The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-24
THE PEOPLES MOVEMENT IN ILLINOIS
POLITICS.

constitute an Advisory Board that viii
meet ON tho first Tuesday Of May annually
to determine what political action, if any,
this Association shall take for that year.
Fifty-fve members of said ADVISORY
Board shall constitute a quorum to do
business. $3.50 @
In accordance with the above, the Ads
visory Board will meet at the Ashley
House in Bloomington, on Tuesday, May
5,atlOA. M. to decide what action to take
in relation to the elections for county off |
GERS, legislature, congress, etc., next fall.
There is vice president Of the State
Association for each congressional district,
and these vice presidents have been en-
gagged during the past winter in perfecting
the organization of the counties in their
districts with view of combining the vo-
tiers in favor of the great Peoples Anti
Monopoly party for next fall. In some
districts congressional conventions have al
ready been held for purposes of consulta-
ton, organization and acquaintance. The
Seventh held such a convention several
weeks ago, at Morris. The Eighth has
also held meeting at Fairbury, and the
Twelfth at Jacksonville. They all approve
the action Of the Decatur Convention of
last December in cutting adrift from the
Republican and Democratic organizations,
and appointed committees to take the nee
essary measures for calling a convention to
nominate independent candidates for con-
gressmen when the proper time comes.
In this district, Col. l. III. Elliott, Of
Princeton, Bureau county, is the vice pres
ident, and he has been busy at organizing
the counties during the past winter, but he
thought best not to call a congressional
meeting until after the Advisory Board
recommended the proper action. There
can be no doubt that the Advisory Board
will recommend that candidates who are
entirely independent of either of thu old
political parties be put in the field for ev-
cry Office to be filled, and in view of this
the town and county associations, clubs,
oranges, etc., should go on with their
work of enlisting every man in their vicini,
ty, in the cause of free and independent
action and ignore the existence of all old
political organizations, and refuse to sup
port any man for Office who adheres tc
either of the old parties. Mechanics and
their helpers, workingmen, laborers,
and business men should also form clubs
so that all can be represented
in the nominating conventions, and all work
together for the redemption of the country
from the corrupt ciques and parties which
now rule it. For the benefit of those who
desire to know the principles of the new
party, we republish the Decatur Platform
adopted at the meeting of the State Asso
citation, last December:
WHEREAS, Through the departure from
the primary principles Of our government
as promulgated by its founders, anC
through the imprudent exercise of tina
highest prerogative of the freeman-th,
right of suffrage-we, the farmers of Hi
nois, in common with the food producers
of the United States, have by our past &C
ton acquiesced in system of class legis
lation which makes the great majority sla
vishly subservient to a small minority
and,
WHEREAS, This condition is clearl
traceable to the fostering protection whic
has been accorded by our legislative bodie
both State and national, to the fnancia
mercantile, manufacturing and transport
ing interests, enabling them to accumulat
an undue proportion of the national wealt
and encouraging them in the exercise o
the corrupting lobby influences whic
have become inseparaDle from our legisls
tive system therefore, resolved:
/. That the preservation of our na
tional life imperatively demands that ever
American voter should attend with car
all primary nominations et!eections, 5
as TO insure the electtson of competent an
-fonest men to all offices in the gift o. tn
people.
2. That the recent record of the oil
political parties of tins country is such a
to forfeit the confidence and respect of tn
people, and that we are, therefore, absol,
ed from all allegiance to them, aud will a.
no longer with them. .- ..
g. That we demand the uneond
tional repeal of the salary grab law, tt
repeal to be retroactive in its action, an
this without restoration of the frankiI
privilege.
4. That we do not recognize any nece
sity that public officers should receive e
travagant salaries to the end that they IN;
conform to the demand of expensive al
fashionable tastes, which in their very n
ture are antagonistic to republican prin
pies, and we demand reduction OF offic
salaries.
5. That we demand the immediate
form of abuses in the civil service, throu
which the patronage of the Governme
is dispensed rs reward for partisan s,
vice rather than with regard to the pub
necessities.
6. That we are in favor of improvi
and perfecting the navigation of our lax
and rivers and water connections as soon
it can properly be done.
7. That we are opposed to aprotecti
tariff.
8. That we deprecate any futher gra
of public lands or loans Of the public Gre
it, and of National, State, or local subscr
tons in aid of corporations.
g. That we favor the repeal of our
tional Banking law, and believe that
Government should supply legal ten
currency directly from the Treasury,
Interchangeable tor government bonds be
ing the lowest possible rate of interest.
10. That we hold that our patent Il
are too often made to subserve the inter
of tnonopolists, and that they should
carefully revised and restricted. q &
IL. That we are opposed to a G
struction Of the State constitution which
Justify. under any pretext whatever, anu
instead of biennial sessions of our 81
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