Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-03-04
Organizing.

The league of farmers known as
the Patrons of HusbandIy has spread
with surprising rspidity over the
West. The foundations Of our com.
mercial fabric seem to be upheaved
by the sud len CT mmotion. The ag-
ricultural interest is the basis of all
the wealth and prosperity of the
land. Upon that humble substrat>
um, with it's billions of patient toll
ers, rests the whole complicated
superstructure of other interests
The men Ofevery trade and profess
ion draw their income more or less
directly from the wealth produced
by the farmer.
Other CLASSES of laborers have
formed Unions to advance their own
interests, and secure their just dues,
but it was never imagined until re-
Gently that the farmers would ever
rebt against the combined opposing
hosts that have derived their wealth
f. ON their simplicity and patient en-
duranee under imposition But now
the foundations are all 10 turmoil ;
the people are declaring their inde-
pendence, and organizing into secret
Oranges TO resist aggression and Sc
cure fair dealing.
Well, this is all as it should be,
thus far. Grant County, though
slow TO act in the matter till now
may yet become as thoroughly or
ganized as Iowa with its 700 or 800
Oranges. And as the tide seems 10
be setting so strongly in favor Of or.
ganzAtion, il is we'll to inquire into
the how and the why. If the Pat.
rons of Husbandry are to accom-
piish any good for themselves, il
must be by successful and endur-
iog league, and not by an ephemeral
atf4ir, sprInging up like a mushroom
and falling asunder the next day. A
league that can transact business two
or three years in peace and harmo.
ny, saving it's members some money
aud labor, will compel the respect OF
corporations and middIemen, and
benefit the farming interest. But
let the great experiment be tried
and found unsuccessful. let the order
fall into the hands of selfish add in.
sincere men, let it expire in . gener-
al quLrrel among it's leaders, and
the condition of the farmer will be
more hopeless and helpless than ever.
There is no better or surer way
that any interest hostile TO the Pat
rons of Husbandry can adopt, to de-
stroy the present movement, than
to get traitors into their camp. For
instance, if railroad can manage TO
secure the election of weak or insin-
cere men to the offices of State
Oranges. men that will be outwardly
burning with zeal for the farmer, but
inwsrdly anxious to feather their
own nest, how easily may the whole
order be paralyzed for any good re-
cults, by the conduct of such state
officers May Not the corrupt and
selfish schemer work his way up, TO
an influential position 10 the Grange,
on purpose to sell his influence and
enrich himself, as easy as the village
politician or the Mem Der of Congress
espouse the interests If 1.-The dear
people" before election, but barter
away their rights when in.powr?
When tho farmers organize and
build up a vast combination OF this
sort, it behooves them to look well
TO the sort of men to whom they en-.
trust its management. Lat them
create a numbsr of fat offices with
large salaries, establish high fees and
dues. so that large amounts Of mon.
ey will be flowing into each subor-
dinate Grange, aud thence into the
State Grange, and we will guarantee
that in year or two The manage.
meet will be found as corrupt in ia
way, az that Of the Credit Mobilier
or he Methodist Book Concern.
The farmers may rest assured that
in this matter they have our hearty
sympathy and co operation and if
two or three features in tho syst. m
receive our criticism. it is from no
design 10 obstruct the progre, of
the Organization The prosperity of
every man in Grant County, depends
greatly upon the prosperity of agri-
culture, -on increasing prices of our
products, diminishing those OF i'm.
p rted articles, and reducing freight
charges. Whatever the Patrons can
accomplish in these directions. will
be money in the pockets of us all
The objects OF the or or are all
COMPRISED in the absve three chang
es. And fit is necessary that the or.
gsnization be of u cumbrous and ex
pensive nature. if considerable mon
ey must be paid in, thirteen officers
installed, and complicated system
OF ritnalism, signs and passes learn
ed, before the farmers residing
around some country school house
can participate in the profits of the
order, and unite with ID lse of otbe,
districts, then let them organize &c.
cordIng to the scheme sent down To
them from headquarters Some are
IN favor ofs"parate ana independent
Farmers Clubs. but they never have
been tried in this section The social