The Jasper Weekly Courier

The Farmers' Movement of Iowa.

The farmers of Iowa held a Convention at Des Moines on the 13th inst., and nominated a State ticket as follows:
Jacob G. Vale, Governor; Fred. O'Donnell, Lieutenant Governor; B. J. Hall, Supreme Judge; Prof. D. W. Prindle, Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The committee on resolutions then reported the following platform, which was adopted unanimously without debate:

Whereas. Political parties are formed to meet public emergencies, and when they have discharged the duty which called them into being, they may become the means of abuses as gross as those they were organized to reform.

Now, whereas, both the political parties have discharged the obligations assumed at their organization, and are no longer potent as instruments for the reform of abuses which have grown up in them.

Therefore we deem it inconsistent to attempt to accomplish a political reform by acting with and in such organizations. Therefore.

Resolved. That we in free convention do declare as the basis of our future political action

First That all corporations are subject to Legislative control. That those created by Congress should be restricted and controlled by Congress, and that those under State laws should be subject to the control respective of the States creating them. That such Legislative control should be in express abrogation of the theory of the inextinguishable nature of chartered rights and that it should be at all times so used as to prevent gobbled corporations from becoming engines of oppression.

Resolved. That property of all corporations should be assessed by the same officers, and taxed at the same rate as the property of individuals.

Resolved. That the Legislature of Iowa should by law fix the maximum rates of freight to be charged by the railroads of the State, leaving them free to compete below the rates.

Resolved. That we favor such modification of our banking system as will extend its benefits to the whole people, and, thus destroying all monopoly now enjoyed by a favored few.

Resolved. That we demand a general revision of the present tariff laws that shall give us free salt, iron, lumber and cotton and wool fabrics, and reduce the whole system to a revenue basis only.

Resolved. That we will not knowingly nominate any bad men to office, nor give place to persistent seekers therefor but will freely seek for ourselves competent officers, as heretofore political leaders have sought office for themselves. And that we will nominate only those known to be faithful and in sympathy with these declarations, and will at the polls repudiate any candidates known to be unfit or incompetent.

Resolved. That we demand the repeal of the back salary act, and the return to the United States Treasury of all money drawn thereunder by members of the late Congress and members of the present Congress. We demand the repeal of the law increasing salaries, and the passage of a law fixing a lower and more reasonable compensation for public officers, believing that until the public debt is paid, and the public burden lightened, the salaries of our public servants should be more in proportion to the reward of labor in private life.

Resolved. That we are opposed to all future grants of land to railroad or other corporations, and believe that the public domain should be held sacred to actual settlers, and we are in favor of a law by which each honorably discharged soldier or his heirs may use such a discharge in any Government land office in full payment of a quarter-section of unappropriated public land.

Resolved. That all public officers who betray their pledges and trust are unworthy of renewed confidence, and those who criminally trifle with the public funds, must be punished as criminals, regardless of their previous influence or the political importance of their bondsmen.

Resolved. That we are in favor of a strict construction of our Constitution by our Supreme and other courts, and are opposed to the exercise of all doubtful powers by judicial and other officers.

Resolved. That in the corrupt Tammany steal, the Credit Mobilier fraud, the Congressional salary swindle, and the official embezzlements, and the hundreds of other combinations, steals, frauds, and swindles by which Democratic and Republican legislators, Congressmen, and office-holders have enriched themselves, defrauded the country and impoverished the people, we find the necessity independent action and the importance of united effort, and we cordially invite all men of whatever calling, business, trade, or vocation, regardless of political views, to join us in removing the evils that so seriously affect all.

-Iowa Independent writes "private" in the corners of their postal cards