Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-01-01
Illinois Farmers In Council.


The Illinois State Farmers Assoei.
alton convened at Decatur on the
18th ult. The attendance was
large, and the interest continued IN,
abated until the close of the session.
Tie following resolutions were adopt
ed:
WHEREAS, Through the departure from the
primary principles of our government as pro.
mulgated by its founders, and through the inn
prudent exercise of that highest prerogatiye
of the freeman, the right of suffrage, we the
farmers OF Illinois, in common with the wealth
and food producers of these United States,
have, by our past action, acquiesced in a sys-
tenn of class legislation which makes the great
majority sayishly subseryient to a small min
GRITTY.
WHEREAS. This condition is clearly trace
able to the fostering protection which has been
accorded by our Legislatures, both State and
National, TO the financial mercantile, manu-
featuring and transporting interests, enabling
them to accumulate an undue proportion OF
the national wealth, aud encouraging them in
the exercise OF the corrupting lobby influences
which have become inseparable from our legis.
alive system; therefore, be it.
RESOLVED, That tie preservation Of OF, nation
al life imperafively demands hat epery Ameri-
can roter shall attend aciM care to all primary
nominations aud elections, so as 10 insure the cleo
tons Of competent andhonest men to al Offices u,
tie gift Of The people.
ReSolyed, That the recent record of the old
political parties OF this country is such as to
80 fln, ~ H.
and that we are therefore absolved from all
allegiance from them, and viii act no longer
with them.
Resolged, That we demand the uncondition
| al surrender of the salary-grab law, the repeal
to be retroactive in its effect and this without
restoration Of the ranking privilege
~ HeSohed, Ihat we do not recognize any ne
ocesIty for public officers receiving extravaganza
salaries, TO the end that they may conform tC
the demands of expensive and fashionable
tastes which, in their very nature, are antago-
nlstic to republican principles, and we demand
a reduction of official salaries
ReSotaed, That we demand the immediate
reform OF the abuses in the civil service
through which the patronage of the govern
ment IS dispensed as a reward of partisan SER
wee rather than with regard to the public ne
cesitcs,
ANtoVtecNfj Audt We are III IuNOf OF improving
and pertecting the navigation of our lakes and
rivers and water connections as soon as it car
properly be done
Resotsed, That we are opposed to protec-
tive tariff.
Resotged, That we deprecate any further
grants of public lands or loans Of the public
credit, or of national State, or local subscrip.
tions in aid of corporations.
ReSol0ed, That we favor the appeal Of oul
national banking law and believe that the
government should supply legal tender cur
rency directly from the Treasury interchange
able for government bonds bearing the lowest
possible rate of interest.
ReSol0ed, That we hold that our patent
laws are too often made to subserye the in
terests of monopolists, and should be carefully
revised and restricted
ReSotced, That we are opposed to a con-
struction of the State Constitution which will
justify, under any pretext whatever, annual
instead OF biennial sessions Of our State Legis
lature
Resolye9 That the existing railway legisa
ton Of this State should be sustained and en-
forced until thoroughly tested before the
courts that we oppose any legislation by Con
gress under the plea Of regulating commerce
between the States which shall deprive the
people of their present controlling influence
through State legislation.
ReSolved, That the right of the Legislature
to regulate and control the railways of the
State must be indicated, established, and
maintained as an essential attribute of State
government, and that those holding the doctrin
that railway charters are contracts in the
sense that they are not subject to legislative
supervision and control, have no just appreci-
alton of the necessary powers and rights of a
free government; and we will agree to no
trace, and submit to no compromise, short of
the complete vindication and re-cstablishment
Of the supremacy Of the State Government in
its right, through its Legislature, to supervise
and control the railways of the State in such
manner as the public interest shall demand.
Resolged, That we uncompromisngly con
denim the practice Of our public officials in re-
ceiving freeipasses from railway managers.
Resoiged, That we demand a reduction of
al public expenditures, to the emu that taxa
ton may be reduced to the lowest possible
limit,
Rsso1red, That we condemn the action of
our regular session, thereby practically defeat.
ing the provision of the constitution providing
biennial sessions
Res0Ued, That since large number of pillow
manufacturers of the West have thrown down
the gauntlet we take it up, and recommend
the farmers of this State to patronize none of
the said manufacturers until they will sell to US
direct at whole ale rates.