The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-05-09
THE FARMERS.
Tine Convention nj Bloomington Indepen-
dent Political Action BeIng Decided
Cooperation with Ihe In
dustrtaI Glasses Advocated.

At meeting Of the Farmers Of Illinois,
held at Bloomington, on Tuesday, May 3,
it was decided to cut aloof from existing
political parties to hold a convention at
Springfield, on Wednesday, June 10, to
nominate candidates for State Treasurer
and superintendent of Public instruction /:
also to invite the attendance Of the repre-
sentatives Of all industrial organizations
The following is the report Of the commit
tee appointed to draft the call
The farmers, mechanics, and other labor
ing men, as well as other citizens of Hi
nOIs, who believe, as declared by the State
Farmers association, st Decatur, on the
18th day of December, 1873, that, through
the departure from the primary principles
Of our Government, as promulgated by its
founders, and through the imprudent exer-
else Uf that highest prerogativs of the free
man, the right of suffrage, we, the farmers
Of Illinois, as well as other industrial class
es, have, by their past action, acquiesced
in a system Of class legislation whicn makes
the great majority slavlshly subservient to
small minority that this condition IL
clearly trsceable to the fostering protection
which has been accorded by our legislative
bodies, both State and national, TO the
financial, mechanical, manufacturing and
transporting interests, enabling them to
accumulate an undue proportion Of the ma
tlonal wealth, and encouraging them In the
exercise of the corruptIng influences which
have become associated with our legislative
system that the preservation of our ma
tIonal life lmportunately demands that ali
American voters shall attend with care All
preliminary nominations and elections. SO
as to insure the election of competenI and
honest men to all offices i'm the gift of the
people that the recent record of the old
political parties Of this country are such a.
to forfeit the confidence and respect of the
people and that we are, therefore. freed
from all allegiance to them, and should act
no longer with them and counties are
hereby invited to send delegates in the
proportion OF one delegate To every 5000
inhabitants and fraction exceeding half that
number, under the census Of 1870. 70 q
convention to be held at the State House
in Springfield, on Wednesday, the 10th
day of June, for the purpose Of nominating
candidates for State Treasurer and Super
/ hASchAChh " 4 the
transaction Of such other business as may
be brought before the convention
In each county where a county farmers
association exists, the president Of such
association is requested to Immediately call
a county convention Of delegates from the
various townships or precincts, on such
other basis as, after consultation, he NAV
! find most expedient Of the farmers. me
chanics, laborIng men and other citizens Of
said county, IN sympathy with the opinions
expressed In this call and such convention
is requested to appoint delegates to the
State convention, TO take such other action
as may he necessary to perfect the orpani-
zation, and nominate and elect their candi-
dates.
In each county where a county farmers
association does not exist, the vice-presl.
dent for that district of the State Farmers
association IL reques ted, in conjunction
and consultation with the officers Of the
industrial organization Of that county, u
call conventions in like manner, for such
purpose, As aforesaid.
Counties will be entitled to representa-
tlon In the State convention as above stated
on the census Of 1870.
At the last meeting Of Tonica Nll.
grange, No. 2l3, held ON the 18th inst, tn,
following resolutions were unanimously
! adopted