Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-08-29
LAeoR,no MEMS meET,No.

indeed, and the house was comforta-
bly, filled. The meeting was called
to order by Pat. Brady and John Gep-
hart was elected President, and J. N.
Courtney and Maj. Conn Dougherty
Vice Presidents, Il. j. Hall was elect
ed Secretary and Peter Hirschauer
Assistant Secretary.
The president called for a report
from the committee. The following
resolutions were read by p. ii. Rior-
dan and unanimously adopted by the
meeting:
IOWA INDEPENDENT GREENBACK AND
LABOR REFORM PLATFORM.
WHEREAS, Throughout our entire
country, labor, the creator of all
wealth, is either unemployed or de-
MED its just reward, and all produc-
tive industries arc paralyzed and
SECOND, Whereas, these results
have been brought about by class
Legislation and the mismanagement
of our national finances; and
THIRD, Whereas, after generations
of experience we are forced to be-
lieve that nothing further can be
hoped for through the present pOliti-
cal parties, therefore we make the
following declaration OF our princi-
pies:
FIRsT-Wo demand the uncondi-
tional repeal of the Specie Resump-
ton act of January l4th, 1875, and
the abandonment of the present sui
cidal and destructive policy of con-
traction.
SEooND-Wc demand the abolition
of the national banks, and the issue
Of legal tender paper money by the
Government, and receivable for all
dues public and private.
THIRD-We demand equitable tax
alton of all property, without favor
or privilege.
FoURTH-We commend every hon.
est effort for the furtherance of civil
service reform.
FiFTH-We demand the repeal of
all class legislation, and the enforce
ment of such wise and progressive
measures as shall secure equality Of
rights to all legitimate interests and
impartial justice to all persons.
SIxTH-We are opposed to all fur
Their subsidies by either the State or
national governments either to indi-
viduals or corporations.
SEyENTH-We, as Independents of
Iowa, sustain and endorse the princi-
pie Of railroad legislative control, as
expressed by the highest judicial au-
thority, not as enemies of public en-
terprisc but as friends Of the country
and the people.
EIGHTH-We demand reduction
of officers and salaries, 10 the end
that there may be less taxes.
NiNTH-We demand the modifica-
ton of the national bankrupt law SO
that the poor man can avail himself
of it as we'll as the rich.
TENTH-We demand the modifica-
ton of the homestead law so as to
not exempt over two thousand dol
lars worth as a homestead.
We invite the considerate judg-
ment of our fellow citizens of all po-
litical parties upon these principles
and purposes. and solicit the cooper
alton of all men in the furtherance
Of them, as we believe that upon
their acceptance or rejection by the
people the veal or woe of our be-
loved country depends.
JOHN GErHART,
j. N. COURTNEY,
p. BRADY,
p. III. RIoRDAN.
The Chairman then stated that the
next thing i'm order would be to APP
point committee to issue a call for
a County Convention to be held Sat
urday, September the sth, at the City
Hall.
The chair appointed J. N. Court
ney, Conn Dougherty, r. J. Hall, p.
III. Riordan, Peter Hirschauer, and
on motion of Pat. Brady John Gep-
hart was added to the committee
p. Ii. Riordan was called out and
expressed himself in favor of nomi-
mating another ticket outside of both
political parties. If q proper ticket
was nominated and laboring men
went to the polls and voted, there
would be no doubt of success. 1t was
their duty to send men to the legisla-
turc to remonetizc silver and repeal
the resumption act. Last year a rail-
road attorney was elected, and anoth-
err man elected who was never heard
of after he got there, and now they
want to shove him up higher.
Courtney, Tisdale, Green and Bick-
ley were called for.
Riordan said that he hoped those
men who had talked so well on the
streets would come forward and say
in public what they had said so well
in private. None of the parties call
ed for made their appearance and
Wat Cook marched up to the stand
and commenced speech which was
principally devoted to the financial
condition of the country. 1t is I'M
necessary to give an extended ac-
count of his speech, although it may
be said that he probably got his fig
ures mixed and possibly in some in
stances too large, notably in relation
to the railroads, of which he said
there were 100000 miles in the
United States, and also that $4,000
GOO were locked up in the snb-treasu-
ry by Martin Van Buren, and had
never been got out and that was hav-
ing bad effect on the country. He
too, was in favor of new party. If
they followed the old leaders zone
road lead straight to HI and the
other straight to d-mnation."
II. X. Buckley was called for and
marched up to the rostrum. He said
it might be said he had been bull
dozed into this appearance, tonight,
but that his interests were identical
with those of every man there. lie
had been known as an Independent
and he gloried in the title. He had
carried the idea SO far as to even vote
for Peter Cooper and was green
back man.
Major Daugherty was called for
and in few remarks expressed his
opinion of the movement and of the
necessity for reform.
AT this stage of the proceedings
Pat. Brady, Fast and Tisdale were
called for loudly. The calls were
continued even after Brady had made
his appearance. Brady commenced
talking, and the calls for Fast contin-
ued amid considerable confusion.
Brady in the meantime kept his eqni-
librium first rate but finally said that
his friends had called him out and as
he was laboring man himself he did
not propose to be "choked off by nc
jack-leggcd lawyer" He said he pro,
posed to occupy tho attention of the
people for few moments. He spoke