THE DELEGATES AND THEIR DIFFICULTIES. 233 



measure.&quot; Many others added pertinent and encouraging 

 words. 



A few disapproved of the proposition, but the notes of 

 dissent were drowned in the general unanimity, and it was 

 eventually decided to issue a formal call for a convention of 

 delegates, to meet at Kewanee, on the 16th and 17th of 

 October, 1872. 



This call was made by Mr. S. M. Smith, both a cul 

 tured and working farmer, &quot; for the purpose of comparing 

 views, and consulting together on the best means of organiz 

 ing a general union of farmers, for their mutual benefit and 

 protection against the monopolizing tendencies of the age.&quot; 

 Delegates were invoked to attend in the following words : 

 &quot; Come, then, farmers, and help us to make the meeting a 

 success in numbers, intelligence, and results.&quot; 



THE DELEGATES AND THEIR DIFFICULTIES. 



About fifty delegates answered the call, composed of 

 members of the various organizations then existing in Illi 

 nois. Nearly all were strangers to each other ; they had 

 met with undefined ideas of their wrongs ; opinions as to 

 the future had not been matured ; and no plans or remedies 

 for future action had been devised. They had come to 

 gether, hoping almost against hope, that they might find a 

 way out of their difficulties. But order soon came out of 

 chaos. The delegates were eminent as farmers, and also 

 as thinkers ; many of them were men of wealth, and some 

 of them were well known for their political prominence. 



The Convention was an entire success, and became historic 

 as the first convention of farmers who had really succeeded 

 in making their power felt. 



Among those present were the Hon. L. D. Whiting, of 



