Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-12-26
The Chlitenden County Grange Meeting.

ihe thitehdth county orange hettfhs.
In response to notice given through the
newspapers of the countya fair-sized audi
ence, consisting of farmers mostly, assem-
bled at City Hall Saturday afternoon at =
O'Clock. The meeting was called to order
by Gen. W. W. Henry, who said that he
bad been requested to nominate DR.. F. J
Hendee for chairman. DR.. Hendee, upon
/ taking the chair, was introduced to Hon
f. P. Cotton of Irasburgh, Master of the
state Grange, and to I. A. Thompson, the
! National Lecturer. who occupied seats on
the platform. DR.. Hendee in few and ap-
/ propriate remarks introduced Mr.. Thomp-
son to the meeting. 1t will be impossible
to give full report of the speech, as it was
| quite lengthy, and brief abstract must
suffice.
Mr.. Thompson commenced his address by
referring to the great agricultural interests
of the country, the necessity for further de-
yelopment, the relations which the Patrons
of Husbandry hold to these interests, and
the growth of the order throughout the
country. There are at the present time, nearly
! 10 600 oranges in the land, with a member
ship of nearly 700 900, which is increasing
at the rate of 900 every day. He alluded
TO the "Co-operative Stores" but claimed
that the business of the oranges was con-
Quoted IN different manner, as every order
Tor goods or merchandise was accompanied
wltn the cash. II there were no other ad-
vantages to be obtained through the order,
this one, to the farmers, would more than
repay them for organizing. lie was friend
to the farmers clubs, but, as they had been
formerly organized, they had become use
less, and their day bad passed. The oranges
had been m existence only about five years,
and up to January last they had numbered
only twenty-one in the United States. Now,
every State in the Union has its organiza-
tons, except Maine, Connecticut. Rhode
Island and Delaware, which last will be
organized with State grange before
January. There were only dozen in Kan
sas last spring, and now there are between
seven and eight hundred.
The order had further objects, and the
benefits 10 be derived intellectually and
socially were but little if any less than the
pecuniary advantages bestowed The meet
ings are held once month OF oftener at
which subjects for discussion are presented
by one of the officers of the Grange The
lecturer and the discussions took WIDE range
in agriculture and made farming pleasant
employment. lie was Il friend of the mer-
chant and would not interfere with his
business. but he was in large sense in
terestcd in agriculture and was luboring for
the farmers as a class There were too
many men occupying intermediate posi-
tionS Of trade between the producer and
consumer, and the high prices of merchan-
disc were made 50 to a great extent by the
profits obtained by 'mddle-men.' The
oranges brought the producer and conSum-
er nearer together. and almost any agrcul
tural implement or machine could be pur-
chased by them at one-half the prices paid
by other people, generally. This, he urged, |
was one of the greatest advantages to be !
received lie knew how it wa from
personal knowledge, as he was a professional
farmer, and had no other occupation. This !
country is indebted for its prosperity to the
development of all its interests, but greater
than all to agriculture. Upon the prosperity
of the farmer depends all the rest.
lie explained tne workings of the grange
in regard to the purchase Of tea, coffee aud
groceries generally, which was effected
through their own agents at the great mar
kets lie stated as a fact that the grangers
paid no more for their goods procured in
Boston and New York and delivered 10
them at home in Minnesota, than it
cost the people in Vermont for the same ar
ticies. The oranges are doing all in their
power To lessen the expenses Of transpOrta-
ought to feed greater amount of corn to
their cattle, but this could not be done, as
the cost OF transportation was SO excessive
The oranges had no war with railroads, but
too many "middle-men' were being sap
ported al the expense OF the producer. The
Patrons Of Iu-bandry have become an az
gressive party and must present their claims
for better treatment.
The railroads were no longer masters of
the situation, as the Patrons OF Husbandry
now number within their ranks an army of
men and wealth sufficient, ii needs be, 10
build railroad with double steel track
from the Mississippi to the seaboard
applausel But water transportation Twas
much cheaper, and from Improvements
very much needed in this direction We ex-
pcct larger results. The oranges had APP
pealed 10 Congress. and had labJred IN
every way for the opening up of better
water communication between the West
and the scah1ard. The Patrons Of Hus-
bandry would soon have members in Con
gres- OF their own to aid them, and the
next {. 5. Senator from Kansas would be
their representative. The Patrons, how
ever, Were not political party and did not
wish to Interfere III any way with the great
political parties. But We OF the West want
the highway opened up for shipping, 50
pcusc. We want to get To this beautiful
lake of yours We ask for the building Of
the Caughnlwaga Canal. We believe that
within the next five years this will be ac-
compliShed.
They had had some trouble with the rail
roads OF the Nest-the roads had exactcd
| five cents per mile from passengers. The
| Illinois Legislature had established the rate
at three cents which the railroads refused
/ to submit to. Suits We're commenced by
l the railroads 10 collect their claims but they
/ had recently been discontinued. The
| oranges are not political he had never
| heard the term Democrat or Republican
used in a grange; there l. an article in their
| Constitution which prohibits it. But the
/ farmers should begin To look after their
/ own Interests. They We're the largest class
but they had been booted around the country
] by all other occupations. The Farmers
have been superseded in the caucuses and
primary meetings, and the State Legisla
/ lures have been run in the interest OF fraud
and corruption. Tie farmers should take
a larger interest in the caucHsos and look
after the nominating conventions. We
are going TO have more farmers IN
the State Legislatures than ever before.
The farmers are represented in Congress
| by only six per cent OF the Congress
lutll- W llllt Allt lAN IAN nave ~ 20 NN--Ns
The largest class has the least representa-
ton. Farmers will level taxation and
make it equal The National Grange Is
Differed throughout with farmers, except
the chaplain, and all officers of the State
| Oranges are farmers We ask no iayOrS OF
any one We have money in abundance.
with thousands of dollars in our treasury.
The speech was clear and sensible, accord
ing to the view the speaker took Of the
situation, and was listened to with the
closest attention. At time. Mr.. Thompson
spoke with great force and eloquenee' and
was often applauied. On motion Of Hon.
f. D. Mason of Richmond a vote Of thanks
was given the speaker and the meeting adj
journel.
temperance Lecture.
The other engagements and attractions OF
tho eycniur diminished somewhat the at