OP TSE DISCtTSSIOtf. 241 



eacli delegate carried home to his constituents a keener per 

 ception of the importance of the questions at issue, of the 

 necessity of concerted action, and of the possibility, which 

 was before doubted, of the producing classes eventually de 

 feating their powerful antagonists. These opinions speedily 

 spread throughout the West, and public opinion became ripe 

 for carrying forward the grand movement for securing co 

 operation of effort. 



Meantime, meetings were being held throughout the West, 

 and Farmers Associations were forming rapidly. As the ag 

 itation developed, and grievances were ventilated, it became 

 apparent that a ball was set in motion which would not stop 

 until greater questions than the robberies by the transporta 

 tion companies and middle men had received their quietus. 

 Attention began to be directed to the iniquitous working of 

 the tariff laws, which protect monopolies at the expense of 

 the people, and absolutely impede the establishment of those 

 home manufactures which they ostentatiously pretend to 

 protect. 



11 



