Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-09-27

SEED ETC.
A reporter OF THE STAR dropped in at the
headquarters of the National Grange of the Pa
irons of Husbandry, on Louisiana avenue, a few
days since, and found there, besides Col o. II
Kelley, TIE secretary, Mr.. Dudley W. Adams
of Iowa, Master of the National Grange. The
jovial secretary introduced The STAR man
with the remark, 'Now you've got the head
center CT thelGIangers; go for him !" The re-
porter OF TIE STAR staid not upon the order Of
his going, but went for him Gin manner as fol-
lows, to witt
Reporter. -"Wen, Mr.. Adams, your organ
izatiOn is creating something OF a stir in the POI
htical world. There seems TO be general i'm
preston that ii will take a prominent part in
politics; IN fact It appears 20 be taken for grant
ed that it has already figured in some very i'm
portant political movements
A POPULAR NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Mr.. Adams-"That is a popular misappre-
hensOn. We cannot, as oranges, participate in
any political movement, for the reason that the
constitution of the Order expressly prohibits the
discussion of either political or religious topics
R.-'EWell, that is singular. The papers for
months past have contained accounts of polit-
zeal meetings by the grangers, and have pub
lshed resolutions adopted at such gatherings"
MIR. A.-"That may be, but in almost every
case such meetings were held not as grange
meetings; and whenever oranges have held
meetings as such, their action has invariably
been repudiated by the state oranges"
R.-'Then i understand that members Of
oranges may participate in political movements,
and that gTangers, as they are commonly called t,
may even go so far as TO call meetings, but that
II must be done informally, and not as having
the sanction of any particular organization Of
the Patrons of Husbandry?''
Mr.. A.-"Thats the idea. We are just like
the Masons or Odd Fellows in respect to re-
ligion and politics. They as You know at
liberty to do just as they please in regard to
politics and religion outside OF the lodges, aud
1t is the same with us"
POLITICS or THE CHANGERS.
R.-"It has been represented that the Order
has democratic proclivities, and those who
assert this point to Iowa where the anti
monopoly, or democratic ticket is supposed to
be the one grangers favor"
Mr.. A.-"That is another misapprehension.
In June when the republicans held the state
convention they adopted an ant-mOnOpOy plat
form and one that suited the Patrons to a IT.
When the democrats held their convention they
aiS So adopted an anti,m9noply platform and
in the hope of roping IN the grangers."
R. How will the anti-mcnopOlists succeed,
will the Patrons be deceived by name?''
MIR. A.-"Many patrons Will vote the demo-
cratic ticket, simply because they are demo
Gratis, and because there is no difference be-
tween the two platforms Both parties came
down on their knees To us, and would have
come down still lower ii We had required them
to do so. The fact is, there is really no issue in
Iowa"
R-"Then You think the republicans will
carry the state, as usual?'
MIR. A" Undoubtedly. The most of the
patrons are with the republicans, because the
platform OF the latter is all that could be de-
sired. BY the way, there is plank in
THE IOWA REPUBLICAN PLATFORM
that. never saw in any other, of either party.
1t is as follows" (reading from an Iowa paper.
" 'ResOlred, That we are DESTROYS of political
reform, and for honesty, economy, and purity
in all Official administration. That to secure
this is the duty of every citizen; that to this end
every good man should feel bound to partci-
pate In politics, and to make an end of bad men
forcing their election by securing party nom
nation; and we declare it the duty Of every re-
publican TO oppose the election of a bad man
and incompetent official, whether he be a
candidate upon our own or any other ticket
This, as you see, is virtually ignoring party
and adopting the pugilists motto, " Fair play,
and may the best man VIM"
IMPossIBILITY OF PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS.
r. But don't you think that the Order
should become to some extent a political organ
seeks TO accomplish"
Mr.. Alto a certain extent, yes. But il
would not do for us 10 lay down political plat
form for the whole Organization. Why, the
question of free trade and protection alone
would divide us at once"
R.-..of the candidates on the Iowa repubn-
can state ticket how many are grangers?'f
Mr.. A.-"TwO, the candidate for governor
and the candidate for lieutenant governor The
democratic ticket has, believe, but one, and
instruction"
R.-"May ask, Mr.. Adams, what your poll
tics are?''
Mr.. Al have always been a republican"
R.-"OuI friend, Kelley, here tells me he is
democrat"
HARD-sHELL DEMOCRAT
Col. Kelley.-''Yes, sir; / am a democrat of
the blacklist kind; dyed in the wool. | used to
write for a republican paper once, but | had to
tell so many lies, especially in regard to the acts
OF such men as Senator -, and had 10 bols-
ter up SO many rascally republican schemes that
/ got sick of il and omit -
MIR. A.-''There! You see an illustration of
the folly of our attempting to get up political
organization. Why, the very fact that Colonel
Aiken, of South Carolina, who once ar
rested by Gov. Scott for supposed connection
with the kuklux, voted for me for Master of the
National Grange, shows that we ignore poll
RIA report has lately been published that
the National Grange would soon issue circular
admonishing the oranges to have nothing to do
with poliucs, will this be done?'
MI. A.-"No; it is quite unnecessary The
fundamental principles of the Order are too well
known TO require It,"
THE COLOR QUESTION IN THE ORANGES.
R.-"One more question. The statement has
been published that c0lored persons will not be
admitted to the oranges Is II true?'
Mr.: At is not. Every grange must exer-
else lts own discretion rs To the admission of
members. The constitution is silent IN regard
TO color, and only prescribes that applicants
must be of good moral character; that they must
be interested in agriculture, and that they must
be OF certain age. IL grange chooses TO adj
mt colored persons IL do so; there is nothing
IN the constitution to prohibit 1t. The state
ment that there are no colOred men in the order
is incorrect. 1 myself have been in oranges
where they were cOlored members. Their ad-
mission is simply local matter, and is settled
by the local oranges"
R.-.How large do you think your order is al
HALF MILLION MEMBERS.
MIR. Al would estimate its total member
ship at about half million Col. Kelley has
the figures"
Here Col. X. produced a weekly bulletin,
dated september 20, which showed a total of
6,4o9 subordinate oranges. OF this number S29
were established during the month of August
last, and 81 from the LIST to the 10th OF the pre-
sent month. Both gentlemen agreed that the
number OF subordinate oranges formed during
the present month would reach nearly, IL not
Mr.. Adams, master Of the National Grange,
who was lately mentioned In connection with
the Lieutenant governorship of Iowa, is about
forty-fve or forty-six years Of age He is of
medium size, wears a full light beard, and has
light hair, which is combed straight back over
his organ Of veneration, and back of his auricu-
lar appendages. A close inspection failed to re-
veal any hay seed in his hair, and 1t might be
added that he does not wear o hickory shirt, nor
does he tuck his pants in his boots, although in
appearance he comes pretty well up to the pop
ular Idea Of q horny-handed son of toll, He
vunr Huv.A -