Yol. IX.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, JUNE 13, 1874.
No. 23.
i r/*j
REFORM.
THE INDEPENDENT CONVENTION.
TUESDAY EVENING.
A preliminary meeting was held in
the Hall of the House of Representatives
Tuesday e\*eni_g, June 9th, presided pver
by Dr. H. H. Morris; of Greencastle, J. M.
Hyatt, of the New Castle Times, acting as
Secretary. Speeches were limited to ten
minutes. -Hon. David Kilgore, of Delaware county, was the first speaker, and
counseled moderation.
Dr. A. C. Stevenson, of Greencastle, was next
called up. He said lie would he very glad to be
excused, as he was very feeble, but' lie was prevailed upon to go on. He said he had been a Republican all his life. I was an old Henry Clay
AVhig, and a AVhig as long; as that party lasted.
I think it's likc-lytiiere are lewmeiiin this house
that-ei seldom scratched a ticket as I have. I have
found it necessary, upon this occasion, to place
myself in rather a new position. I have become
dissatisfied with mj* old parry, not on account of
the principles that were heretofore embodied iu
tlieir platform—I am as much attached to them
as ever—but I have become dissatisfied with the
practices of that part}-*. And when I cast about
me to see if I can go into the Democratic party, I
have found about tlie same practices existing
there. I have found both, parties squabbling
mainly about the loaves and fishes, about tlie
spoils of office; and I would'not use a harsher
term than this. I sometimes am disposed to call
it stealing. On account of these things and the
excessive taxation that hasbaen tlie result ofthe
course pursued, I have found it necessary lor me
to change .my position, or to find liew.company ;
and when I fouiKltliattlie farmers were toassein-
ble here—I have myself been farming for many
years—I thought the company wouldsuit. Icon-
eluded that if there was honesty anywhere, it
was witli the rural districts of the country. Tlie
want of honesty is the great trouble in this
country at this time. We have talent enough in
the Republican and Democratic parties, but tlie
trouble is, there is not honesty enough. You
have, Mr. Chairman, a most remarkable spectacle to witness every day, aud M-e liaye become so
familiar with it Unit we scarcely notice it—that
Congress is spending nearly half its time in fer-.
reting out the rascalities of tlie men they have
placed in office themselves; nearly half its time
is spent in investigating the villianous conduct
and defalcations of the men they have placed in
office. Committees are constantly sitting, and
during the intervals of Congress are travelling
from one end of the country toaliother, examining the defalcations of their own officers. I sa}^
when I find this state of things existing, I am
disposed tosha_eoffthetramme'st_at haveheld
ma to my party. I am not willing to join the
Democratic party, because I do not think it is
any better. Tlie only strife between the Republican party and tlie Democratic party is who can
get the most! The Republican party have a little
the advantage at tills time. They have the Government offices, aud they have the better opportunity and notnot refusingto use it. Tlie Demo-
c ratic party was never willing to be outdone by the
AVhig party. I recollect, and probably some of
these old men recollect the contest between the
two parties in relation to the United States Bank
and Nick Biddle. There may be a few here who
recollect Nick Biddle and his bank. The AVhig
party stood up by that Nick Biddle and his bank.
AVhen the bill was passed in reference to it, old
Gen. Jackson vetoed it. Old Hickory was sufficient for the job, and we were to have hard money.
There are but few of those old hard money Democrats. I recollect of one. I called upon this
man and bought a lot of cattle. AVhen it was
time to pay him, I said, " Give me a pen and ink
and I will write you a check oil the bank." ' _\0,
sir," said lie, " you will do no such thing; I won't
take it for my cattle. I was never in a bank in
iny life, and so help me God, I never will be in a
bank." [Laughter.] I have but little to say upon
the financial question. So far as I am iudivid-
aily concerned, I am not a politician, aud never
expect to have anything more to do with politics
than simply to vote. Isay if you were in debt and
find it pretty hard to get out, I don't think of a
plan of currency that will enable you to do it.
SofarasI am concerned I am prepared to live
under the present state of things. I sliould be
glad to see the country settled upon something
that is permanent. The trouble has been this,
tlie currency has no stability in it. The stock
that we buy in the spring has so depreciated in
value in the fall on account of the currency that
we sustain a loss upon it. AVe want something
stable, that won't fluctuate. Upou that subject,
however, I am not tenacious.
The doctor was followed by Archibald
Johnson, of Montgomery county, who
spoke strongly in favor of the new moA*e-
ment. Though a life-long Democrat, he
was now ready to sever old party ties, and
devote himself wholly to the good of the
country. He counseled care in the preparation of a platform. It should be one
that could be carried out.
Mr. Johnson was followed by Walter
Marsh, Thomas Reese, Gen. Conner, Mr.
McAllister, James Buchanan (on the currency), and others.
The spirit of the meeting was excellent.
The general drift of the speeches looked to reform iu public expenditures, more
and better currency, a control of monopolies by proper legislation, and a faithful
execution of the laws by honest and capable men.      '    -
AVEDNESDAY MORNING.
Pursuant to notice the people of the
State of Indiana met in convention at Indianapolis June 10th, 1874, and was called
to order by Judge Kilgore, of Delaware,
who nominated Archibald Johnson, of
Montgomery, tenipory president of the
convention, and Mr. Hyatt, of the New
Castle Times, temporary secretary.
'-' A resolution was' offered and adopted,
ruling out of the convention all who were
not engaged iu some of the industrial pursuits. '    •
On motion the members from the different congressional districts retired and selected delegates to act on the committees
on credentials, on permanent organization,
on resolutions and on selecting a central
^committee.    These committees" consisted
(of one member from each district.   The
^following was the Committee on Credentials :
1st District—Robert Mitchell, of Gibson.
2d " S. B. Lungdon, Knox.
3d " J. A. Newsom, Bartholomew.
4th " J. C. Adams, Decatur.
5th " J. M. Robinson, Henry.
6th " James Smelser, AVayne.
7th • " II. T. Garrett, Marion.
8th *   " Hugh Marley, Monroe.
9th " J. AV. Jamison, Tippecanoe.
10th " Jessee McAllister, AVhite.
11th " A. J. Meachem, AVabash.
12th " Dr. B. B. Snow, Adams.
I3th " Merrill AVilliams, Marshall.
Committee on Permanent Organization.
1st District—E. J. Prescott, Posey.     .
2d " Uriah Colston, Sullivan.
3d " J. A. Newsom, Bartholomew.
4th " G. AV. Reeve, Rush.
5th " Nathan Fidler, Randolph.
6th " A. R. A. Thompson. Henry.
7th " Fielding Beeler. Marion.
8th " C. M. Hueston, Monroe.
0th " J. K. Johnson, AVarren.
10th " Norman Stewart, Newton.
11th " J. T. Dyer, Howard.
12th "  Carroll, Allen.
13th " G. P. Barney, Elkhart.
Committee on Resolutions.'
1st District—AV. H. Miller, A'anderburg.
2d
3d
4th
5th
0th
7th
8th
0th
10th
11th
12th
13th
Adj
Leander Keck, Martin.
E. F. Willey, Clark.
Richard Gregg, Dearborn.
John Tate, Fayette.
J. C. Huddiestone, Henry.
R. M. Hazelett, Putnam.
Jno. T. Campbell, Park.
F. C. Phillips, Boone.
C. Hays, White.
C. B. Norton, Howard.
AV. AA'. Timmons, Jay.
D. McCoUlns, Steuben.
ourned to 1 r. m.
.      AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Committee on-Permanent  Organization reported as follows :
A. C. Stevenson, President.
Arice Presidents—1st Dist., R. Mitchell.
2d    "
Geo. W. Register.
3d     "
G. W. Can-.
4th  •'
Jesse Sineser.
5th   "
Nelson Pleizg.
0th   "
J. Campbell.
7th   "
G. AV. Ferguson.
8th   "
A. B. Pegg.
0th   "
Samuel Allen.
10th   "
Jesse McAllister.
Ilth  "
AA'm. Zarming.
12th   ''
T. M. C. Sultz.
13th  "
Geo. P. Barney.
Secretaries—J. M. Hyatt, of Henry.
" J. O. Daugherty. of Marion.
" H. D. Scott, of Aflgo.
" G. S. A'aucamp, of Tippeconoe.
" Geo. Shanklin, of A'anderburg.
Dr. A. C. Stevenson, on taking the chair,
said he considered it a great honor to be
called on to preside over a convention of
the workingmen of Indiana. It was a remarkable conA'ention. It was composed of
quiet, peaceable citizens, who are not accustomed to public life and political machinery. Why do you find this commotion
all OA'er the land ? There is some reason
for it. It is not for amusement that these
farmers and other workingmen arehere
to-day. It is because of tne necessity of
political reform. The partj* in power has
promised retrenchment, but instead of this
nave increased their expenses. A large
portion of the time of our present Congress is occupied in hunting up testimony
against the defaulters whom they have appointed. Congressmen haA-e got into rings.
They are beset by office-seekers, to whom
they are bound by promises made before
election, or .by fear of their displeasure,
and they assist them* into offices they are
incompetent and unworthy to fill, and
hence fraud and corruption abounds. He
advised his old Republican and Democratic
friends either to get out of the way, or to
vote together, and if they succeed, divide
the spoils half and half. Otherwise they
will get nothing. He aih'ised the Convention to be very careful in the selection of
candidates. He would be satisfiedwith a
very short platform. He would insist that
honesty be prominent. He earnestly urged
harmony of feeling and action.
The Committee on Credentials was then
called on, and J. McAllister, of White
county, chairman of the Committee, reported that the credentials of members
from all the Districts had been accepted.
On motion of H. S. Shipler, of Morgan
county, it was
Resolved, That a committee of one from each
county be selected to report a ticket for nomination, subject to the ratification of this Convention.
The resolution was adopted.
A friendly dispatch having been received
from the Illinois State Association at
Springfield, on motion, it was
Resolved, That we send to tlie' Illinois Association our most cordial congratulation, aud pledge
our co-operation in any movement for the good
of tlie industrial masses.
On motion of Jno. E. Greer, of Morgan
coiinty, the following resolution was unanimously passed:
Resolved, That it is the sense and expression of
this Convention, that the Committee look only
to the best interests of the lalioriug masses, and
that in their selection of candidates no heretofore
political differences should be made a test, but
thev sliould look only to honesty aud qualification.
Wm. Foster,' of Newton eounty, chairman ofthe committees of the 10th district,
announced that the delegates from his
district declined to unite with the Convention in'making nominations, believing it
to be inexpedient to make nominations at
the present time. The fourth district also
withdrew.
The following dispatch was received from
the Illinois State Association and read
amid cheers and enthusiasm:
SruixGi'iE-i), June 10.
* Interconvertible bonds triumphant. No show
for bankers and usurers.   Legal tender, and low
luteiest tlie rallying cry from all sectlms.   Convention large, earnest and harmonious.
(Signed)" A. Campbell.
Mr. E. A. Olleman, of this paper, being
called upon, said: The question before the
people is the old question between capital
and labor. The farming business, he said,
was paying less than three per cmt. on the
value ofthe property invested. He wanted
the law to control the railroad corporations just as it controls the h-ickman or
any other common carrier. He claimed
that the business of the country had outgrown the volume of the currency that is
provided to transact it with. Our success
is the success of all. Plenty Of currency
never deprived the laborer of unployrnent,
nor his children of their breid; contraction has done both of these things. He
spoke of the unequal distribution of the
currency between the'East atd West. Let
the thirteen millions of laborers be true
to their interest.
Col. Norman J. Colman, editor of Oilman's Rural World, St. Loiis, being present, was called out. He sa d, the farmers
ofthe country number morj than half its
population, and yet out of ';0(j members of
Congress there are but twjnty-six of this
class, while capital had i*40 of the law
makers to look after it-;' interest. The
legislation of these men tends to make the
rich richer and the poor joorer. It is natural for men to look uff'r the interests of
their own class. The fir**t thing to be done
is to kick out the men wiio have been leading us about by the nos<,and begin to take
care of our own interests. There are
40,000 lawyers in the United States, and
they haA-e 228 representatives in Congress.
lie proceeded to show,*ome of the secrets
of legislation, and hop special legislation
was making the rich richer. Capital is the
despot of the countiy to-day. All real
wealth comes from tlw soil, but it does not
remain with those wHi till it. He alluded
to the protective tariff, showing the wrong
perpetrated upon the people under this
policy.
A dispatch from the Association of Illinois, in reply to the one sent by the Convention was received and read. The dispatch said that every district in the State
was fully represented, and the greatest
enthusiasm and harmony prevailed. They
had struck out for themselves and should
fight it out on this line.
Thos. AV. Reece,of Randolph, announced that an assessment of ten dollars had
been made upon each District, to defray
the expenses of tbe Convention, and called upon the memlers to see that the money was raised.
A resolution naming the new party "The
Independent Pariy" was offered, and after
considerable discission, was adopted.
Chs. W. Greens, of the National Crop
Reporter, said the conA'ention ought to
think of it before they committed themselves for an increase of currency. He
said the convention was the largest that
had been held in this movement. He gave
much adA'ice to the convention, speaking
as a man of great experience in public
matters.
The report of the committee on resolutions was read by the secretary of the committee, and on motion was adopted unanimously.    The following is
THE PLATFORM.
In making this call, and presuming to enter into competition with existing parties, it is meet
that we should give to the world our reasons, as
well as the remedies we propose for the wrongs
of which we conplain. Starting, then, with the
maxim that our government is founded on the
sovereignty anci consent of the governed, and its
purposes to protect property and enforce natural
rights, we acknowledge the broad principlesj that
difference of opinion is no crime, and hold that
progress toward truth is made by difference of
opinion, while the fault lies in bitterness of controversy. AVe desire a proper equality, equity,
and fairness; protection for the weak, restraint
upon the stron»; in short, justly distributed burdens, and Justly distributed powers: these are
American ideas, the very essence of American
Independence, aud to advocate the contrarv is
unworthy the sons and daughters of an American
republic. For eur business interests we desire to
bring producers aud consumers, farmers and
manufacturers, into the most direct nnd friendly
relatious possible. AA'e wage no aggressive warfare against any other interests whatever; on the
contrary, all our acts and all our efforts, so far as
bus! ness ls concerned, are not only for the benefit
of the producer and consumer, but also for all
other legitimate Interests that tend to bringing
these twopar:ies into speedy and economical
contact, , Hei:ce we hold that transportation
eompauies ofe%-ery kind are necessary to out-
success; that :heir interests are intimately connected with o ii- interests, andharmoniousactiou
is mutually advantageous. AA'e shall, therefore,
advocate for every State, * the increase in even-
possible way, id all tlie facilities for transporting
cheaply to tho seaboard, or between home producers and consumers, all the productions of our
countrv. AA'i adoptit asourflxed purposetoopeu
out the channels in nature's (treat arteries, that
the life blood of commerce, may flow freely. We
are not enemies of railroads,.navlgnting and irrigating cauah. nor. of any corporation that will
advance our industrial interests, AA'e are friendly to alllaboi:ligcla-sses,but we hdld that-all class
legislation, \ hereby these original and common
elements,or :he proceedsof the same, enhanced
by. intelligent labor, are prevented from their
original deslu-n, and made to enure tothe benefits
of non-prodi.cers, and to the injury of producers,
is wrong ant. subversive of the purposes of good
government. That till able-bodied, Intelligent
persons should contribute to the' common stock,
by useful industry, a sum or quantity equal to
their own si pport, and legislation should tend as
far as possible to the equitable distribution of the
surplus products.
If these piopositions are true, our government
is wholly perverted from its true design, and the
sacred names, D2iuocracy and Republicanism,
KIRKPATRICK'S ''HOOSIER HAY DERRICK."
Patented January 13th, 1874.    First premium wherever exhibited.    Silver medai
Indianapolis Exposition, 187*3.
are tlie synonyms of despotism, and tlie parties
represented thereby as now organized ,are engines
of oppressLon, crushing out the lives ol ili.-ptoi:!**.
We need only point to the facts that in this bem.-ti-
cent country of unlimited resource*, witli the
land annually groaning beneath the products of
human effort, tlie muss of the people have no
supply beyond their daily wants; compelled,
from unjust conditions in sickness and misfortune, to become paupers. Pauperism and crime
are the perplexing questions of all modern statesmanship, and it is witli these we have to deal.
How far these evils are connected witli tlie abuses
Inflicted on labor, a superficial statesmanship
seems not to perceive. Chattel slavery lias heen
abolished, but the rights and relations of labor
stand just where they did before. Tlie emancipation lu respect tothedivisionsof its products, the
difference lies only iu the methods oi abstracting
the results aud concentrating themiu the hands
of a few capitalists. Capital is now the master,
and indicates the terms, and thus all laborers are
practically placed in tlie same condition of the
slave before his emancipation. In thus placing
them, the interests of all laborers become common, and they must fight the battle in unity if
they would succeed. AVhat, then, are the instrumentalities by wliich these wrongs are inflicted?
1st. Banking and inonied monopolies, by
which, through ruinous rates of interest, the products of human labor are concentrated In tlie
hands of non- producers. This is the great central
source of these wrongs, in and through which
all other monopolies exist and operate.
2d. Consolidated railroads, and other transit
monopolies, whereby all industries are taxed to
the last mill they will bear, tor the benefit ofthe
stockholders and stock-jobbers.
3rd. Manufacturing monopolies, whereby all
small operators are crushed out, and the price of
labor aud its products are determined with mathematical certainty in the interest of the capitalists.
4th. Land monopolies, by which the publicdo-
main is absorbed by a few corporations and speculators.
5th. Commercial and grain monopolies, speculating aud enriching tlieir bloated corporations
ou human necessities. We propose to restore tlie
Government to its original purpose, aud as far as
possible to remedy these evils and remove their
results: 1. By abandoning the gold basis fallacy,
and establishing a monetary system, Based on the
faith and resources of tlie nation, in harmony
with tlie genius of this Government and adapted
to the exegencies of legitimate commerce. To
tills end the circulating notes of the national aud
State banks, as well as all local currency, be withdrawn from circulation, aud a paper currency issued by the Government, which shall be a legal
tender in the payment of all debts, public and
private, duties on imports, included aud declared
equal witli gold, the lawful money of the United
States; this currency ormoney to be interchangeable at tlie pleasure of the holders for Government bonds bearing a low rate of interest, say
3&5-100; the Government creditors to have the
privilege of taking the money or bonds at their
election, reserving to Congress the right to regulate the rate of interest ou tlie bonds and the volume of the currency, so as to effect the equitable
distribution of the products of labor between
money or non-producing capital and productive
industry. 2. By paying the National Debt in
strict accordance with the laws under which it
was oriplnally contracted—gold where specifieal-
lv promised, but all other forms of indebtedness,
including the principal of tlie 5-20 bonds, should
be discharged at tlie earliest option of the Government in the legal tender currency of the United States, without funding it in long bonds or in
any way increasing the gold paying and untaxed
obligations of the Government.
Resolved, That we are in favor of the office seeking the man, and not the man the office; that we
will endeavor to select men to All tlie various offices who are honest and capable, without regard
to-former political opinions; that we detest bribery, corruption, and fraud in obtainin" votes,
either by the use of money or whisky, and will
not support any man for office known to be »iiil-
ty of the same; and that we are opp6sed to soliciting any man to till tne same office for more than
one term in succession, from the President down.
Resolved, That we uncompromisingly condemn
the practice of our public officers in receiving free
passes from railroad managers. *
Resolved. That we denounce the action o" our
last Legislature and Representatives in Congress,
and the Senate, for the increase of taxes, fees and
salaries, aud we will use all honorable means iu
our power to reduce the taxes, fees aud salaries of
all to a reasonable, basis... ■    ,    .    .
Resolved, That we demand the reduction of all
public expenditure, to the end that taxation may
be reduced to the lowest possible limit.
Resolved, That it is contrarv to the policy of good
government to encourage litigation,aud that the
iaw allowing ten per cent: ou judgments and the
collection of attorney's fees off of defendent encourages litis, itiou, favors capital, and is a source
of corruption and subserves no good end; therefore, ought to be remedied by appropriate legislation. .
- Resolved, That the present assessment laws of
real estate imposes unequal and unjust burdens
on the producing class, and favors capital and corporate wealth, and we demand its speedy amendment.
Resolved, That no party is worthy our confidence
who denies the right oi tlie people to restrict tlie
abuses of the liquor traffic.
It. M. Hazelett, Chairman.
AVm. AA'. Milier, Secretary.
, There was no disposition to discuss the
principles embodied in the platform. A
proposition was made to haA*e it considered section by section, but this was voted
down. The resolutions were then adopted
as a whole by a unanimous and enthusiastic vote.
The roll of Congressional Districts was
then called, and the following gentlemen
were designated as the State Central Committee :
1st District—J. R. Elderfield.
3d District—J. Q. A. Newsom.
5th District—B. F. Bundy, of Randolph.
6th District—A. B. Pendleton, of Johnson.
7th District—E. A. Olleman, of Marlon.
8th Districts—Mr. Baker, of A'igo.
9th District—E. Elisha, of AVarren.
11th District—Aaron Jenkins, of AVabash.
12th District—B. B. Snow, of Adams.
13th District—Merrill AVilliams, of Marshall.
The Second, Fourth and Tenth Districts
made no response to the call.
The Committee on Nominations then announced their readiness to report. This
was received with cheers, after which the
Convention subsided into a deep silence.
The chairman of the committee then submitted {he following ticket:
Secretary of State—Noys S. AA'hite, of A'igo.
Auditor of State—Ebenezer Henderson, of Morgan.
Treasurer of State—Capt. Norris C. Bennett, of
Steuben.
Attorney-General—Capt. J. A. S. Mitchell, of
Elkhart.
Judge of Supreme Court—Horace P. Biddle, oi
Cass.
Superintendent of Public Instruction—Clakson
Davis, of Henry.
Mr. Henderson, nominee for the office
of Auditor of State, being called upon for
a speech, appeared and thanked the conA'ention for the unexpected honor.
The convention then adjourned to meet
at the hall of the House of Representatives in the evening.
GAME LAW OP INDIANA.
The following is the law of the State of
Indiana protecting our birds, and will be
of special interest to farmers and fruit
growers, and is republished by request:
Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly
of the Stale of Indiana, That section two of tlie
above entitled act be so amended as to read as
follows, to-wst: "It shall be unlawful to net or
trap quails at any time, and it shall be unlawful
to shoot, trap, or otherwise destroy quals or pheasants from the first day of February to the first
day of October in eaeu year.
Sec. 2. It shall be unlawful for any person to
kill or injure, or to pursue with intent so to do,
any turtle dove, meadow lark, robin, mocking
bird, blue bird, wren, sparrow, red bli-d, peewee,
martin, thrush, swallow, oriole, yellow-hammer,
cat bird, or to wantonly destroy or disturb the
eggs or young of the birds, protected by this act.
* Sec. 3. Any person violating any of the provisions of this act, shall, upon conviction, be fined
in a sum not less than one or more than ten dol-
lars.-
Sec. 4. It isherebv declared that an emergency
exists for the immediate taking effect of this act,
therefore the same shall be in force from and after
its passage.
The benefits that birds are to agriculture,
has been time and again proven, and as our
enemies are increasingCA*cry year to destroy
our fruit and products, it becomes necessary for us to make use of every known
means to oppose and destroy them, and.for
this purpose the birds are our ever vigilant
and industrious friends. Then let us pro- ^
tect and guard them, and encourage them-***^;*-
to make our homes their habitations, andl'-y
become our co-workers, that our own' '
hearts may be made more happy by theirj
cheerful notes and glad songs of joy.