Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-08-28

by the State Farmers alliance, which
held its meeting in Rochester, last week.
The address is signed by Herman Gloss,
president; Lyman f. CrOwelL treasurer:
VIM j. Fowler, secretary, aud James G.
Shepard and VIM. G. Wayne, of the ex-
ecut,ye committee:
Two years age, Mr.. Cleveland was
chosen governor by a majority of 1872,
900 votes. A considerable part Of this
majority came from the support given
him by large numbers of farmers. who
relied on his pledges Of fidelity to the
principles avowed in the Democratic
platform of 1882. For the first time since
the days of Silas Wright, the Democratic
party in that year had a majority of
votes in the agricultural counties and
towns of this state. Mr.. Cleveland is
now a candidate for the presidency. 1t
IS, therefore, proper that his course as
governor be reviewed in the light of
facts, that the people may judge how
far he has fulfilled his pledges and what
is his fitness for the higher office to which
he aspireS 1t becomes our painful duty
to denounce Mr.. Cleveland'S candidacy
as unworthy the support Of farmers and
OF the great body of Independent voters
who elected him two years ago. He has
violated positive pledges of fidelity to
the peoples interest. In selecting two
OF the railroad commissioners, whose
duties are to guard the interests of the
people, he chose men identified with rail
way corporations. He appointed q COM
missioner Of public works who is &C
cused of running the Erie canal in the
interest of railroads, letting it get so out
of repair that if the present policy is
continued it is only question of time
when the Erie canal must be abandoned.
So far as he could by this appointment,
Gov. Cleveland has neutrahzed the pop
ular will for making and keeping the
Erie canal as free public highway,
which was shown at the election by
much larger majority for free canals
than Gov. Cleveland himself received.
This is a matter in which the farmers of
the Western States are interested equally
with the farmers OF New York. In MAX
ing board Of state assessors, Governor
Cleveland left the great agricultural in
terestS uDrepreSented, though this is q
subject of especial Importance to farm
ers, who are obliged to bear an unequal
proportion of the burdens of taxation.
Gov. Cleveland did this in disregard Of
the request for the appointment of a
farmer who by thought and study on
economic questions was especially fitted
for this position, and who was recon-
mended by all farmers organizations in
this state
Gov. Cleveland has identified himself
and his candidacy with corporate mo-
nOpOIies. In his veto of the scent fare
bill for the New York elevated railroads,
in defiance of the decisions of our high
est courts, he avOwed the extraordinary
doctrine that the legislature, in granting
a franchise to railroad corporations, ex-
haustS its powers; that it relinquisheS
the sovereignty Of the people and makes
a contract which no future legislature
can change. If Gov. Cleveland's veto of
this bill is sound law, the people of this
state and of the UUited States have no
rights which the corporations they have
created are bound to respect. This veto
marks Mr.. Cleveland IS pre-eminently
the candidate of the monopOlists in this
country. 1t is from the railroad corpor-
atiOns, the Standard Oil Company and
other mOnOpolieS that the money is to
come that is to conduct his canvass. It
IS important that the mass of citizens
who intend to preserve their liberties use
every honorable means to insure his de-
feat. This is not a party question and
we do not appeal as partisans for any
candidate. Two of the members Of our
committee are democrats. and none of
them voted for Gov. Cleveland's leading
opponent two years ago. None of them
can or will vote for him as president,
and IN this we fairly represent the feel
lngs Of the great majority of farmers of
the different parts of this state. 1t is
certain that the opposition to Mr.. Cleve-
land for president will extend to the
farmers of other states when the facts of
his record are fairly presented.
The nomination of Mr.. Cleveland
makes an issue which as a political ques-
ton, subordinates all others. 1t is
whether the sovereignty of the people
shall be overshadowed by the corpora
lions which they create. 1t is impossible
TO doubt that the result of such an issue
will be his overwhelming defeat. If
Gov Cleveland took this position ignor-
antly. the fact will not and should not
help his candidacy. The people of this
country do not want man as president
who could, even through ignorance,
make a mistake of this character. But
anyone who closely watched the Chica-
go convention could not fail to see in
the combination of Standard Oil and
other monopoly influences against such
reputable democrats as Judge Thurman,
the signs that the ruling forces in the
convention worked with definite aim.
thurman, Bayard, Butter ana Other lie
long democrats and representatives of
popular rights, were set aside to make
way for this new man of whom nothing
was known outside of the state except
that he carried New York, with republic
can help, by nearly 100000 majority,
and of whom in the state we know
nothing politically except that his course
as governor has falsified all the pledges
by which his Fictitious majority of two
years ago was secured. We have no
recommendations to make with regard
TO candidates, other than that every
honorable means be used to make Mr..
Cleyeland's defeat certain and over
whelming. This we do not doubt will
be done This will be result which
will have most wholesome effect on
the political future Of our country"
Blow at Common Morality.