236 THE GROUNDSWE-LL. 



occur, in the Central Committee. The appointment of these 

 committees and the passage of a series of stirring resolu 

 tions constituted the important business of the Convention. 

 The resolutions were as follows : 



Resolved, That the agricultural interests of this country are the 

 primary source of its growth, wealth, and prosperity ; and that the 

 protection and development of these are essential to the prosperity 

 of every related industry, and also of every other vocation or busi 

 ness. 



Resolved, That the immediate objects and purposes of the Conven 

 tion should be to devise some means, or system of means, to cheapen 

 the process of production, and lessen the expense of transportation. 



Resolved, That the success of co-operative effort, as illustrated in 

 the accumulation of capital for the carrying forward of immense 

 business enterprises; in the combination of workingmen for the in 

 crease of wages, or the restriction of the hours of labor ; in the for 

 mation of rings for controlling the price of agricultural or manufac 

 tured products, and for &quot; bulling &quot; or &quot; bearing &quot; the markets of every 

 kind ; and in the thorough and efficient organization of political parties 

 for partisan ends, should teach the farmer the lesson, both of its 

 efficiency and its adaptation to the particular needs, if applied with 

 intelligence and wisdom. 



Resolved, That it is the duty of Farmers Clubs, and similar organ 

 izations, to put forth their best efforts for extending and multiplying 

 these organizations, until they shall compass the industrial interest 

 of the entire West. 



Resolved, That this Convention regards with favor the growth and 

 prosperity of the organization called Patrons of Husbandry, and ac 

 cept the evidences of its benefits and efficiency with hopeful expecta 

 tions of its future usefulness. 



Resolved, That the destruction of Canada thistles and noxious 

 weeds is a matter of vital importance to the agricultural interests 

 of the West ; and this Convention would commend the action of 

 the Legislature of Illinois in its efforts to accomplish this object. 



Resolved, That the strength or weakness of the Railroad Law, so- 

 called, should be determined by its thorough trial and enforcement ; 

 and this Convention would demand additional legislation on the 

 subject, if required, 



