The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1873-07-17
THE PATRONS OF HUBANDRY.

combination are we'll enough understood
and appreciated at the present day, and the
rapid growth of the. society known as Fat
rons of Husbandry, only illustrates the.want
that has been felt for the protection agains
the peculiar species of tyranny from which
| those who have enrolled themselves together
have suffered.
The leading ideas of the organization are
based upon selfinterest, upon the determina
tion to throw off, not only the tryanny.o
railroad corporations, but to get rid of.tht
exactions of middle men, who now reap the
lions share of the Profits Of the farmers
This is proposed to be done by the appoint
ment of special agents in the towns, or points
Of shipments, upon whom they concentrate
their whole patronage, and to whom they
entrust. not only the sales of their grain,
ect., but also the purchase of their sup
plies of iron, sugar, salt, etc. !.
These, so far as can be seen, are the, OBJ
! jccts of the society. 1t is not difficult to
see that these organizations will be capable
Of producing great effects i'll the future,
remembering the quite pfodigious proper
tions which the movemcnt has already as
.sumed. The order claims to be altogether
non- political, and it is admitted that it may
be of vast benefit to the country in carrying
out its peculiar object, and championpg
the farmers, and with them society at larg8
against the domination or rings = &.
At the present day, the the tendency OF
businefs is to concentrate all operations 10
the hands of few, the consequence OF
which is to place everything at the mercy
of combinations. Prices rise or fall at the
dictation of these parties, and nothing is
assured of fixed value. Some become
enormously rich, at the expense OF many,
and cement their power by the corruption
of government and government officials.
To combat these rings, and to rescue the
government from corrupt hands is what the
Patrons of Husbandry aim at. Thus the
new organization promises great good to
the country, while the purity of its opera
ton is maintained and its originally chosen
objects are kept in view.
The prodigiously rapid rise Of this body
to the dimensions Of power in the land,
is illustrated by the fact that within the
past year 377 oranges have been organized,
with an aggregate membership of 2,6OO,OO0,
the number being daily on the increase.
The society Is secret one, ahd no one rs
allowed to cross the threshold Of these
grange halls but members. There = cling;
sz.s- a..zss:.-4;..::ss s e
quaintness SO much affected by other secret
societies. Women as well as men are ad-
mitted to the highest degrees in the sub
ordinate oranges, up to the forth degree but
not beyond. Members admitted to the
first degree are known respectively as
Laborer and Maid: in the second degree, as
Cultivator and Shcpherdess; in the third
degree, as Harvester and Cleaner, and in
the fourth as Husbandman and Matrons.
Higher up we have the Pomona or Hope
Grange, composed only of Masters and Past
Masters of subordinate oranges superior
degree is conferred only on members
of the council of the national grange. This
council is composed Of Masters and Past
Masters of the State oranges. The seventh
degree is conferred only on members OF the
National Senate The Supreme Executive
authority in the order is lodged in the
Master of the National grange. The
establishment of this order appears to be
quite prominent and peculiar feature of
the times. The particulars Of its organiza-
ton as of other secret societies are vague, be-
yond a most general idea, gathered perhaps
more from what it has accomplished than
from the ayowed intention, which has been
stated above. 1t is. said that the order ex-
ercises a moral supervision OF It's members,
and provides for the care Of such as may be
unfortunate. 1t has been we'll remarked
that its vast increase in numbers, implying a
corresponding acccptability, its general and
and rapid diffusion oyer the country, and
its manifestations of power and purpose.
constitute an interesting study for the
sociologist aud publicist. One would like
to have its objects more clearly defined
We are told that "already in many localities
the occupation of the agents or middle men
who deal in manufactured wares consumed
bv farmers has become obsolete" in some
places the oranges have purchased or leased
grain elevators In Iowa they have built an
agricultural implement manuiactory OF ex-
tensive capacity.
An Eastern paper speaking of the oranges
gays: "One-third of all the elevators and
grain warehouses in the State are now own
ed or controlled by oranges, and no less
thon five million bushels of grain were
shipyed to Chicago on grange account prior
to December 1st The number Of cattle
and hogs shipped in the same manner is
enormous
In addition to the before mentioned
features of this remarkable movement, is
the one that 1t has operated among class
that one would have supposed the least
susceptible to influences Of this kind. The
world will doubtless watch with interest
/ e A. .rnr4ntinnn Il fhis inf Mnnnrn