220 THE GRANGER MOVEMENT 



and attention to the transportation problem. 1 It also favored 

 the construction of more railroads and canals; but adopted a 

 resolution recommending : 



that efforts be made and persevered in, until all railway corporations shall 

 be subjected to the regulation of the General and State Governments, so 

 as to insure the absolute and perpetual prohibition and prevention of ex- 

 tortionate charges and unjust discrimination. 



Late in October of the same year, a Northwestern Farmers' 

 Convention was held in Chicago with two hundred delegates 

 present, mainly from Illinois but a few from the other states 

 of the Northwest. 2 The first object of this convention was 

 stated by Mr. Flagg, the president of the Illinois State Farmers' 

 Association, to be: " Cheap Transportation, embracing water 

 transportation; regulations by legislation, State and National, 

 of existing railways; Governmental railways." Among the 

 resolutions adopted by this convention was one requesting 

 Congress " without needless delay to pass a maximum freight 

 and passenger law regulating traffic between the States," and 

 protesting " against the further granting of any subsidies what- 

 ever to private corporations of any kind." Another resolution 

 favored the construction and operation of canals by the national 

 government. In addition, the convention, by invitation of 

 Senator Windom, appointed a committee to meet with the 

 Senate committee on transportation routes to the seaboard 

 and supply it with information and suggestions. 



These various conventions, which are manifestations of the 

 widespread interest in the transportation question during 1873, 

 served to extend and keep alive that interest. As a result, 

 much attention was attracted by the investigations and report 

 of the Windom committee, which began its sessions in New York 

 in September. Some complaint was heard of the railroad con- 



1 American Annual Cyclopedia, 1873, pp. 376-378, 754-757; Nation, xvi. 377 

 (June 5, 1873). 



2 For the proceedings of this convention in full, see Windom Committee, 

 Report, ii. 653-673. See also Martin, Grange Movement, 509; American Annual 

 Cyclopedia, 1873, P- 3 68 J Prairie Farmer, xliv. 315, 345-347 (October 4, November 

 i, 1873); Chicago Tribune, 1873, October 2 3> ? 3> October 24, p. i; Industrial Age, 

 September 27, 1873, p. 4. 



