The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-12-18
THE FOUNDER OK THE
ORANGES.
His Personal Appearance and
CharRcGer--Fhe slow Growth OF
the Order-.Tfs Remar kabIe
Progress In the LASS Ten
MOnths--CO.OpermG
Purchasing.
[ Washington Correspondence OF the New
York Tribuue.J

Washington Correspondence OF the New
York Tribuue.J
have recently enjoyed several pies
ant conversations with William Saunders
the man who dreamed, aud thought out
land inaugurated the Order of the Patron:
of Husbandry, commonly referred to as
the Order of the Changers. Mr.. Saunders
is genial, transformations, sensible Scoth-
man. He is upward of so years of age,
a man flarge frame, something above
medium height, with grey hair, a beard
almost white, and, although his complex
ion is rather dark, he has the ,ightest
| blue eyes [ ever saw-eyes which would
delight the transcendental A cott, who be-
lieves that the blue-eyed will inherit the
earth. He has high and somewhat re-
| treating forehead, a nose which evinces
strength of character. and rather sober
expression of countenance, as man of
| thought rather than man who is con-
| trolled by his feelings. His bearing is
such that he ELECTS good will from others;
| those who are associated with him hold
ing him in profound and even tender re
gard.
1917. Prior to that time he had been
engaged in horticultural and agricultural
pursuits in and about London, where he
also organized several societies of persons
engaged in occupations similar to his own.
For several years past he has been, as he
is at present, the Superintendent of the
gardens of the Department of agriculture,
and the beauty of the gardens, consider
ing the brief period they have been in ex-
istence, certainly does credit to his skill
and taste.
The Order of the Patrons of Husband
ry was first conceived in his mind some
seven years ago. The grand objects he
had in view were general improvement in
husbandry, the promotion of the welfare
and happiness of those engaged in ag-
ricultural and kindred pursuits, and the
increase, consequent upon these, of the
general wealth and prosperity of the coun-
try. He had observed that the popular
modes of treating an interest, in husband
ry, and of securing diffusion Of knowl
edge with view to its application for the
increase of the products of the soil, were
imperfect and wholly inadequate. He
saw that, for the welfare of the great pro-
ducing masses of the country, and for eff
ficiency in their labors, two things were es-
standardization, especially instruction
in relation to the best method of produc-
ton, and unity of action, and these two
essentials he kept, and still keeps, steadily
in view.
The first remark he made to me, upon
my referring to the great interest the pub
lie was taking in the Order of the Gran
gers, was, that there was gross misun-
Outstanding in the popular mind as to the
main purposes of the Order. He said it
was generally supposed that it was an or
ganization to fight monopolies and to con-
troll political action, but that, so far from
this being the case, it was an organization |
of the Patrons of Husbandry for pur-
poses of simple education and business,
for instruction in horticulture and agricul- |
ture, and for economy and efficiency in
their private burSness transactions.
Having settled upon the ends to be ac-
he spent two years-1S65 and
1866-in corresponding with the principal
agriculiurists of this country and Great |
Britain, with the view of interesting them |
in his project. Referring to his CORES
pondence then and since, which has been
very extensive, he assured me that in it |
all he had never made use of franked
envelope, although the franked envelopes
Of the Agricultural Bureau were always
at his disposal. At length, after much
labor and p eparation, in December, 1867,
the first Grange was organized in this city,
of various agriculturists from
various States of the Union. Soon after
ward the Secretary of this first Grange,
while, on visit to his friends in Min
nessota, organized the second Grange,
and during the five years following socie-
ties were formed to a considerable num-
Der in various States. But the progress
of the movement was slow, and the foun-
der met with numerous discouragements.
Many Oranges disbanded, failing to real
ize the great advantages that had been
held out to them, and he was obliged to
urge the others, by letter, to hold on, as
surfing them that considerable results
could not be counted on until the move
ment had become extensive, but that,
when it did once get well under way,
they would, to use his phrase, edo big
business.
Mr. Saunders stated that during the
six years when he was seeking to place
before the farmers of the country his
plans for their self-improvement and self
he sought with little success,
to enlist the press in the service of his
cause. He said that publishers seldom
cared to hear further OF his project after
he had once informed them that one of
his purposes was to get rid of the vast
number of middlemen-agents and retail
operate between the manufac-
ture and farmer They promptly assur-
ed him that these middlemen were the
best patrons of their advertising columns,
and that they were not disposed to take
up an enterprise that would initiate
against themselves.
Eleven months ago there were but l., 100
Oranges in the whole country. 1t was
then that the movement took a sudden
forward start, and it has since grown
with a rapidity astounding to Mr.. Saun-
ders, and everybody else. There are
now over $500 Oranges in all the States,
and they are increasing by the hundreds
weekly. There are over ], 800 in Iowa
alone. In Pennsylvania, twenty-eight
Oranges were formed not long ago, the
result of an agents labors there for a few
weeks. Speaking of the rapid growth, Mr..
Saunders remarked to me that the thing
was now beyond mis- control, and that he
could do little else than sit still and OBJ
serve its course. Still he receives large
mail daily from all parts of the country,
and he has numerous calls from people
interested in the movement. The report
ed membership is nearly $4,000.
Mr.. Saunders declares that he has no
fight to make with the railroads nor with
niddlenen His whole affair is with the
farmers. The moment they begin to act /
- H. vo;Iwoadz Mill haoor,a tha;r