Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1871-03-23
The Patrons Of Husbandry.
~ D. W. ADAMS.

Through all the business relations
OF civilized lite unions Of various kinds
are the rule. and the more perfect
they are the greater the strength -
Merchants have their Board OF Trade.
Shoemakers have Knights OF St. CHS
pin. Lawyers have their conventions
and Physicians conclaves, where pric-
cs arc fixed, and no one dare disc
hey the edicts Of these Mons. But
, how is it with the Agriculturlst.-
Alas we have nothing of the kind
Each one is working away against the
world, unaide! and alone. Immense
in numbers and wealth; superior to
any other calling in these great sourc
Is of power-yet we are powerless.
An immense helpless mob surging to
ard fro without aim or method, the
little squads Of we'll drilled lawyers
aud doctors charg. through and
through our poor disordcred mass,
and freely plander tl4eir pockets.
Railroads. Tclegraphs, Commission
Men, Mechanics, join in the pursuit
with no fear OF successful resistance.
Like rabbits, we are the prey Of
hawks by day, owls and foxes by
night. Is there no remedy for this ?
Is there anything in the occupation
of agriculture that makes man le-
gitimate prey for all the human van-
pires that infcst the earth? Is the
business OF tllling the soil so benumb-
ing to the mind and all the finer SEN
sibilities that we can contentedly ac-
cept and endure this state OF affairs ?
Are We willing to admit that strong
as we are in wealth aud numbers we
arc incapable of self defence Is
there not enough of mind in our ranks
to devise and execute plan for our
redemption from the position of slave
we now occupy? For one, when l
look abroad upon these broad prai-
RES, the granaries Of the world, own
ed by those who till them, and hold
ing in their minds such elements OF
power, | must admit that shame man.
ties my face that no systematic effort
is made .or its use, at least in self de-
fence. A farmer has field of wheat
ready tor the sickle aud it must be
cut. Laborers fix the price at which
they will assist in the harves.; the
farmer submits Threshers fix among
themselves the price they will have
for threshing, and again the farmer
submits. The railroad companies fix
the price at which they viii carry the
grain to Chicago; elevators fix the
price of handling it; and buyers f.
nally agree how much they will give
for it; and each one of these middle
men take such a slice as he pleases,
and the farmer timidly submits. This
wheat now goes through steamers,
sloops, and more elevators, more
spectators, canals, railroads. etc,
each one absolutely making his own
terms and on'y the producers end
consumers are helpless. These two
classes, the most deserving Of all, are
the victims of few classes, small in
numbers but strong by being deter
mined, thoroughly united, yet having
not another solitary element of
strength at command They do not
produce a pound of meat, bushel of
wheat, a yard OF cloth or pig OF iron.
They cannot subsist month without
us. We can without them. We have
the power we must use It. The
farmers hare got tie lines, ,cAy don't they
drire
The Patrons of Husbandry is an
order. secret in its organization, in
tended to be a nucleus around which
the agncul,urists can rally, and rem
der available their immense power.
It's head consists OF National Grange,
located at Washington, a State
Grargc in each State, and Subordi-
nate Oranges may be formed III every
ncighborhood. They are bound to
each other by certain ralcs and by
common interest. 1t is intended that
this organic tion shall act as mcdi-
UNI OF communication and action tor
its members all over the States. II
an object Is to be accomplished the
machinery of this organization is di-
rected towards it, instead Of the un-
aided efforts of a single individual.
For instance a man wants plow.
He goes to plow.dcaler and gets
the price. 1t seems high. There is
no appeal; he can tako it or leave it..
How does it happen that he is charg.
ed $50, for plow that cost the maker
$40. Thus: The maker must make a
profit, the general agent must make
a profit, the printer must make a
profit, the sub-agents must make a
profit, the dealer must make profit,
and the Farmer must pay them all.
Now, suppose he is q member Of a
Grange Hc lays the matter Eetorc
the next meeting. 1t soon appears
that there are a number of others who
also want new rlows. 1t is soon de-
cidcd to instruct the Secretary, or
some competent committee, to inter-
view either the manufacturer or gen
eral agent, AMI tell him larg, and
wealthy organization of Farmers want
some plows, and will continue to
from year to year, and that they ex-
pect to use them III wholesale quan
titles, and get them at Wholesale rates
aud you ,ciW get themn
You want suit of clothes. The
merchan. tells you the price and you
can pay or wear your old ones. Take
this matter to yo:r Grange; send
your committee to the traders of
your town. This committee tells Mr..
Merchant: Il represent Grange Of
Patrons, and the members Of my
Grange want goods. We expect 70
buy largely, aud shall buy where we
can get them at satisfactory rates. 1t
no merchant here will sell at such As
we deem just, we have determined TO
l. IN