The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-04-03
The Fight Against the Rail-
roads.
The Great FarmeTB' Convention at
Springfield, His.
A Struggle Against Railroad Mon
OpOlIeB.

A Struggle Against Railroad Mon
OPOlIeB.
SPRINGFIELD, Ills, April 2.-Incom
ing TRIMS Of last night and this morninI
brought considerable accessions to th
Farmers' Convention which meets her
to-day, and nearly all thc counties II
Northern and Central Illinois are repre-
sented. The attendance from the south
ern part oI the State is not 30 full bu
there are a number OF representative
farmers from that section. The programme
of business to-day provides for meeting
at 10 A. NJ, for temporary organization
the appointment Of the usual committee
and tho delivery Of short addresses BY
some Of the delegates.
The Convention met In the court houst
al 1OA. NJ, and was called to order by W
u. Flagg, President Of the State Farmers
Association, who briefly stated tho objec
oil the Convention and nominated Hon
VIM. NJ. Smith ol6Hegeap, Ex.Speakel
OF the Illinois House Of atiyes
for temporary President, -!
In taking the chair he simply thanke {
the Convention for the honor done him
and stated that he was In full sympathy
with the meeting, whose object he under
stood was to give TO the Representatives
of the people, now assembled In the Leg
islature here, such an expression OF the
views oil tho farmers OF the State as they
cannot iail to understand. ..
Charles Barney, Of Burean county, Iwas
elected temporary Secretary, and d. W,
Rinker, OF Shelby, Assistant Secretary.
The Secretary then read the call for the
Convention Gs first published.
The following Committee on Credenti-
ais was then appointed :.JOhn ". Morgan
Henry county; G. W. McElhaney, Cham
paign county; McD, Richards, Henry
county; W. w. Potter, Lee county; D.
Mckee, Carroll coanty; II. W. Rlnker,
Shelby county; David Gore, Macoupin
county.
The following Committee on Resolu-
tions was appointed: A. }. Grover, La
selle county; William. NJ. Kennedy, Lee
county; T. Butterworth, Adams county
W. @. Flagg, Madison county; L. D: Ross
Fulton county; II. G. Lawrence, Warren
county; ]. Il. Rowell, Milan county.
A COMMITTEES on sEJaABept orgaatza-
tion was also appei a. i6ll leFsS 8. IA,
smith, Henry douhtYE James Greed, Ma
rion county; A. Campbell Laaalle coun'
ty; A. Sykes, Henry county r. ]. Ryder
Madison county. ]. J. Sill, Milan. A dele
gate from Peoria county, offered resolu'
lion urging the passage Of the bill now
before the Legislature tor the construction
of lock and dam in the Illinois river at
Copperas creek, but after some discussion
the temporary President decided the res
olution out OF order. The only signitl.
cance Of the discussion on the resolution
is tho indisposition cVinCed by large por'
tion Of the delegates to cOnfine their de-
liberation and action exclusively TO rail-
road matters.
Pending the reports of various Com
mittecs II was suggested that the time be
occupied in making speeches, A. W.
Cole, prominent member OF Carroll
county, and a member Of the Executive
Committee of the State Organization Of
Farmers, being called upon, addressed
the Convention, detailing some OF the
grievances Of farmers, and alleged impo-
sitions pr6cticed upon them, not only by
railroads, but by other corporations and
monorolies, and urging tho ability Of
farmers to relieve themselves by con-
certed and united action, Re.
Ierring TO a statement which had
been made, that the iarmers: movement
had an underlying political object he
declared that If that was 80, there was an
excellent precedent for the laying aside Of
minor political issues, when q great prln-
ciple affecting tho welfare oil the entire
neople was at stake. He believed that
the people who were suffering from OPP
preston and monOpolies would not per-
nit the cry OF politics to swerve them
from their purpose. The members OF the
Legislature should take the responsibility
of passing the legislation necessary in be.
half Of the farmers upon their own
shoulders, and not throw It upon the farm.
ers or upon this Convention.
L, NJ. Haines, of Lake county, next Rd-
dressed the meeting. He assumed that
this movement had greater object than
the reduction or equalization OF freight
rates, That indeed the question Of dis.
elimination in freights was the least
OF these involved, 1t was a struggle be-
tween the people and the m0nOpolies Of the
country, not only the railroad monOpolies
but all others, and one in which the actu-
al liberties and rights of the people were
involved TO as great an extent as In any
other through which tho country had
passed. That tho struggle would be,
though not In a partiaan sense, q political
one was inevitable. The people should
elect men TO represent their interest and
not those Of the corporations. At 10 O'clock
srecess was taken until p. NJ, when the
Convention reassembles It will be in the
State House, the Court room having been
found to small.
An attempt was made to separate the
regularly accredited delegates from the
spectators, but finally It was tacitly
agreed that all persons should be allowed
to remain upon the floor, leaving It TO the
sense Of honor oil n.delegates TO refrain
from voting upon any question which
might come before the Convention.
The report oil the Committee on Res
olutiops was called for, but not being
IOEkQCULuluR1 y lGoVluSlOh Npi0AAH16 -
committee was appointed to wait on COY
ernor Beveridge and request him to I'D.
dress tho Convention.
The Governor appeared, and after apol-
ogizing for his inability to address the
Convention as he could wish, on account
of a severe headache, proceeded to speak
briefly upon tho subjects which had
drawn tue Convention together. He re.
ferred to the various interests in existence
In the State, and which combined made
its prosperity. All Of these interests de-
mandcd, and should have nourishing
care, and no ono should be crippled or
oppressed for the benefit of the other He
recognized the importance to the State Of
forming an interest, the greatest indeed,
OF all, but the railroad interest should
not be crippled. The interests Of the
farmers and. railroads were really closely
identified, and one could not flourish
without the other. He however, recc.,
,i,,I tho inCR that rpi1rOa1a had ' 70