Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1873-09-25
THE FARMERS MOVEMENT.

A correspondent Of the Nashville Ban.
ner writing from Bedford county says.
but little interest is manifested il
this county in regard to the movement Of
The Changers. 1t is true that some Of
our most intelligent farmers are great
friends to the organization, and some have
already been admitted to membership.
The friends Of the organization are, or
seem to be, quite hopeful of the good res
suits to be derived from its efforts in be.
half of tho farming interests, and insist
that its triumph will increase the value
of land, raise the produce market, bring
down freights, and destroy railroad mos
nopolies. And, further, that corrupt pol
~iticians will be driven from place and
power, and that their places will be sup.
piled by honest, upright and faithful men.
Thus talk the friends Of the association.
Other farmers, however, who are Just as
deeply interested in farming interests,
aud who are just as intelligent, just as
hostile to ~monopolies, and who well under>
stand the farming interests, are open in
their opposition to the entire movement.
This class allege hat the organization is
a useless one, and has been gotten up
solely in the interests Of Office seekers.
They insist that with it the real interest
Of the farmer is but a secondary considers
alton ; that its main object is to bring all
Offices, county, State and National, under
its control, by the election of its own
members, or by the election of those who
will ever be ready 10 obey the behests
of the Obligated brethren. The whole
thing, they insist, smacks Of Know
Notbingism," and that at best, it is NTH,
ing more nor less than a political trick
put on foot for the purposes aforesaid.
Moreover, it is thought that r~iyalries in
its own ranks for Office will soou cause
the organization to break up just as its
prototype Know NOthingism did. The
secrecy Of the organization is regarded as
decidedly Objectionable, and its rules, OBJ
legations and regulations nothing more
than a lash under which men are to be
driven to cast their votes, as may be or,
dered by a majority of the brethren"
I might mention other objections urged
by the opponents of the movement, but
this will suffice for the present.
b There is still another class Of able and
intelligent farmers who appear to be
wholly Indifferent as to the entire moves
ment. They know nothing, and seem to
care less about it. So far as they are
concerned, one or one hundred Oranges
may be established, as the managers may
choose, but they do not propose to go in
lemons and get squeezed" Men who
have been blowing all their lives, are I'M
willing at this late day to pay q weekly
or monthly due in order to be taught how
to pillow. Accustomed to vote as they de-
sired, they are unwilling to be hampercd
by oath or obligation on election days.
This class of farmers is by far the largest
and from them the Oranges need expect
no support, Upon the whole, | am alto>
gether skeptical as 70 the success of the
movement in IL county. 1t seems to
my mind that before it can succeed here
or elsewhere, to any great extent, it must
first be disrobed of its secrecy, and the
world would be convinced that it has
nothing to do with politics or Office seek
ing, This done, and it may become an
important and useful organization. It's
cry against monopolies, rings, ETC., will be
considered insincerc until this is DONE"