146 THE GRANGER MOVEMENT 



and memorials from farmers' organizations, praying for more 

 effective legislation; 1 and finally, late in February, came the 

 announcement of the decision of the supreme court in the McLean 

 County case, declaring the law of 1871 for the prevention of 

 extortion and unjust discrimination to be contrary to the state 

 constitution. Bills were at once introduced into both houses 

 to obviate the unconstitutional features of this law, 2 but it soon 

 became evident that the Granger element would insist on still 

 more radical legislation. 



Some thirty-five railroad bills of all sorts were introduced 

 into the two houses at this session. 3 Among the most significant 

 of these were bills for an anti-pass law; 4 to abolish the railroad 

 commission; to establish a fixed schedule of maximum rates; 

 for the state to defend citizens in suits brought against them 

 by the railroad companies, for riding at " legal fares"; and 

 several bills proposing to empower the railroad commission to 

 establish a schedule of maximum rates which should be prima 

 facie evidence of the reasonableness of railroad charges. For 

 a time it looked as if the multiplicity of proposed solutions for 

 the problem might prevent the enactment of any effective 

 legislation, and the farmers determined to bring additional 

 pressure to bear upon the general assembly. The method 

 adopted was the holding of a large convention of representatives 

 of the farmers' organizations of the state. 5 This convention met 

 at the state capital, April 2, 1873, with delegates present from 

 seventy-two of the one hundred and one counties, and resolved 

 " that we regard it as the undoubted power and imperative 



1 Chicago Tribune, March 29, 1873, P- i; House Journal, 1873, PP- 209, 219, 

 229, 247, 249, 260, 271, 277, 289, 312, 322, 328, 334, 353, 386, 392, 396, 420, 437, 

 505, 609; Senate Journal, 1873, PP- *32, 182, 221, 230, 232, 248, 257, 262, 273, 287, 

 321, 334, 364, 4i8, 445. 



2 Chicago Tribune, March 3, 1873, p. 2; House Journal, 1873, pp. 276, 340, 391; 

 Senate Journal, 1873, p. 336. 



8 See Senate and House Journals, indexes under " Railroads." 

 4 Anti-pass resolutions were adopted at meetings all over the state and repre- 

 sentatives were asked in vain to surrender their passes. The bill on this subject 

 was introduced into the lower house and referred to the committee on public 

 charities. Later it was referred to the judiciary committee and appeared no more. 

 Chicago Tribune, March 20, 1873, p. 2; House Journal, 1873, pp. 157, 380. 

 6 See above, p. 83. 



