TilE FARMERS WAR AGAINST MONOPOLIES. 347 



CHAPTER XIX. 



FARMER SMITH SPEAKS HIS MIND. 



The Secretary of the Illinois Farmers' State Association Speech at Carrollton 

 Views of a Practical and Thinking Farmer Sound Views for the Con- 

 sideration of the Farmers of the Union Mr. Smith's Homestead A com- 

 fortable Western Farm A quiet Talk with Farmer Smith His Statement 

 of the Farmers' Wrongs, and his Views as to the Remedy Corn selling for 

 less than Cost " Sixty Bushels of Corn to buy Two Pairs of Boys' Boots" 

 The Mysteries of Western Coal Selling The Farms more heavily taxed 

 than the Railroads The Grange offers the best Remedy, and the best 

 Means of attaining it. 



PROMINENT among the Western farmers who have 

 devoted themselves to a practical solution of the ques- 

 tions we have been discussing, is Mr. Stephen M. Smith, 

 of Illinois. He is the secretary of the Farmers' State 

 Association of Illinois, and a man of vigorous and inde- 

 pendent mind. As he speaks not only for himself, but 

 for a large and influential class of farmers, we quote 

 here at length from his public declarations. We do 

 this not only to commend his remarks to the careful 

 consideration of those of our readers interested in these 

 questions, but in support of our assertions respecting the 

 grievances and opinions of the farmers of the United 

 States. In an address delivered to the farmers at Car- 

 rollton, Ills., on the 3d of September, 1873, he said : 



" For a purpose evident enough, the report of my 

 Winchester speech of August 9th has been published 

 in every paper which does not happen to agree with me 

 politically, especially all over this State and the State 



