The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-08-21
The Fsrmers' Uwlsu.

The great convention Of Ohio farmers,
composed OF delegates from the Farmers
Alliance, the Grange, the Patrons OF In
dustry and the Farmers Institute, met
at Columbus August 18th to consider
the best means OF promoting the interests
OF agriculture in this State. Hon. J. H.
Brigham was made chairman and Agnus
Mcdonald secretary.
Highland county was represented by
Henr! Roads, Of the Hillsboro Alliance,
@. d. Mckinney, of the New Market
Alliance, d. McMullen, OF the Paint
t,wnshir Alliance, G. N. Pulse, of the
Jacksonville Alliance, T. N. Cooper, Of
Jackson township Grange, J. G. Kelly,
OF the Washington township Grange,
and 9. y Edwards, OF Penn township
Alliance.
The purpose OF the convention, as ex.
pressed 10y the chairman, was to draw
up platform upon which all farmers
could unite, and to put 10 the rear all
those upon which they differed. Per.
sistent efforts were made during the
entire course OF the convention to force
the issue OF prohibition into the plat.
form, but these were stubbornly resisted
by large majority. The attempt to
commit the convention to a declaration
on the tariff was also tried, but the
farmers held firm in their determination
not to allow political manipulators to
cripple this great movement in the be.
ginning.
The Committee on Resolutions report.
ed an address to the people Of Ohio in
which they expressed the sense Of the
convention as opposed to the formation
of farmers party.
The address, copcllities:
We are in favor OF equal taxation upon
all forms of property; the reduction OF
railroad passenger rates to two cents a
mile; Government control of railroads
and telegraph lines as to rates and
charges; unlimited coinage Of silver,
and making it legal tender for all debts,
public and private; the election of U. S.
Senators by popular vote, forfeiture of
all uncarned land grants taxes, direct
and indirect, as low rs consistent with
economical administration of good
government; the protection of pure
food products from the ruinous compe.
ton of adulterated' products the pass.
age of law multiplying the effect of the
"oriyinal package decision - the pass
age of the Conger pure lard bill, and the
rigid enforcement of our State and
National pure food laws; graded in.
come tax for corporations and individu.
ais; the Butterworth bill preventing
gambling in farm products the Rawlins
bill, taxing finished manufactured pro.
ducts; Australian ballot system school.
books at cost restriction Of fees and
salaries Of public officers the election OF
the Dairy and Food Commissioners by
popular vote.
We oppose, first, alien nonresident
ownership of land second, the granting
of passes to public officials.
The convention then proceeded to the
organization OF permanent body to be
called the Farmers Union, to consist of
one delegate from each county from
each State society. The officers of the
Union were, President, S. H. Ellis, War.
rem; Vice President, w. II. Iikens,
Marion; Secretary, A. Mcdonald,
Huron; Treasurer, q. S. Wolcott, Full.
ton. Executive Committee j. H.
Brigham, Fulton; Miller Purvis, Nor.
row; T. R. Smyth, Delaware; G. B.
Edwards, Highland Ira Smedes, Full
ton; J. H. Whitaker, Wood; W. H.
Strong, Lucas; G. N. Pulse, Highland.