Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-10-22
A FARMERS, CONVENTION.


and other organizations was held in Chicago
on the 18th OF October. There were about
three hundred delegates in attendance. Matt
Anderson wisconsin, was chosen President;
L. Prince Mussachusetts), W. J. Fowler New
York;, A. b. Smith tKentucky), Milton George
illinois, }. f. Cobbey Uowa), and J. J. Fuss
(Michigan), Vice-Presidents;J Jonathan Periam,
J. N. Chambers and W. W. Corbett Gnlnois),
Secretaries.
Mr.. Piugree, OF Illinois, read an essay
on Cheap and Rapid transportation
Ho urged that the great drawback to the ad-
ynncement OF the producer was the high
freight rates Of railways. In order 10 have
tho people prosper, cheap transportation must
be adopted by some means. The remedy was
the construction by the Government of a rail
way TO carry exclusively freight from the
grain-grOwing States Of the West to the sea-
board.
Mr.. Fowler, Of New York, was called on for
mn address, and told about the organization OF
the New York Farmers Alliance, which was
formed three years ago. IL was not political
I'm National sense, though II made fight re-
garding transportation and taxation, only
supporting those candidates for the State
Legislature who were In accord with the OBJ
jeCts OF the Association. Much had already
been accomplished, and next year they eX-
pected to have a Legislature which would
tuhAA lNWe III tue Interest VI Aut luIlItIss
whose interests were those Of the people.
That they did not get their fair share of the
wealth they produced was owing to the neg
lect Of their political duties. They should or
ganize to secure their rights. After they had
obtained the transportation reforms demand
ed, and secured equality Of assessment and
taxation, there still remained the necessity of
some political organization of farmers as
farmers to operate upon both parties TO check
them in their extravaganza, which led to cor
ruption.
The following preamble andresolutlons were
reported from committee and, after discus
sion unan imously adopted:
This Convention, representing the industrial
and shipping interests Oranges Farmers
Clubs and alliances, aiiirms as incontrOverti-
BILE facts that the railroad system Of this coun'
try has become virtual monopoly which is
defiant of oil existing law bearing upon the
management of railways, oppressive alike 10
the producer and consumer, cOrruptinR to our
politics hindrance TO free and impartial
legislation, and a menace to the very safety
of our republican institutions; that our rail-
road corporations, while having secured an
existence and their franchises through the
plea of being necessary for the public good,
and in the belief ON the part Of the peoples
representatives that the public good demand
ed il, having been granted the right Of way
through public and private property, are oper-
ating their roads as an entirely private en-
terprise without regard TO the rights of
to, aud contract with, the State; that they
have been aided in the construction of
their roads by the Government, in
public land grants, and subsidies aud loans,
uRgregating i'm value over u billion and half
OF dollars, and by town and individual sub
sCriptOns to an amount which cannot be aC-
curatey asCertained, but is known to aggre-
gate hundreds OF millions, and that although
no pait of the principal and not penny of the
interest hns ever in q single instance been
paid, these corporations utterly ignore the
enormous assessment with which the people
have thus voluntarily burdened themselves in
their BEHALF ana assume the right to impose
rates for freight and passenger transportation
as If the rUads had been wholly constructed by
the contributions of their individual mem-
beTs; that their publiCly-announced principles
Of business is to charge a rate rs high as the
business will bear, which means that freight
turifis shall bo maintained at Just as high
hPure as Will not make the shipment OF farm
produce and merchandise absolutely object
le5s-a principle so unjust and tyranniUal that
those engaged in private business enterprises
would not dare adopt It; that they compel the
producer and shipper TO contribute sufficient
To pay large dividends not only upon the fair
value OF the bona tide stock, but also upon the
full value OF large and repeated issues Of wa
tered stock; that they organize within them
selves independent tcOmpanes-which manage
what are called fast freight liues-to do the
business which they were organized to do, and
thus are enabled to assess the public TO pay
dividends TO two companies, when one could
do the business; that they discriminate against
individuuls and communities, assuming the
power, and using ID most disastrously at times,
TO ruin merchant, or mercantile or farming
community; that these corporations have
grown so arrogant that they refuset TO listen to
either remOnstrances or entreaties, and that
State legislation is wholly imperative to
thwart their designs or to enforce the right of
the public. In view of these startling facts,
and IN accordance with the decision OF the Su-
preme Court of the United States, affirming
the right OF the people to regulate the man
agement Of and charges upon railroads. this
Convention resolves:
l. Thnt the producers and shippers Of this
In hat TguF Nnrfgh fIr.,a
monopoly desire only what Is right, that they
demand that, and that they will nave II.
.. That while agriculture pays less than four
per cent. upon the investment, and legitimate
business enterprises of any character seldom
reach ten per cent, we will not pay rates tor
the transportation of the produce OF our farms
To market which enable rRilrOad officials to
amass princely fortunes, live In extravaganza,
and pay large dividends upon the fair value OF
their stock besides saving enough from the
profits OF their business to mako improve
iuents and extensions upon their lines which
aie often more valuable than the aggregate OF
full dividends
3. We demand of Congress a sdy; that IL
shall place the railroads of the country under
Government control, enaCtng laws that will
certainly protect the producer from the terri
bic eNtortlon under which he has so long suf-
fered, and we will hold our Representatives in
the National Legislature TO strict accountH-
bility for their action in the premises, pledg-
ing ourselves and our constituency to exert
ourselves to the utmost to defeat the re-eleC-
tion of any man 10 any Legislative or EXeou-
AlNt OUtt Wlb huts not uGNlNtlN lNNOE IN MS
official capacity the subIugation of railroad
corporations 10 the will of the people,
4 We demand Of our respective political
parties that hereafter they shall nominate for
the State Legislature and for Congress- only
such men as are in sympathy with the indus
trial and commercial interests, and who, II
elected, will work and vote TO place the pro
duction upon an equal footing with monOpO-
lies of every character; and II our respective
parties neglectto TO do this, we pledge ourselves
to use every honorable means to defeat the
gOnOiuntpH which they nrpggnt for g1f-
fruge.
5. We congratulate the Grange and Farmers'
Clubs upon what they have done TO enRnoi-
pate the labor of the farm from slavish drudg-
cry 20 monopolies, and urge them To n oontin-
Iance of their noble work, which has been so
effective in the education of the masses, and
such an obstacle to class legislation.
Q. We bid a welcome and gOdspeed TO the
Farmers Alliance, which Joins hands with the
Grange and Farmers Clubs in demanding these
reforms which are requisite for the prosperity
Of the farmer and of the country.
Z. We pledge our support TO those Journals
which shall support rs, and urge upon farm M
/ paper which is not outspoken in our interests.
THE ALLIANCE.
After the adjournment OF the Convention a
| uumber Of delegates remained in the hall and
! organized a National Alliance. The constitu-
tion adopted sets forth that the "National
Farmers Alliance Of the United States -
should have power TO make laws for the gov
ernmont OF the entire organization. The OBJ
! leots were To unite the farmers Of the Unit.
ed States for their protection against class
| legislation and the encroachments OF conoen-
tratod capital and the tyranny of monopoly;
to provide against being imposed upon by
swindlors and swindling advertisements in
the public prints; TO oppose in their respect
| I've political parties the election Of any can
didato 10 office, state or National, who
was not thoroughly in sympathy with
the farmers interests to demand that
the existing political parties should