Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-04-09
FARMERS CONFERENCE.
THE TILLERS OF TIE SOIL MEET,
CONFER AND RESOLVE.
to be Denied the Right
of Choosing State Legislators
and Congressman.

l. " u iilHlCQ Gail tiob
from Eden Grange, at regular meeting
held in Luce's Hall, Haywards, Alameda
county, Saturday, March 9th, large num-
Der of representative farmers and Changers
met in Changers Hall, this city, at II A. N.
yesterday.
The meeting was called TO order by VIM.
Johnston, of Richland, who stated that they
had assembled as farmers for the purpose
of comforting upon matters of interest TO
the farming population of the State. He
said the first thing in order would be the
election of temporary officers.
As such, Judge w. C. Blackwood, of
Alameda, was chosen Chairman, and Mr..
Hoffman, of Lodi, Secretary.
On assuming the duties OF the Chair
Judge Blackwood outlined the objects of
the conference and read the printed call,
which is as follows:
To the Members Of Subordinate oranges Of Cali
JorniG-BgoTHERs The undersigned, COM
mittee appointed by the members of Eden
Grange, in open meeting called for that pur-
pose, would respectfully invite your hearty CO.
operation in taking steps TO put in the field, for
the support of the people AT the next general
election, q ol-poTttsGR state, Congressional and
county ticket
To your committee the times seem propltious
for the Inauguration of such movement In
the absence of great national party questions,
agitating the public mind, the bitterness of
party strife is allayed. Thinking people of
every political shade of thought can now
calmly confer together and consult ON the best
measures for promoting the public welfare
The grievances of the agricultural and of all
industrial classes are too numerous and too IA
iuiiar to be repeated here, and the necessity for
remedial measures are equally apparent In
pursuance of these remedial measures we are
of opinion that conference should be had at as
early day as possible, for the consideration of
the best means and plan OF placing a ticket be-
fore the people for Legislative, Congressional
and county officers. with power to appoint an
executive committee, whose duties shall be to
call Congressional and County Conventions and
perform all acts necessary to carry out these
several measures
Recognizing the rule that partisan politics are
not proper subject for discussion in the Grange
we assume this form of conference of members
as consultation of leading farmers upon the
public matters in which the farming class is
chiefly concerned, and we invoke the aid of all
farmers whether within or without our order
and we suggest that the members of each subor-
dinate Grange, in an open meeting held for that
purpose, select delegates, not exceeding three
in number, who shall be members of the
Grange, or such farmers as would be entitled to
membership therein. to meet at Changers Hail.
in sacramento, on Thursday, April Sth at ii
o CLOCK A. NJ l.. b. ANYWAY,
o. DENNIS,
w. c. BLACKwooD,
Committee.
The Chairman said the necessity for
such action had been brought about more
particularly by the excessive taxation of
Alameda county. Last year the taxes in
that county were largely in excess of that
OF preceding years, and in many instances
the profits of the farm We're literally wiped
out by the amount of taxes the tiller of the
soil was forced to pay-and for what? To
meet the county and State expenditures.
These expenses have been annually in
creasing since the formation of the State
and with greater rapidity than ourincrease
in wealth and population warrants. The
salaries of State and county officials to-day
were nearly as large as they were in the
flush days way back in the fifties, when
the farmers profits were enormous. The
profits on ranch products now are very
small Officials should be paid salaries in
keeping with the amount of labor they
perform. Their deputies should be fewer
IN number, and should be compelled to do
more than draw their salaries. The sala-
ries of the officials of Alameda county were
princely and their deputyships dealt out
to few favorites who needed no ability
nor recommendations, for all that was ex-
peeted OF them was to put in an occasional
appearance at the Office, and to be able to
draw down their six twenties at the end of
the month He said the statutes creating
special commissions for alleged beneficial
purposes should be scrutinized, and. if
found not necessary, repealed The Vag-
rant Act needs revising, so that abuses,
said TO have grown up under it, may be
remedled. The necessity of appointing re-
porters for our criminal Courts is a proper
subject. OF what use are they? Where
fees of office are an incident of the office,
they should constitute the rule of compen-
sation of such Official and the abuses of
the salary system be considered A legal
days work of eight hours should
be required of ali public officials
Public justice and the public welfare
demand that the Judges of our Courts
should hold longer daily sessions than they
are now in the habit of doing The pay of
County Supervisors should be reduced
These reforms in the interest OF taxpayers
could only be effected by legislative action.
There is nothing to be hoped for from those
who direct and control the two great polit-
ical parties of the State. They have been
tried time and again and found wanting.
The farmer and taxpayer, if they would
relieve themselves from oppression and
unjust taxation, must no longer consent to
be led by selfish and INSCRIPTIONS poll
ticians and demagogues, but must them
selves come to the front-as they have the
right to do-and say, 1--WE will hold the
reins for while" Little political rings.
run in the interest of ward strikers. con-
troll your primaries and thus secure the
control of the Conventions and the naming
of the individuals who are to serve YOU in
the halls of legislation. The farmer in the
country is not known as political factor
until the time comes for you to be inter
viewed by the Tax Collector. You play
an important part then, because YOU have
to pay the fiddler. He who by the pillow
would thrive, himself must either hold or
drive" We must get rid of the grievous
burdens cast upon us by the non -taxpaying
element and politicians of the land.
After appointing Messrs. ANYWAY, Russell.
Bradford, Flint aud Kelsey a Committee
on Credentials, the conference took a recess
to l P. NJ
Afternoon Session.
The Conference reconvened at l o'clock.
The committee reported the following as
entitled to seats in the Conference:
Eden Grange, Alameda county-L. B.
ANYWAY, W. C. Blackwood, Joel Russell.
Temescal Grange, Alameda countv-C
Bagge, w. Renwick, f. Kelsey.
Florin Grange-W. f. Nelly, C. F. John
son, C. Towle
franklin. B. Bradford I. f. Freeman.
Roseville-Wm. Cooke, J. F. Cross, A.
Mertes.
Lodi. d. Huffman, E. K Elliott.
Enterprise-Geo. Wilson, A. A. Krull.
Pacheco-Smith Ashley.
Alhambra Grange, Contra Costa-E B.
Smith, DR.. Spencer.
Elk Grove-Dr. James Caples, James A.
Elder, Thomas Mcconnell.
American River-D. w. Taylor, n. H.
Lauridson, W. H. Criswell, J. E. Beach, D.
t. Lufkin.
Danville, Contra Costa-A. w. Glass.
Galt-Seymour Carr.
Grand Island Grange-L. F. Moulton.
Wheatland-Joel Gardner, A. J. Web
ster, J. NJ. c. Jasper.
Sycamore Grange-E. G. Morton.
Sacramento Grange-Myron Smith, DAN
ial Eli,at Ial,sas.c.,, {, Hill N