Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-02-19
The Cleveland National Convention.

We again assume the responsibility, or
take the chances of being called stupid by
our Granger cotemporary, by copying the
following structures from the Cincinnati
Star, which explain themselves:
The Farmers State Convention in Illi-
nois, that adjourned on Thursday, appointed
delegates to the National Convention called
to meet in Cleveland, on the lth of March
next, to consider the industrial interests Of
the country. 1t looks as if the Cleveland
Convention might begin an important
movement. We take it that all labor or
ganizations will be admitted to represent
alton i'll that body. To make it expires
sive, the working classes should be lively
during the coming month in getting out a
large delegation. 1t is time the movement
had commenced if anything is to be at
tempted at the next Presidential campaign.
This meeting at Cleveland should be suf-
ficiently significant to secure general CO.
operation OF the working classes, and in
sure grand demonstration at Presi-
dental Nominating Convention in 1876.
1t seems to us that there would be no diff
Guilty in securing grand rally and a tri-
umphant election OF the next President in
the interest of labor as against monopoly.
If the scheme of reform could be made snf-
ficiently broad and comprehensive great en-
thusiasm could be evoked.
As to the farmers, they have good ideas,
though they are somewhat limited to their
own selfish Interests. They do not suffi-
ciently consider the welfare of the whole
people. Many OF their leaders are them
selves interested in certain monopoly,
and look with disgust upon its abolition
while, i'll fact, 1t is more oppressive than
all other monopolies combined. selfish
political scheme can not succeed. The
principle of whose bull CORES the OK will
be fatal to any effort in behalf OF the work
ing classes. A selfish scheme would be no
improvement upon politics as they are
at present, and powder need not be wasted
in that behalf. A new movement must
be peryaded by a soul-inspiring gospel of
truth, justice and virtue, or it will over
whelm the movers with derision and shame
As far as the expression of the Illinois
farmers goes il is well enough but it is too
contracted and one sided. They declare
/. Against class legislation.
2. For reduction OF salaries.
3. For the improvement OF the national
water-courses.
4. For the removal of the tariff on cloth
e2J- Why did you not include wool,
wheat, and all other duties that belong to
class legislation? Don't give the iron
workers Of Pennsylvania a chance to laugh
at you.
3. Against further aid 10 corporations.
6. The repeal of the Banking Act and
the substitution of legal tenders for bank
notes, the legal tenders to DO convertible
into 3.65 bond.
ptS- This is all right provided the aim
shall be to bring the legal tenders to gold
basis so soon as circumstances shall permit.
The 3.65 bond will be inoffensive because
it will be severely lie. alone.
7. The revision of the patent laws.
8. Against any Congressional legislation
that will take the supervision of railroads
from the States.
0. Forbidding the reception of railway
passes by officials.
With such amendments as we have sug-
gested this is all right
We have but two propositions to add.
While the farmers were resolving for the
abolition of tariff duties they should have
told the people where a supply OF revenue
could be obtained. We therefore, add;
10. An income tax graduated from p to
20 per cent. with an exemption OF 81, 900.
They sadly overlooked the great crime of
land monopoly. Too many of them are
monopolists, we fear. Such leaders must
repent before they can conduct great party
to power. We, therefore, add
IL. No more of the public domain for
any man, corporation or purpose except for
the actual settler in quarter section allot-
ments; and careful looking-after the
lands donated to corporations and getting
them back on any fair pretezt for doing so.
Farmers must cease 10 be monopolists in
theory, If not in practice, before they can
accomplish anything. We don't require
them to abandon their monopolies, but we
do demand that though farmer having on
farm OF 1000 acres he shall say that land
monopoly is wrong and demand the
reform OF the laws so that he can't extend
his monopoly into the new States and ter
ritorics.