86 THE GROUNDSWELL. 



representation of these industries in our State and National 

 Governments, in proportion to the voting powers of each, 

 and its legitimate importance and value in the nation. 



SUPERIOR ORGANIZATION OF OTHER INDUSTRIES. 



Many of the industrial classes, not only in the United 

 States, but also throughout the civilized world, and espe 

 cially in England, have been for years assiduously engage^ 

 in organizing for the elevation and advancement of their 

 several trades and industries socially, financially, and 

 politically by means of Unions and Societies of various 

 kinds. For one reason or another, the most important of 

 these industries, and the one upon which all others are 

 based Agriculture has not yet been organized so as to 

 present a united and solid front to the encroachments of 

 capitalized power, as existing in corporations and monopo 

 lies, or the overweening political aspirations of the so-called 

 learned professions. The result is, that, while the various 

 Trades Unions have measurably held their own as against 

 these encroachments, the farmer, contenting himself with 

 raising raw material with which to feed the great masses 

 of progressive humanity, has suddenly found himself with 

 but few rights which any one seemed bound to respect. 



THE PENALTY PAID FOR PAST NEGLIGENCE. 



Our farmers have helped to elect congressmen who legis 

 lated away the public lands in the most shameful manner 

 to those who would divide the proceeds of this knavery 

 with them to the largest extent. They have made legisla 

 tures which have granted to corporations vested rights dan 

 gerous in the highest degree to the well-being of the com- 



