The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-06-18


The Farmers Oranges.
This rapidly increasing organization in the
West is attracting the attention of all intelli-
gent people who take an interest in public
affairs on account of the great importance it
has assumed in connection with the war
upon the railroad corporations that is now
the foremost issue IL the grain producing
States Of the interior.
-Four years ago the conviction became gen.
eral among the more thoughtful farmers of
the West that there should be a society
formed among the agricultural classes which
should be capable of dealing with the vare
interests that interest them. In pursuance
of this idea, Messrs. Saunders and Kelley,
then engaged in Washington, the former
having charge of the national experimental
grounds in that city and the latter a commits
sioi sr to examine the condition of agricul>
ture in the South, prepared a constitution
and ritual for the organization of national,
State and subordinate societies called Gran
ges. Having completed his task in Washing
ton, Mr.. Kelley returned to his farm in Min
nessota where he founde the organization.
Thence it extended into Iowa and spreading
rapidly in all directions, there are now sew
organization. Three years ago last tall the
first Grange was organized in Iowa. Last
April there were over 1900 in that State with
membership of 100000. The organization
has extended to every western State and
North Carolina and Vermont
The composition of the organization is
briefly stated as follows: 1t consists of one
national Grange, the state Grange and subor-
dinate Oranges are requisite for the formation
of state Grange, and, until that is founded,
the scattering societies are governed by the
national body. The masters of the several
state Oranges constitute the legislative coun-
Gil of the national Grange, and subordinate
Oranges may make any bylaws not inconsis-
tent with their regulations. ANY person of
good character engaged ip agricultural pur-
suits is eligible to membership. Both sexes
are admitted, the only restriction in regard to
age being that males shall be over eighteen,
and females over sixteen. All political or re-
ligious tests, and the discussion OF political
and religious questions are strictly forbidden
by the constitution. The order claims to be
simply private rather than secret, although
only members are allowed to be present at
the meetings, and, for the sake of protection
from imposture, secret signs and passwords
are used.
The purposes of the association is three
fold, agricultural, social and financial. In
the first place toe members of the Oranges
meet to discuss all matters bearing on the in
crease of production and all those matters
bearing upon agriculture, even to the ona-
mentation and adornment of home Next,
the associations are of social character, as
the wives, sons and daughters of the farmers
meet together in these societies. In view of
this fact, the meetings are likely to be very
attractive to the young people who have no
concerts and the like to attend. The women
hold part of the offices and have an equal
voice in the management OF affairs. In
financial matters the organization looks into
all those matters that affect the interests of
the members; and in this way it has become
AhsSiCoeCu ia ti-c quCStiOll VI Cucdp
tation and the best means of supplying the
consumer with their products. The Oranges
seek to dispense with middle men as far as
possible and deal with manufacturers for
cash. Through their organization they pur-
chase large quantities of commodities at de-
creased rates fol cash. Thus the dealer
wlo secures the trade oil strong local So
ciety, has great advantage
From the foregoing, it is perfectly plain
how easily this organization may be led to APP
peal to the ballot box to correct the abuses of
railroad corporations or other monopolies, and
how naturally the members of such an organ
ization may be led to step outside Of the usu-
al party lines to protect their own interests.
1t Is very easy, too, to see how few tricksters
with glib tongues might use these organiza-
tions for their political advancement; but
none but farmers are admitted and all politi-
cal schemers, whether farmers or not, are
looked upon with great suspicion.
. Ifthe above is correct idea of the Farm
ers' Oranges, they are certainly to be encour-
aged in every farming community, since their
objects are of the most laudable character
and cannot but develop greater interest in
agricultural pursuits and elevate the standard
OF culture in farming communities.