Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-07-12

I
attend said Convention. Wis: w. +. |
Doherty. W. y. Steel, W. z. Morris
and /. f. Presson.
On motion it was
Resolved, That the proceedings
of this meeting be sent TO the jack
son Wing and Tribune for publica-
ton, and that the Plaindealcr be
requested 10 copy the same.
Whcrcupon the meeting adjourn
ed. JOHN PHIFER,
]. Y. PRESSON, Chairman.
Secretary.
The Oranges.
Under +his caption a cOrrespOn- !
dent of the Columbia Nail states |
some objections to the organization
of Oranges; and as We have heard |
similar objections in this locality,
and personally know nothing of the
workings Of the Oranges, we copy
them that his objections may be met
and answered, if they eau. We
have been favorably impressed with
the movement, but, not being eligi-
bic to membership, we know little
about the practical working of them.
To the Editor Of The Mall
We shall probably be soon asked
TO form in Maury county a Grange
of the Patrons of Husbandry. The
objects proposed for attainment by
this organization are stated to be a
reduction of the cost of transporta-
ton and the doing away with some
of the Spectators and middlemen,
who absorb so much of the ulti-
mate price obtained for farm pro-
ducts.
As 4 farmer, l am greatly inter
ested IN the accomplishment of
these objects, and have watched
with close attention the progress of
the new order. / am reluctantly
compelled to own that it appears to
me to contain within itself the seeds
of failure. l am still open to con-
VictiOn, however, and therefore
state my objections briefly that they
NAV be answered and refuted, if of
no value.
1. l object to the secrecy of the
order. 1t resembles in this respect
the Know Nothing party and those
more recent organizations, the 10y
al League and the KukluX. This
may be called an unfair comparison,
as the Oranges disclaim any politi-
cal objects. They propose, how
ever, as we see, to protect them
selves by measures involving impor-
tant political changes.
Many people have strong preju-
diccs against all secret societies,
and would hesitate to cooperate
with one because of its secrecy.
Others would find more force in
the objection that secret organiZa-
tious OF q political or semi-political
nature are especially liable to the
control of rings and the manipula-
ItiOns of designing politicians.
2. / object to the machinery of
1.-THE order, as far as l know any
thing about it. The various Gran
ges are subject to State Grange,
and that to a National Grange, with
headquarters now at Washington,
and controlling the secret work
4 ings of the order. Let us look at
the matter from a Southern stand
point. Ii | live in Mississippi, and
as planters do, buy my corn and
mules, my interest is to have them
cheap and cotton dear. The Illinois
or Missouri farmer raises corn and
mules for sale, and clothes his FAM
lily with goods made from my cot
ton. There is a real, inherent an
tagOnism Of interest between us.
Well, when we come TO the Ma
tiOnal Grange, / find the West and
/ - oil
regulations and take steps destruc-
tive of my interests. am sworn to
secrecy and obedience. Were eve
rything open and aboveboard, l
might be better able to resist. AS
it is, no member of the order has
Iyet told rs whether an individual,
la Grange or n State, has the power
to withdraw or dissolve connection
with the National Grange. Surely
we of the South have enough rea-
son to fear and avoid such a cen
traliZation of power.
3. The measures proposed, and in
part adopted by the Oranges, seem
TO be inefficient. In Illinois, for in
stance, they have passed a new rail-
road law to prevent excessive
freight charges. BY this law, the
railroads are compelled to make no
distinction between through and
local freights, nor between cOmpe-
ting and Don-coDIpeting points, and
TO establish a uniform schedule.
The farmers reasoned that roads
could and should carry freights ten
miles for one-tenth the price charged
for a hundred miles. The railroads
started at tho other end and charge
ten times as much for the hundred
as for the ten miles-the result be-
ing an average increase Of about
tWcHty-fCe per cent. iR .trefghtS!
Again, as | understand il, one aim
of the Oranges is to dispense with
middlemen altogether, as they eX-
press it-mOre strictly speaking, TO
substitute for the present middle
men agents of their own, who shall
be paid salaries or commissions for
| buying or selling, instead of de-
pending on their own skill aud cN-
perience for their profits. | do not
/ know how many persons this would
| throw out of employment, but II is
| evident that the present middlemen
are Themselves consumers, and that
! in getting rid of them we shall lose
some customers, TO say nothing of
the commissions we must pay our
own agents.
Is the secrecy an essential feature
of this organization? Ii it Is, it
appears TO me that farmers should
be very cautious how they venture
into il. If il = not, why not get
rid of il and come TO Us with plain
open and full statement of what we
are to expect i'll joining il? T.