Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-12-11

the HERALD mas Cdlleu dIteHtiOu w thC
rapidly increasing order of the Patrons
of Husbandry, and endeavored to ex-
plain, as far as outsiders could judge,
by candid observations, what are the
purposes and objects of the new move
ment. We do not profess any special
knowledge of the tenets and workings
of this order, beyond what is within the
reach of everybody, and we have no
commission to divulge any of its secrets,
or explain its ritual, because we have not
been initiated, and have no right to
know them but we feel certain that
much misrepresentation exists in refer
ence to this movement, and that GER
tain class of politicians are using the
Shiny tricks of their profession to dis
courage It's progress. Those who sup
pose that the grangers are political Or
ganization, by means of which small
politicians can fill their hair with hay
seed, and with an OK whip in their use
less hand, ride safely into places for
which they have no fitness, will find
that they have made mistake, and that
the only advantage they can derive from
the new order will be derived from the
sprouting of the hay seed among the
rubbish and slush of their uncombGd
Wilderness of dirty hair.
Seven years ago the idea OF this or
ganization, the Patrons of Husbandry,
was first entertained. Its originator, MIR.
William Saunders, came to this country
from Scotland in 1947, and since that
time had given much attention to the
subject of domestic and political econo-
my, as applicable to the every day life
of the people of his adopted country.
In the old country he had gained some
renown by the establishment of several
societies of farmers and gardeners, for
mutual progress and improvement in
their business, as well as to lessen the
expenses and promote the comfort of
their lives, by the principles of coop
Grafton, in the buying and procuring
those things they must buy, and in sell
ing what they had to dispose of. For
the last few years, Mr.. Saunders has
been and now is superintendent of the
gardens of the department of agriculture
at Washington, where he has done well.
When he first conceived the idea of an
organization of farmers, it was to pro-
mote union among them, to spread ag-
ricultural information, and generally to
foster that interchange of views and as
sistance in trade which would do much
to increase the actual wealth of the
farming classes. The particular points
he has always held prominent are the
education of the farmers and unity of
action among them, political power
never being considered in his efforts to
better the class he was working for.
The first grange was organized in
Washington city in December, 1867, and
was composed of farmers from several
different States. The second one was
organized in the State of Minnesota soon
afterwards, and within few months a
number of others sprang up in the West,
but there did not seem to be sufficient
vitality to the order to sustain it, and the
lodges were discontinued about as fast
as they could be instituted. The press
treated the order with distrust, and the
farmers themselves asked each other
what good these oranges were to them.
Mr.. Saunders explained his purposes,
and wrote innumerable letters, setting
forth the advantages of higher special
education of farmers and greater unity
of action among them in doing their
business but as the material fruits OF
the enterprise were not apparent to the
public to whom they addressed them
selves, the movement progressed very
slowly, until the Secretary of the State
Grange of Illinois made practical ap-
plication of the benefits of cooperation,
by procuring for the members of the
order in that State, reapers for 800 each
that they must otherwise pay $3.50 for.
They appreciated the $50 saved. He
then applied the principle of co-opera-
ton to sewing machines, and sold in q
month nine hundred machines for $3t
each, that they otherwise had to pay SEC
for. This was the first step in its rapid
progress, and one of It's cardinal princi.
pies Is involved in that cooperation
that saves money in the purchase OF
supplies.
The total membership of the oranges
in this country now exceeds six hundred
and fifty thousand, and it is growing
rapidly. Everybody sees the benefits to
be derived from it in the economy OF
doing their business, when they can save
the large profits they otherwise have tC
pay to unnecessary middlemen between
the producer and consumer co-opera-
tion as applied to the every day business
of life, the oranges seek to establish,
but that is not all they strive to create
union and sympathy among farmers, and
promote higher social life, as means
of the increase of wealth, and improve.
ment in the condition of farmers. They
have many valuable features, and are
worthy of all encouragement. 1t is not
political organization in partizar
sense but while it adds material pros.
perity to the farmer and laboring man,
II strives to inculcate high precepts OF
moral truth, and to make men better
citizens, and when the members see that
they cen further the common good and
secure the objects of their organization
through the elective franchise, they will
adopt that means, always having in view
the high objects Of their organization.
We hope to see, in our own county al
least, quarter of hundred oranges
within the next few months, that theil
beneficial influences may be felt by all,
and the small seekers for office be taught
that this great movement is not pc.
litical tool by which he can work out
the destiny of his ambition.
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