The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1873-06-13
g6onle and farm.
r,,re Farmers, Movement.

Z arss ~ :
The Eestern farmers movement
with its accompanying gran se-, l. at
tracing great attention on account 0
is political significance. A infoTma
ton upon the subject IS magnIfed, !
is shown that these associations ar,
not mere concourse OF people impell
ed by casual motion. but parts of az
organized system, possessing vast in
fueDce and capable of concerted ac
ton. The Baltimore american "a :
1t seems that the 'Order of Patron
Of Husbandry,' as it rs called, did not
originate IN the West, but the idea
was first borrowed from an association
that had existed fo- many years in a
community OF Scotch farmers in North
Carolina. It is said to be nothing
more than a secret, cooperative, in
dUstrial, and literary association. In
the winter Of 1867, while several o!
the leading agricuiturists Of the vest
were in Washington On business con
cerning the farmers interest, the
C. aracter ofthis society became known
to them. The idea was AIKEN up and
elaborated 50 a. 70 serve for the pur
poses OF large and influential Order,
and in the spring of 1868 the Order
was introduced by the institution Of a
grange at Itasca, MINI From this
begiuningit spread gradually through
Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Hi
nois, 80 that about the beginning of
1872, The number of members in those
four States was estimated at about
$4,000. Later occurrences gave a
great impetus to the movement, SO
-tlrat the membership in the four States |
is now estimated az $50, 900.
From a western paper we CLEAN
rOiiS aCCOuus VI lilS oIuGE. IL Is |
secret society, with regular degrees
women as well as men are admitted in |
the subordinate oranges, but females
cannot get beyond the fourth degree.
The members of the first degree are |
designated respectively as Laborer
and Maid; in the second degree as
CultivPtor and Shepherdess; in the
third degree as Harvester and
Cleaner and in the fourth degree as
Busbandfnan and Matron The 9th
CT higher degrees are conferred upon
men only, and belong 20 :he higher
lodges of oranges, as they are styled.
The seventh degree is the highest that
en- be attained, and is only conferred
upon officials Of the next higher order.
The supreme executive authority in
the Order il lodged in the Master of
the National Grange, but each subjr
dinate grange elects its own officers
the lower oranges must meet at least
once a year; State oranges once a
year, and the National grange every
two years
The order is somewhat beneficial in
It's character, as ii exercises a super
]
vision of its members and assists those :
who are unfortunate The oranges (
appoint agents of their own FOR the sale
OF agricultural implements. In come I
places they have purchased or leased t
grain elevators; in Iowa they have i
built an agricultural implement factory 4
OF large capacity, and similar enter i
prises are projected there aud else =
where.
The political Significance of such an !
can hardly be overesti
mated A body of such thorough
is a formidable ins;ru-
nent III the hands of able men, and y
.he order comprises many such. The y
growth OF such associations cannot Z
Iut powerfully affect the politics OF I
he whole natien. and effect perma Z
lent changes in legislation. There :
viii now be some legislation for the
armer.