Movement
MS state. by virtue Of his industry
pu.insm. and singleness Of purpose,
has stated the objects and purposes OF
Farmers Movement TO be mainly tho-
Al 10 educate the farmer, ~ 10 d.
heir own battles instead OF leaving th,
fl "a horde Of old party mercenarir~
t, compel railroads a. work for "a lar D.
M ON the capital actually Invested iu the
Probably mo- better definition OF the aI
1r the Farmers Movement could boz m'
rt tine present time Mr. Gallagher Is
dpuhtcdIy competent now 10 answer
own questions for himself II be thil
that movement is better than stululu
and that the three aims presented 10y
5. VI. smith are lardablc, he will, perha
see that he can Join what Is called
Farmers Movement witnout himself
coming ID farmer without mtapouline
other honest vocation. and without dan
az Lriugiup ON "a war 0i classes