Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 January 1891 — STREETER IS THE MAN. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STREETER IS THE MAN.

ILLINOIS FARMERS WANT HIM FOR SENATOR. she F. M. B. A. Members of tbe Legislature Nominate the Mercer County Farmer to Succeed Senator Far well, and Announce Their Determination to Stand by Him. [Springfield, 111., dispatch.] Alson J. Streeter of New Windsor, Mercer County, is the candidate of the F. M. B. A. party of Illinois for United States Senator for the term of six years, to succeed Charles B. Farwell. This was unanimously decided upon at the caucus of the F. M. B - A. party, and Mr. Streeter was at once advised of the honor which had been conferred upon him. He was in consultation with l the three F. M. B. A. members, and they have* agreed to support him for an indefinite time, in the belief thatone or the other of the two old political parties must come to their support Mr. Streeter was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., Jan. 18, 1823, and will be 68 years old next week. He has been an active figure in Illinois politics since 1872, when he was elected as a member of the House of Representatives. Always a farmer, having no other calling or profession, he is known to the agriculturists of the entire West. He owns 1,000 acres of excellent farming land in

Mercer County and is a well-known breeder of fine stock. In 1884 Mr. Streeter was elected as an to the State Senate of Illinois. There he distinguished himself in the Sena-, torial contest by refusing to vote for William R. Morrison, the Democratic candidate. Morrison held that Streeter should support him because the Democrats of the Twenty-fourth Senatorial District had generally supported Mr? Streeter in the previous election. Two days before the United States Senator was elected Mr. Streeter, who had constantly voted for Gen. John C. Black for United States Senator, finally agreed that he would support Mr. Morrison if the latter would withdraw when his inability to be elected became apparent. This arrangement was carried out. Both Mr. Streeter and Speaker Haines, the Independent Democrat, voted for Mr. Morrison, and he twice received the full vote of the party, but was unable to be elected. Then he was dropped for Lambert Tree, who had no better success, the final result being that John A. Logan was re-elected. During Mr. Steeter’s service as a legislator he refused all favors to corporations and invariably sent 'back railroad passes tendered him. He led the fight several years ago in the Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners to compel railroads to sell him mileage tickets at the same rate given traveling men. In this fight he was finally successful. In 1888 Mr. Streeter was the United Labor candidate for Governor of the State of Illinois, and polled an unusually large vote. His public life has been, characterized by his opposition to corporations and his championship of the farmers in demanding radical reduction of railway rates. Mr. Cockrell was delegated by the other members of his party to communicate to the press the fact of Mr. Streeter's unanimous nomination by the F. M. B. A. for United states Senator, and in speaking of it, he said: “Simultaneous was the announcement to our F. M. B. A. brethren throughout the State of the nomination of Mr. Streeter. The principal reason that has impelled us to the solid support of Mr. Streeter is that his interests are identical with the industrial interests of the country, ho being a farmer himself, a man of property, independent of all political parties, and a ,m&R of tested courage. He has stood out independently for fifteen or sixteen years, and has spent his.own time and his own money fighting for the principles which the labor and farmer organizations of the country are now demanding. He has fought for these principles in times past when there was no hope of reward, when there was nothing in it except to be abused by his fellow-citizens Of opposite parties because his views happened to be unpopular at that time. Mr. Streeter has grown gray in the service. He has stood up year after year, until now, an old man, he finds that these principles, once unpopular, have become so popular that even the statesmen of the old political parties have come to us and promised to carry them out in a mild way. We have confidence in Mr. Streeter. In nominating him, the Democrats of our order cannot say that we are swerving to the Republicans, and-the Republicans of our order cannot say that we are swerving to the Democrats. Men of all shades of political opinion in our oraer will be satisfied with Mr. Streeter’s nomination. ”

A. J. STREETER.