The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-06-06
BY ONE VOTE
The Ohio Farmers Defeat the Third
Party Proposition,
After a Long and Animated Discussion Of
the SubIect-Their Demands as Set
Forth in Their Platform.

The Ohio farmers convention was called to
order promptly at 10 o'clock Wednesday by
President S. II. Ellis, OF Warren county, and
then Rev. Joshua Crawford, secretary Of the
Ohio Open Alliance, delivered prayer
The entire body Of delegates united in singing
america led by w II. LlSins, president of
the Ohio Farmers Alliance Secretary Angus |
Mcdonald read the call of counties, and the list
OF delegates was handed over TO the committee
on credentials which had been agreed upon the
night before.
President Ellis read his annual address.
AT the close of Mr. Ellis address each con-
gressionsl district was empowered to appoint
one member OF the committee on rules and or
der Of business, on resolutions, and on noml-
mating officers for the ensuing year commit
tee on finance was appointed, as follows: j. l.
Garber Rchland; john Robinson, Union, and
George Foreman, Warren.
Alto o clock the convention took recess for
nfteen minutes to enable the delegates to meet
by congressional districts and appoint members
OF the committees
When the convention met in the afternoon
O. b. Edwards, OF Highland county, presented
the call for an Independent state convention,
which had been prepared by the committee OF
Ohio delegates at the Cincinnati convention.
Re erred to the committee on resolutions.
The committee on nomination of officers re
ported, recommending that the present officers
be continued for the ensuing year The officers |
OF the union at present are: President, S, II. |
Ellis, Warren county; vice president ". II. |
Likons, Marion; secretary, Mcdonald, Huron;
treasurer, @. S. Walcott, Fulton; executive |
committee ]. H. Brigham Fulton; Miller Pur
Wis, Morrow; Il. r. Smith, Delaware; G. D. Ed. |
wards, Highland; Ira Smedes. Fulton.
Ool ]. II. Brigham, from the executive com. |
mittee OF the Union, made q lengthy report, |
showing the work Of his committee in their en-. |
deavor to secure the passage Of legislation do
manded by farmers organ Zations
The report was to tho effect that in the Ohio |
legislature the farming interests secured tho |
passage practically of every measure which |
they demanded, and for which they had
labored. These measures GNlnded the fee
and salary bill, the Australian ballot bill, tho
Rawlings bill and the act making tho ONCE Of
food and dairy commissioner elective The re. |
duction OF railroad rates and free school books
were practically the only demands made by
the farmers OF Ohio, in which they were not
successful.
In the national congress. howaver the aert. |
cultural Interests did not meet with such con.
sideration, although this, said Col. Brigham,
was largely owing to the fact that there was q |
contioSion OF demands among the farmers
themselves.
The following platform was unanimously |
adopted by the union:
We, the delegates representing the several |
farmers organizations OF Ohio, in convention
assembled, in the interest OF good government
and the welfare and prosperity of the entire
people Of this state and nation, and claiming
equal representation in our law. making bodies, /
both state and national, for farmers, declare in
favor OF the following principles and will work
and vote for their enactment into law.
First-Equal and fair distribution OF the nec-
esSary burdens OF taxation on all forms of
wealth, to be listed at actual value, less actual
indebtedness.
second-A system of school books at actual
cost
Third-suppresslon of all trafnc OF intoxicat.
ing liquors as beverage ......
Fourth-Suppresslo OF free railroad passes |
or other gifts to legislators, judges OF courts |
county editors and other public officials.
Fifth-That we demand The issue OF not less
than fifty dollars per capita Of full legal tender
money to consist Of gold and silver on parity |
with each other and paper.
eixth-For the carrying out of this declaration |
OF principles we declare in favor Of and recon-. |
mend TO the farmers of Ohio to see to it that no
man be nominated or elected a representative |
or senator from any agricultural county or dis
trict in Ohio who will not stand squarely this
platform.
SeVenth-To this end we call upon and invite
all laborng and legitimate business men to CO.
operate with us.
The call for an Independent state convention, |
which had been referred to the committee on |
resolutions was taken up at this point, and c. |
d Edwards, of Highland offered the following: |
Resolved That there bo an executive com- |
mittee OF five appointed by this meeting to con. |
fer with the committee appointed by the Ohio |
delegates at the Cincinnati conference in re- |
gard to calling a state convention to nominate |
candidates to be voted for at the November |
election, and that said committee shall hx the |
basis Of representation and also the time and |
place Of holding said convention"
The resolution was discussed pro and cor un- |
til O'Clock, when the convention took recess
until 1880.
When the convention reassGmbl0d the debate
was renewed.
RSa Rathbun, OF Clark, relieved the monot- |
ony of the proceedings by Offering the follow.
Ing as q substitute for the resolution under con-
nderaton:
"Resolved, That this meeting appoint O |
chairman and each congressional district ap-
point q committee of one; said committee to |
canvass the subject, and II thought by them TO
be the sentiment of the farmers, then oil |
convention to nominate state officers. Second, |
II the state convention is not called, then this
meeting recommends action to elect the next
members OF the legislature"
Mr.. Perkins of Medina offered an amend |
ment to the substitute providing that all legis |
lative nominations be left to the discretion Of |
the individual County Alliance.
This was defeated by viva voos vote.
The substitute offered by Mr.. Rathbun was
overwhelmingly defeated after long Discus
sion. The question was then upon the ndop.
tion Of the original resolution by Mr.. Edwards
1t was just one minute to 10 o'clock when
the previous question was demanded upon the
Edwards resolution, providing for state con.
vention and separate tfckot The demand was
sustained and the convention proceeded to
vote.
The chair decided that each county organiza-
ton was entitled to one vote only, and no dis.
trict organization was recognized.
The vote was close and exciting throughout
being nip and tuok'' from the tnns the second
name was called. The vote was announced at
10:40 1t stood-Yeas Ga, nays g.
The executive committee was instructed to
call meeting of the union for whatever time
and place they might deem advisable
Mr.. Perkins, OF Medina offered resolution,
which was adopted Plsdging the convention,
as individuals and as organizations, to support
the Taylor taxation amendment to the consti
tuition.
"A vote Of thanks was rendered President EL
Ne, after which the convection adjourned