Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-07-08
FIRST ORANGES
ARE ORGANIZED
In May, 1872, the First One was
Started at Hooks Point
Next in Webster
r City.
THE ANTI-MONoPoLY CAMPAIGN
Republicans Had the First Real
Fight Since the Contests Of
1860.

From the History of Hamilton
County by F. @. and J. w. Lee: Thu
hard times beginning to be felt early
in 1872, the farmers organization
called "The Grange" attributed
them to the exorbitant charges Of
railroads for freight transportation
to the large amount Of additional
cost added to supplies used by farm.
ers by reason of so many "middle
men," high taxes consequent upon
extravagant public management and
numerous other less important rea.
sons.
To remedy the evils, they propos-
ed to pass a law fixing a maximum
freight tariff to procure farm
machinery at less additional cost on
account of middle men; to reduce
taxation by reducing salaries of pub
lie officials, and to administer the
public affairs on more economic
principles. The first Grange estab-
lished in the county was at Hook
Point, in May, 1872. This was fol-
lowed in June by the organization OF
the second Grange in Webster City.
By this time opposition to the
Grange and its proposed measures on
the one hand, and its own commend
atory articles and speeches on the
other, brought the subject to gener-
al notice. 1t became the theme of
universal conversation, and the
farmers generally took to it like
ducks to water. Consequently, sub
ordinate oranges were rapidly or
ganized all over the county.
Mr.. w. w. Boak, prominent and
influential farmer of Fremont town.
ship, procured an organizers com
mission and was almost constantly
employed in organizing new oranges
so that by July, originating from, II
not by authority Of this organiza-
tion, the following proclamation
was issued:
PRODUCERS VS.. NON-PRODUCERS.
Rally for your rights. Equal and
exact justice for all men!-Who
would be free, themselves must
c&rfLo <ha hJnwt
County convention Of the produc-
ers of Hamilton county farmers, me-
chanics, hand workers:
All voters of Hamilton county who
cherish the principles of liberty,
who hate tyranny and oppression,
who seek POLITICAL reform. honesty
of government. the overthrow of ar
istocratic legislation, and who aim
to place the power of the govern
ment where 1t justly belongs, in the
hands of the people,. are invited to
meet in mass convention on the 18th
day of July, 1873, at 10 o'clock a.
M, in the schoolhouse at Saratoga,
eight miles south Of Webster City or
in the grove near by, for the pur-
pose of organizing Hamilton county
by adopting measures to elect pro-
ducers to office, against the power
and plots of non-producers who,
through the tricks and machinery OF
their various political combinations,
have driven the producing classes To
the wall and compelled them to
make bricks without straw" Who
establish and maintain among them
swarms of officers to harass them
and eat out their substance. and are
fast riveting the chains Of slavery
upon the laboring and producing
classes and converting our republic
into a despotism.
All who attend and participate il
the deliberations of this convention
will be considered as having public
ly pledged their honor to aid and
promote its object. All who yet ad'
here to old parties and intend te
support either the republican, demo
cratic or liberal party nominations
for Office at the coming election are
notified to abstain from interference
with the proceedings OF this conven'
ton.
To this petition was printed the
names of one hundred representative
farmers from all parts of the county
with a note, that the names printed
were only part Of those signed t.
the call. The call was published In
the Freeman and Index.
1t was the largest political mass
convention ever held in the county
Col. Chas. Whitaker was presiden
and G. C. Cole, secretary. Speeche
were made by Colonel Whitaker. J
A. Snodgrass. G. D. Sutton, Judg'