Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1873-06-28
III TAEEL.S CGa"GES.

80 u s4'' a'..'.' - ~ ''-'N''.
cor pIi>ed mainly Il the farn.i'..E pop
ulation OF cur county. a a;"irs ale
now shaping it is nc; I'M rnhah'o that
j; will lie tie means through Which TIE
political atmosl here may find is iuriii-
cation.
\ recent uumlcr OF Tie .H'oi;.mGa
contains 4 much more comprehensive
account OF the organization than has
reached us from any other quarter. 1t
says TIA. the new political power now
rising in the country, is that ronarha-
be organization popularity called "Thc
Farmers Oranges bat properly known
as the Patrons of Husbandry." 1t is
a powerful and widespread body OF tic
agricultural classes, and already it is
said to WELD m influence in some of
the moro important States greater than
either Of the political parties. Its growth
through the country has been unparal,
leled, yet at first it did not par;ake of
a political character, it being nothing
more than secret cooperative indus
trial and literary association, for the
benefit of the farmer and his family.
The association was designed to do
away with the middlemen, and reduce
the expense OF every article purchased
for family use.
The first Grange was organized in
in 1868, in Minnesota, the second in
Iowa and soon after the order was in
troduced into Wisconsin and Illinois.
For four years it made but little head
way. at the close of 1871 it numbered
in the whole West only sixty thousand
members, but the farmers by this time
began to be educated into the benefits
accruing from the organization both in
q social and cooperative business point
of view. They next saw that through
these Oranges the farmers power could
be greatly augmented while recent
events, especially the war against rail-
road monopolies, developed the move
ment everywhere SO that to-day the
the order numbers half million men,
bnrs.
Tie order has a grand head styled
the National Grange, which meets ev-
cry two years, while the State Oranges
are required to meet every year, and
the subordinate Oranges every month
OF as often as necessary. In the infe-
rior branches women as we'll as men
are admitted to all the degrees (Which
are four) and are also allowed to hold
Office. "TLe fifth degree is conferred
upon men only, and is peculiar to the
State Oranges. Those only are eligible
WHO have served as Masters of subordi-
nate bodies. The sixth degree is con.
ferred only Oh members Of the Council
of the National Oranges. This Coun-
Gil is composed of Masters and Past
Masters of the State Oranges. The
Council meets once in every year. The
seventh is the highest to which any
patron can attain. 1t is conferred only
ON members of the National Senate,
which is composed Of members Of the
Council who have served one year in
that body. The functions of the Coun-
Gil and Senate are similar to those of
Representative and Senators in legis-
lative bodies. The supreme executive
authority in the Order is lodged in the
Master of the National Grange; but
each subordinate Grange has it's own
Master, Overseer, Lecturer and other
officers. The halls or rooms used for
the meeting of many of the subordi-
date Oranges are elegantly fitted up,
and furnished With every attraction and
incentive to attendance. Libraries
some of them numbering thousands of
volumes-pianos, pictures, chess tables,
and in fact everything that may serve
to amusc and instruct are the almost
invariable concomitants of these places,
Private concerts and social parties are
of frequent occurrence, the very init
macy thus engendered rendering the
bond more firm and the action of the
organization more combined and pow
erful." So. -..
It will thus be seen that these Farm.
ers' Oranges are not only most elabor-
ate in their organization but that they
have in them grand political organ
ization, and the machinery evidently
designed to perfect our national gov
eminent and purge it from party cor
ruption. There can be no doubt that
in the future of this country, this new
! l.