86 THE GRANGER MOVEMENT 



fall elections. May 31, 1873, the committee-men, representing 

 the different townships in the county farmers' association, 

 adopted a platform or declaration of principles which so well 

 expressed the sentiments of farmers throughout the state that 

 it was adopted or indorsed by farmers' meetings in many other 

 counties. The preamble to this document asserted the failure 

 of the old parties, declared in favor of a new political organiza- 

 tion, and invited the cooperation of all other classes in carrying 

 out the declaration of principles. The platform which followed 

 expressed opposition to " railroad steals, tariff steals, salary- 

 grab steals," approved the control by law of railway corpora- 

 tions, denounced taxation for the benefit of special classes, 

 favored equal privileges for all in the banking system, " so that 

 supply and demand shall regulate our money market," opposed 

 further grants of public lands to corporations, and favored 

 " a true system of civil service reform " and the application 

 of the principle " that the office should seek the man and not 

 the man the office." l 



The adoption of this declaration was followed by the appoint- 

 ment of a committee to call a convention of farmers and all 

 others in sympathy with them to nominate candidates for 

 county officers. This action received the approval of Secre- 

 tary Smith of the State Farmers' Association and similar steps 

 were taken in other counties. 2 A great impetus was given to 

 the movement by the celebrations, on Independence Day, of 

 what was widely known as the " Farmers' Fourth of July." 

 At the suggestion of the executive committee of the State Farm- 

 ers' Association this day was made the occasion of numerous 

 and well attended gatherings of farmers in nearly every county 

 in the state. At most of these meetings an important part of 

 the program was the reading of the new " Farmers' Declaration 

 of Independence," which was circulated by the association. 

 This document was a skilful parody on the original Declaration 



1 Prairie Farmer, xliv. 187 (June 14, 1873); Chicago Tribune, June 3, 1873, 

 pp. 2, 4; Industrial Age, August 20, 1873, p. 7. For indorsements of the declara- 

 tion, see Chicago Tribune, June-August, 1873, Passim. 



2 Chicago Tribune, June, 1873, Passim; Industrial Age, August 20, 1873, PP- 4> ? 



