KANSAS. 



397 



tinned in session two days, and adopted the 

 following resolutions : 



Whereas, Agriculture in its various departments is 

 the basis of all material prosperity ; and whereas, 

 the burdens and impositions under which it lies 

 have become intolerable, therefore the fanners of 

 Kansas, in convention assembled, do put forth this 

 declaration of their desires and purposes, and state 



1. Farmers desire to unite in tlie form of clubs, 

 unions, or stock associations, for the purpose of 

 showing that they can come together and cooperate 

 lite other folks, for a common good, and for the 

 moral effect it will have upon themselves and the 

 rest of mankind. 



2. They desire associaton for the purpose of con- 

 trolling the prices of their products through their 

 own boards of trade, or their own appointed agents, 

 so that nothing need be thrown upon the market for 

 less than the cost of production and a reasonable 

 profit. 



8. They desire to unite for the purpose of getting 

 their supplies at cost, with a reasonable per cent, 

 added, to pay for collecting and distributing, and 

 the use of capital. 



4. They desire to cooperate for the purpose of se- 

 curing a reduction in freights, and breaking the 

 blockade between different parts of the country, by 

 arguments, by legislative enactments, and by means 

 of the courts. 



5. They desire tax reform, the abolition of sine- 

 cure offices, the reduction of salaries, rigid economy 

 in public expenditures, and the repeal of our present 

 iniquitous tax penalties. 



8. They desire home manufactures ; so that money 

 paid for implements may be kept in the State, and 

 our populations increased by industrious operatives, 

 engaged in creating wealth, rather than in specula- 

 tion. 



7. They desire that the balance of our public do- 

 main should be kept forever sacred to actual settle- 

 ment, and in no contingency be allowed to fall into 

 the hands of railroad monopolies and land-sharks. 



Ketoleed, That organization is the great want of 

 the producing classes at the present time, and we 

 recommend every farmer in the State to become a 

 member of some farmers' club, grange of the Patrons 

 of Husbandry, or other local organization. 



Revoked, That the taxes assessed and charged 

 upon the people, both by national, State, and local 

 governments, are oppressive, unjust, and large sums 

 of money are collectedj far beyond the needs of an 

 economical administration of government. 



Retohed, That we respectfully request our Senators 

 and members of Congress to vote for and secure an 

 amendment to the tariff laws of the United States, 

 so that salt and lumber shall be placed on the free 

 list, and that there should be made a material reduc- 

 tion in the duty on iron, and that such articles as do 

 not pay the cost of collection be also placed on the 

 free list. 



fiftolaed, That we earnestly request the Legislature 

 of our State at its next session to enact a law regu- 

 lating freights and fares on our railroads, upon a 

 basis of justice, and that we further request our 

 members of Congress to urge the favorable action of 

 that body, where the full power exists beyond all 

 doubt, to the same end, and, if need be, to construct 

 national highways at the expense of the Govern- 

 ment. 



Besoleed, That the act passed by the last Legisla- 

 ture, exempting bonds, notes, mortgages, and judg- 

 ments from taxation, is unjust, oppressive, and a 

 palpable violation of our State constitution, and we 

 calf upon all assessors and the county boards to see 

 that said securities are taxed at their fair value. 



Baolwl, That the practice of voting municipal 

 bonds is pernicious in its effect, and will inevitably 

 bring bankruptcy and ruin upon the people, and 

 we therefore are opposed to all laws allowing the 

 issuance of such bonds. 



Resolved, That giving banks a monopoly of the 

 nation's currency, thereby compelling the people to 

 pay them such interest therefor as they may choose 

 to impose, seven-tenths of which interest we believe 

 is collected from the farmers, is but little less than 

 legalized robbery of the agricultural classes. 



Jleeolved, That, for the thorough and speedy ac- 

 complishment of all this, we pledge each other to 

 ignore all political preferences and prejudices that 

 have swayed us hitherto, to our hurt, and support 

 only such men for office as are known to be true 

 to our interests, and in whose integrity and honesty 

 we have the most implicit confidence. 



The permanent State organization was es- 

 tablished by the convention, to be known as 

 the "Farmers' Cooperative Association of the 

 State of Kansas," and having a president, vice- 

 president, secretary, treasurer, and board of 

 directors. 



The object of the Association was declared 

 to be the collection of statistics relative to the 

 products of the State, their amount, cost, and 

 value ; to assist the farmers in securing just 

 compensation for their labor; to cooperate 

 with similar organizations in other States in 

 procuring cheap transportation, and remuner- 

 ative prices for surplus products, and to act gen- 

 erally in the interest of the producing class. 



The State Grange assembled in Lawrence, 

 July 31st. Among the resolutions adopted 

 was one demanding either that farming prop- 

 erty be taxed as railroad property is, upon 

 the basis of its income, or that railroad prop- 

 erty be taxed upon the basis of value, inde- 

 pendent of income. 



The following amendment to the constitution 

 of Kansas, having been submitted to a popu- 

 lar vote in accordance with the action of the 

 Legislature at its last session, was ratified by a 

 majority of 3,051 votes, 32,240 votes being cast 

 for, and 29,189 against the amendment: 



That section two, article two, of the constitution 

 of the State of Kansas be amended as follows : The 

 number of representatives and senators shall be reg- 

 ulated by law, but shall never exceed one hundred 

 and twenty-five representatives and forty senators. 

 From and after the adoption of the amendment the 

 House of Representatives shall admit one member 

 from each county in which at least two hundred and 

 fifty legal votes were cast at the next preceding gen- 

 eral election; and each organized county in which 

 less than two hundred legal votes were cast at the 

 next preceding general election shall be attached to 

 and constitute a part of the representative district of 

 the county lying next adjacent to it on the east. 



The new Normal School building at Empo- 

 ria was formally opened in the latter part of 

 March. 



On the 26th of November, Robert Orozier 

 was appointed by Governor Osborn to fill the 

 vacancy in the United States Senate made by 

 the resignation, on the 24th of March, of Sen- 

 ator Caldwell. Mr. Crozier established the 

 Leaven worth Times in 1857, and was a mem- 

 ber of the Free State Territorial Council in 

 that year. Upon the resignation of Chief-Jus- 

 tice Swing in 1862 he was appointed by Gov- 

 ernor Robinson to fill the vacancy. Since 

 then he has mingled but little in politics. 



According to the Auditor's Report, the total 



