Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-07-31

Grange and Politics.


This is getting to be very exciting
time In the great political arena. l
|see an editorial in the IOWA VOTER
[of the 18th inst. which appears to be
very anxious for a little Information
In regard to the manner in which
the Grange Convention is called on
The I'd day of August.
/ Now, sir, this Convention is gotten
IMP under the true colors of the Pa
|trons of Husbandry. There are men
who claim that the Order of Patrons
|never was intended to become politi-
(cal. I say it Is an organization of
|laboring people combined together
to protect the interests Of laboring
|men. Hence the question arises :
in what way are the interests OF la
kboring men oppressed? l answer
by dishonest legislation. Nobody
complains of this but laborers.
Then, l say, let them pitch in and
make it right. We can't expect
those who don't complain to do the
work for us. No sir; we are the
very men. I say II the Changers
have a ring let them run it. If other
Eprofessions form rings, and they all
Blink it is right, they should not
(pomplain of farmers and mechanics.
For instance, when physicians meet
1n convention, as they often do, they
|lon't call on farmers to participate
with them in their rates Of charges,
|end In getting up bills for the Legis-
Jature TO pass, protecting their
lights. When railroad men have n
convention such persons as have had
active experience in railroad business
10 the talking and have charge of the
meeting. They don't call on farmers.
Editorial conventions are attended
by editors; and they, as firmly as
hny other class Of people, are of the
bpinion that they. are capable OF
managing their own business, and
they are not in the habit Of imploring
Me members of other callings to fur
Aish the brains to amuse or instruct
hem. Lawyers not only feel com.
netent to address and properly edify
conventions Of their own profession,
| bat their modesty does not forbid
Them rendering assistance to less fa'
Ivored classes by a free use OF their
|Sea s.-~4s,ss.s~s-... --ss.~,.ss,sss..
T Now to the text:-"Thousandl
have joined this Order thinking IL
never would become a political or.
ganization." / must here say my
friend is badly mistaken. Now, sir,
with the exception of few, we ex-
pected redress for our wrongs in and
through tho ballot box, when we
joined the Grange. True, we have a
few tender-footcd souls in the Grange
no criterion for any one. You will
find that the case in all organizations.
You have a very poor opinion of our
Judgment when youask US to support
a party which you acknowledge has
dishonest leaders. Where do we
find ourselves to-day by supporting
the two old political parties? AL
most in state Of bankruptcy. This
you have done by a neglect OF the
agricultural and manufacturing in
terests OF our State. You have sold
them to the Eastern States, and they
cast it in our faces, that we don't own
the government of our State-which
/ acknowledge Is true. Then why
wonder at our leaving such party
disgraced by it's fiag-bearers-though
it has q good platform.
The editor of the Inter- Ocean seems
quite excited over the Anti-nIonopo-
ly party-he is 80 fearful OF the Dem
ocrats. Now, as the old saying is:
Set rogue to catch rogue. We
don't propose to trust either Of them
to shake hands over that bloody
chasm he speaks Of. 1t is rather late
now for a man OF either Of the old
political parties-I mean the leaders
to stand up and say that he favors
the interests Of laboring classes.
They have had the chance for 10,
these many years, to favor the farm
er; but how have they pitied him ?
BY crowding him down tighter.
Now come out and say that the farm.
or has no rights. Let him go from
the cornfeid to the Grange room;
that's his sphere. We. the polite.
inns Will attend to his rights. We
will see that Illinois makes your cul-
tivators and takes pay in corn at fif-
teen cts. per bushel. We will see
that New York lnskes your thresh-
err and reapers. and everything else