The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-12-18
The Changers.
Circular From the Secretary of the New
York state Grange.

Sprague, Secretary of the State Grange
of Patrons of Husbandry, has been is
sued:
To the Farmers and HorticulturiSts of
the State of NeU York:
Owing to the general interest mani
tested by agriculturists in the Order of
Patrons of Husbandry, and on account
of the numerous inquiries from all parts
of the State being daily received by me
as to the objects of the order and the
benefits to be derived therefrom, it
seems to me that some general state
ment covering most of these inquiries
is proper for the general information of
the public. This letter is intended for
that purpose. The aim of the order is
to benefit the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
intellectually and financially.
It is fact that people who mingle
little with the world and go little in
society are not possessed of that ease
and grace of manner and conversation
which is acquired by others who go
into society more. Many of our farm
ers enjoy all these advantages others
do not to so great an extent. By our
order we establish social organiza-
ton which extends for miles around,
where the advantages of society are OBJ
tanned, where by mingling in social en-
! joyment we wear off much of the diff
dence and awkwardness of manner
which are natural to persons who live
in an isolated condition.
The farmers son or daughter who is
brought up without seeing much of So
ciety acquires sort of diffidence or
bashfulness in their manner which is
frequently a source of embarrassment
during their whole lifetime. The an
tidote for all this is supplied by the So
cial features of the grange. Besides
there is much real pleasure and enjoy
ment in socialintercourse of the grange
"'Tis not all of life to live. Intellec-
tually, it is the aim of this order to
educate the farmer up to a full and
parfect understanding of the RESPONSE
bility that rests upon him as a citizen,
to keep him posted upon all matters
that affect his business. 1t requires
more education, more knowledge, more
science to prosecute the business of ag-
riculture successfully than is required
by any other business. To perform all
the duties of citizen and a farmer in
telligently, the farmer should be thor
oughly posted in political economy,
science of government, and science of
agriculture. Tt is q fec trre ,af this order
which may enlighten him as s'SS1on " OF
duties as a citizen.
The diversity Of soil and climate, and
the great variety of productions and
their relative value, give wide range
for thought, and require an extensive
knowledge of the experience of others
added to his own Investigations, and
experiments to make a successful farm
er. By an interchange of experience in
oura agricultural operations in the grange,
we gain much valuable information,
which would be difficult to be acquired
in any other manner. In this way
we acquire not merely the theory of
farming, but the practical experience of
our best farmers who are operating in
the same climate and upon the same
kind of soil, and who have the same
obstacles to overcome. To become good
and intelligent citizens it is necessary
that we should have thorough under
standing of our system of government,
and the principles upon which it is
founded. Also q thorough knowledge
OF political economy. These are proper
subjects for discussion in the grange.
So, also, would be any question of prin-
ciple or government policy; but an at
tempt to pledge the order to any politi-
cal party or candidates would be highly
improper, and could not be tolerated
for one moment in the grange.
While it must be distinctly under
stood that this order is not political
organization, and political discussions
Will not be tolerated in the grange, yet
it will undoubtedly exert a powerful
influence upon political parties by edu-
eating the citizen up to be an indie
pendent thinker and actor in his own
political organization. In the manage
ment of political parties, as conducted
at the present time, the politician is
master of the people, but through the
influence of this order we hope to see
the people again master of the poll
tician. This will be accomplished by
the general diffusion of knowledge
through correspondence between differ
ent oranges, and by general inter
change of thought in the grange. We
can also have libraries in which all can
have access. 1t is expensive for each
farmer to purchase library for himself
alone extensive enough to cover all the
subjects which he might wish to inves-
tigate, but in the grange he can be sup
piled. 1t would take too much space
to enumerate all the advantages that
would accrue under this feature of the
grange, but enough has been said to
show the general objects in this line.
The benefits to be derived from this
feature of the order are so extensive,
that 1 shall attempt only to give an
sutline of the way in which the grange
operates to benefit the farmer financial
ly. This is accomplished by combina-
tion in making their purchases of sup
plies, such as fertilizers, mchinery,
stock, &C., and in selling their pro-
ducts. By means of this order we are
enabled to bring the producer and con-
sumer together, and by this means to
save between the two classes the large
profits of the middlemen. We do not
desire to do away entirely with mid.
dlemen, but we do think through the
grange we can dispense with the SER
vices of large class of drummers, and
who are the drones in the great hive OF
industry. 1t is estimated that the farm.
ers belonging to the oranges in the
State of Iowa, during the present year
have saved in the purchase of reapers
alone the large sum of $3.50, 900, and
, that in buying their supplies and sell
, ing their products they have saved ovel
1000, 600 in the same time. To secure
these advantages to the farmers of this