The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-04-28
THE REFORM CALL.
A VOICE OF AU rHoR1TY.
THE ORIGIN Q 3 TILE CALL.

AN EXPLANATION FF ON THE oyERsEER OF
THE STATE GRAZ 4GE-HE DEFENDS THE
MOVEMENT AND slEENcEs THE PARTIsANs.
To the Editor Of Z, ne sSentine:
SIR; Let me correct the false impression
whlch may " fse from the note of a fellow
granger'puoli' shed yesterday. The question ofthe
issuing OF IN scall was discussed by the members
OF the orde rof the late meeting, and so far as 1
know, fui " concurred in. Brother Barnes hav'
ing volt ntariIy taken copies Of the call TO his
district for distribution. does himself injustice
In see ming even to oppose the perfectly under
stoo wish OF the farming and Industrial classes.
IN edsavowal of official action in the call by the
a. cents suggested by Mr.. Gilman, the political
,ditor Of the Farmer, was agreed TO by those
present at the last meeting myself among them,
because, as l understood II, the resolution was
meant simply to imply that officially, the mem
bers had no authority to make the call, While,
individually, very nearly all sympathized in
its purposes, and plainly Indicated as much
The CALL as published, was the result of free dis
cussion for months past among farmers and
others throughout the state. The time OF its
promulgation was to certain extent an acci-
dent. We had talked over the matter out of the
council proceedings, ana it was thought best by
those who participated, that we should have the
calls printed and sent out to the counties. We
had not intended to pu Dlish them in the press
but as the Sentinel chose 10 make them matter
OF news for its readers we of course, had nothing
TO say. 1t was perhaps untimely that 1T was
made public without the names OF the thou
sands who are ready to sign, but Brother
Barnes knows perfectly well that there
was no purpose to mislead or deceive on the
part OF those who framed the call. am pained
that he should give even the shadow OF color
to the monstrous misrepresentation made by the
Journal, and 1 reluctantly put myself in
print, to clear the record and relieve
the Sentinel from the unjnst aspersions
which are being heaped upon 1t for taking
our part in movement very dear to the hearts
of those who are looking for reform. L am
confident Brother Barnes did not so intend
his letter, but as he must have known that such
a movement would take place his note may be
construed as an effort to uphold the foolish
charges of your neighbor in its daily attacks
upon the farmers and their interests. can as
sure you from personal conference that the farm
ers of the state, irrespective of grange ties will
rally to the call on the 10th. L am in receipt OF
! letters from many sections of the state showing
the interest all take in it and the surety that
that they will uphold the result. Further alloy
me to say what is but just and proper that these
newspapers and politicians who charge Judge
Gooding with participation in the call for the
reform convention on June 10th, wholly misrep-
sent the facts. personally know that he mad
no participation in or knowledge of the
I call for the convention until after it
was made, nor has he committed him.
self to its support since. L also wish to cor
rect a false report put in circulation by some OF
the newspapers, that the charter of Hancock
Grange has been revoked. There is not the least
/ foundation for this statement. 1 do not think
that there is a better or more fiourishing Grange
| in the state than ours.
| Yours truly JAMES CoMSToCK,
i Overseer State Grange.
GREENFIELD, Hancock County, April I7th.