New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-18
THE FARMERS WAR.
, ppv1Ew OF THE MOVEMENT.


--lNFIUENCEs OF GRANGE MEBTlNGs-HAPrnlR
MONIES AND BETTER FARMERS - THRIFT AND
--la, ECONOMY rSCuLCATED-PoIrTIcAL NEUTRALITY
OF THE oRDER--MARvEIoUs PROGRESS OF THE
FARMERS MOVEMENT.
IrRoM the SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT TRBUSE.l
CLEVELAND, o., Oct. l0.--What is the Grange, any
how what ia it's extenti what are it's objectsi how
does il propose to accomplish them is it political
body what are its relations to existing political
parties'-are questions that have been asked Of me
ahundred times since my return from the West.
In the long series of letters from the great centers of
the Farmers Movement, already printed In IIIE
TRIBUNE, l have attempted to answer all OF these
questions far as they relate to the States IRON
which they were written. A brief review OF the en-
tire Farmers Movement with some general reInar ks
upon its relative strength and its general objects,
viii not be without value rs supplement- 10 the leu
tiers already printed.
The Grange OF Order OF the Patrons of Husbandry
is secret organization of farmers. 1t was founded
in Washington ID. c., several years ago its first OFF,
Gers being gentlemen employed in the Agricultural
Department. Its objects are to improve the moral
social intellectual, and material condition OF It's
members and whatever tends to accomplish either
of these purposes comes legtimately within It's
province The supreme power of the Order is lodged
in the National Grange, which is composed OF the
Masters of all State Oranges, and meets annually.
Its last gathering was held at Washington, ID. c.,
last Winter and the mex. is appointed for st. Louis
some time early in the coming year. The National
Grange has supreme control in all matters affecting
the general welfare of the Order; the constitution
which il adopts is binding upon every State Grange
and also upon all of the subordinate Oranges III the
States. Its headquarters III Washington, and
from its Office there are issued weekly the reports of
the Secretary and Treasurer-the first showing the
number of subordinate Oranges formed from week
to week, and the latter showing the financial con-
,iition of the Order. The Farmers Loan and Trust
Company Of New YoTk is its fiscal agent Between the
National Grange and the subordinate Oranges, where
the important work of the Order is done, are the
State Oranges composed of the Masters of the local
organizations and at their yearly meetings forming
superior courts of appeal to which may be carried
all questions arising in the subordinate Oranges.
SOCIAL OBJECTS OF THE ORANGES.
For admission TO the Order of the Patrons Of Hus-
bandry the only qualifications required, beyond that
of suitable age are that the candidate shall be
practical farmer or the wife or daughter of one, and
shall be of good moral character though each Grange
retains the right to reject any candidate whose name
is presented without making explanation. The ex-
pepses of the Order are leht-the initiation fee for
men is five dollars and for women three dollars, and
the monthly dues only few cents
The first object of the Grange is to afford its men,
bers an opportunity for social, intellectual, and
moral improvement. No class in the community Is
30 greatly in need Of organization to draw them
away, occasionally, from the hum-dEum drudgeTy OF
tbeir daily duties and to bring them into contact
with each other as the farmers. Dwelling apart
each family by ITSELF they have none of the excite
ments that make city life attractive and are apt to
become more and more rusty in mind as increasing
cares grow upon them. Amusements and holidays
are almost unknown. Those religiously inclined
find mild excitement in weekly attendance az
church; those not so may spend the Sunday in lazy
lounging or in hunting or fishing. The county 1alr
occurs on a red-letter day in the farmers calendar
md wedding or a funeral marks an epoch in their
lives The life of the farmers wife Is even less at
tractive; time was when young American women
born and bred in the country were glad to go ont
IN do homework" and a wOman's help" IN the
house was intelligent and capable. That time has
passed. intelligent American girls If their services
are not needed at home, and they are obliged wholly
or partialv to earn their own living become teach
ers OF seek employment in the cities and villages,
while the only household help" that can be OBJ
tanned is of the raw Irish German variety which
requires generation III which 10 be educated, and
which when educated ceases to be obtainable. The
farmers wife, therefore though she may be able and
willing TO pay for good assistance, cannot get IT. and
Is Obliged to make a slave Of herself working from
suurise to sunset through the long Summer days
until nature itself fairly gives away. do not eX-
aggerate. have seen the haggard looks and heard
The weary slgbs of overwOrked farmers wives in
the Fast and in the West. have seen broad acres
of highly cultivated land groaning under the abund
ANT crops. GOOD houses and barns, fine stock and
money to the farmers credit ia the bank, but the
order and cleanliness that Teigned indoors in har
vest tune, when twenty hungry men sat around the
farmers board as well as when the family only were
there were too often purchased at the price OF the
premature old age of the wife, Anything That VIII
break in upon this tread-mill life which, though not
quite universal is altogether too common, should be
hailed with joy by the farmer and his family
TIE GRANGE MAKING BETTER FARMERS.
And thisis what the Grange aims to do. Once in
two weeks sometimes every weeklits members meet
In some convenient hall which they either hire or
OWN, each family bringing its basket o. food Many
hands make light work; cooking utensils. dishes and
tables are owned by the Grange bountiful feast is
soon prepared, and the afternoon is spent in social
pleasures or in discussions upon subjects in which
they are mutually Interested Who can doubt that
al occasional breaking away from work by the
farmer and his family even though he should get no
new ideas will improve them all in health and
make them better able to perform their routine of
duties
But the Grange strives directly to make better
farmers and Of this there is certainly need. Many
of the agrculturistsof the West and Northwest left
Eastern farms where high cultivation and intelligent
management were necessary to insure a living and
IL they were fair farmers there they have generally
been abundantly successful in the West. But there
is large class of men who have gone upon the wild
lands of the West-Irish, German, Scandinavian i'm
migrants gathered in Europe by railroad and emf
grafton agents-whOse knowledge of agriculture is
of the most limited kind, and who have everything