The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-02-07
FARMERS CONVENTION
AT MORRIS.
A Congressional District AS
ISOLATION Organized.
Old Party Ties Discarded War
Declared on Steals and
Monopolies.

The Farmers Convention at Morris on
p Thursday Of last week, in spite OF the unta
vorablc weather and bad roads, was well at
tended, over 500 substantial farmers of this
congressional district crowding the county
court house. Mr.. Snoad, Vice President OF
the State Association for the 1th COMPRESSION
al district, and by whom this convention was
:, called, took the chair and called the meeting
to order The proceedings were opened with
prayer by the Rev Mr., Montgomery. Mr.
Snoad then delivered a carefully prepared
and very able address.
| He commenced by pointing out the impor
lance Of organization Hitherto the social
and moral ties that have made men and ma
tions strong have been confined to narrow
limits, having no interest in protecting any
rights but their own. The time had come
when other classes must mingle together and
consider whether their rights are respected
by the tribunals of the nation equally with
others. In this spirit, the farmers of the
west have commenced system of Organiza.
| ton with the purpose of introducing a re.
| form which he believed would in some re.
6pccts work important changes in CONNER.
cial as we'll as political relations The farm
cr must learn to think and act independently
When he finds that the coat he wears has a
tax levied upon it, he should know for whose
money is said to cost the people from 10 to 90
per cent. The farmers should know if this
Is 50 or not, and if so, if there is no remedy
The country was full of monopolcs For in.
stance, here were the pillow makers, refusing
to sell to farmers except through their agents
How shall we meet such combinations? II
could only be done by thorough organization
and cooperation. The State Association had
adopted system of doing business through
purchasing agents. The monopolists said
the movement was not practical, but it should
be thoroughly tired, 1t could be made a sue.
cess if farmers stood by each other The sys-
tenn was objected to because it was a cash
system. Said Mr. Snoad:
Did any business man trust you but that
you had to pay the bill? Would he have
u uSlNN yDu lldll ut DtlltFtu llltl you tOulu
never have paid him? No. If your life de.
pended upon the credit system how long dc
,you think you could sustain yourseliy II
would depend n little upon circumstances
perhaps thirty, sixty or ninety days. We may
assume that you pay your debts? Yes How
much, then, has the credit system cost you
Iduring the past five years? Well don't know
never figured up, but have generally pur.
chased on credit. Did you find that these
notes you gave for machinery became due ?
Yes, always Do you ever haYe to sell your
corn AT sacrifice to pay these notes? Yes .
sometimes at haltprice, received by my
nclghbors, and so continue on from one year
TO the other, continually ground down, my
family often suffering for the comforts of life.
| Well, friend, we are now talking about new
movement commonly called the Farmers
Movement. a new eta IL about to be opened,
whereby you may purchase machinery and
nearly all the necesSarIcs of life at from 90 to
GO per cent. less than heretofore Your plows
can be purchased for from $40 to $l5 cash,
heretofore S1S to $25 Combined reapers and
mowers, $llO TO $3.50, formerly $3.50 to 5000.
Twohorse cultivators, $l9 to $22 before $32
to $35. Sewing machines $27 to $35; for
merly $50 to 500 and other articles in pro.
portion. But" says one friend, chow is
this to be dOne?' We answer by adopting
the cash basis and by thorough organization
and cooperation. You will observe that by
little extra effort on your part you will find
that two bushels Of your corn will purchase
as much rs three under the old system. Itis
again said your business system Is defective, |
and manufacturers will not deal with YOU.
Our plan will undoubtedly fail in one partic
ular, that it will afford agents much less per |
cent. oi profit, and, if not considered scien
uiic, may receive credit for being at least
practicable, and time may prove that its work
lngs Will aStOniSh the most SkeptiCal That !
manufacturers will not deal with us is very |
great mistake. While it il true that many |
have iarmed out TO agents certain territory, |
and given them the exclusive right 10 sell !
their goods, 1t is also true that there are first
class establishments that have not done this, |
an0 VIII sell To farmers agents at satisfactory
hgures. Yet, i'll order that We may reap the |
full benefits to be derived through our pur
chasing agency system, it is necessary that
we should conduct this department upon true
business principles; that is. there must be a
responsibility at the foundation which will
rest upon every man Interested in this reform
movement We should all feel that we have
undertaken great work, and that patience
and perseverance are requisite qualities in
those who are laDoring for its success nitn.
cultics will have to he surmoupted. emhar.
easements Will frequently meet YOU but cncr
gy and careful management will bring sue.
cess.
Having thus given IN outline o: the work
before them, Mr.. snoad concluded by urging
the farmers 10 take hold of it in earnest.
ORGANIZATION.
The Committee on organization reported
the following, which was adopted:
WHEREAS, The Executive and Legislative
Departments OF our Government have shown
fragrant disregard for the peoples interest in
Credit Mobilicr and salary steals, squander.
ing the public lands violation of contracts,
burdensome taxation, with the avowed pur-
pose of iavoring special interests to the detri-
ment and injury of the mass Of the people
and
| WHEREAS, Corruption has become So prev
alent in both State and National affairs, and
as majority of the leaders in the old poliii-