The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1873-12-15
The report was adopted, there being but
three dissenting votes.
Mr.. Higgins submitted the following res


The State Convention of the Oranges of
Illinois begun its session at Bloomington on
Wednesday. The number of FRANCES in
this State is now 500 and additional ones
are forming every day. Nearly 700 dele
gates were present. There is a general
mlsapprchensiou, especially in the Eastern
States, as TO the purposes and objects
sought by the Oranges, and as general
mistake in contounding the Oranges with
the State Farmers Association. The two
organizations are widely distinct. The
lIrange Is secret Order, having like the
Masons and other orders, national. State,
and local organization. BY the express let
ter ct the Constitution, Oranges are pro-
hiblted from taking part in politics the
members are Of all shades of party and,
both sexes, and the objects of the Or.
$50 far as they are kuowny could not be at
tanned it membership was controlled bv
political opinions. But. while the Order
excludes politics from the Grange. at the
same time lin the words of Grand Master
Smedley, OF Iowa. intelligent political
action outside the gate is expected from
the members individually, as good citizens
taking personal and practical interest in
the general welfare"
The declared objects of the Order are to
promote the social, intellectual, and pecun.
Iary interests OF the members, and mem.
bership Is open to none but farmers, or
those whose interests are identified with
farmers. Its aims are said 10 be to encOur-
age ana promote a greater social union
among all those engaged in the same in
dustry, by bringing them and their fam
lies Igether under. circumstances of ~
elevatlng and refining character. A. 81
object is the furnishing of meapr ..other
ing rooms and libraries, for :. >. by read
provement instruction Intellectual im-
third aud more dee and recreation. A
on purchases of .nite purpose is to unite
these purcI things needed by farmers
the CO. Eases to be made somewhat il
dir operative style, in large quantities
.eetly from the manufacturers and pro
ducers This is carried on through tn
agency of the Grange, whereby the profit
aud expenses Of intermediate dealers ar
saved, and the Changers obtain what the.
need at the manufacturers prices. Their
are some other objects, incidental To these
which are sought by the Order, and whicl
have been successfully carried out. 1t vii
be seen that the Patrons OF Husbandry
are, therefore not political organization
however much, OF however little the mem
bers may agree upon political questions
In Illinois there is aState Farmers As
ISOLATION, and various other smaller organi
cations under different names, all having
the common purpose Of accomplishing tn
overthrow Of monopoly and special priv
leges, A convention of this Association
will be held at Decatur on the 10th of thi
month 1t will take definite action IN form
ing a distinct political party, not conine,
to farmers exclusively, but embracing a
other persons who are ready to unite in tn
general opposition to monopoly. AT tn
late election in this State, the farmers |,
cal organizations nominated candidates f.
county Offices, and while they are genera
" successful, they could not ia
to notice the zeal and energ
with which Democrats in Republicl
counties supported Republican tickets, an
Republicans in Democratic counties SUI
ported Democratic tickets in a eomnlo
struggle to maintain the old party organ
cations against the rising party of reform
Had the Reformers in Illinois but know
their real strength. they cnuld have mad
clean sweep Of all the local Offices; az
is, they have now gained the knowled,
that party OF this kind, with an organic
tion broad enough to include all who agr,
with their general purposes aud aims, wi
command the support of majority Of ii
people of this State Such party will Vi
doubtedly be formed at Decatur-oi
which will, during 1874, prosecute vig1
Gus campaign for the election of Sta
Legislature and members Of Congress
Salary GRADERS at Washington, who al
splitting hairs as to how much of the mo-
ey they G6ok last year and how lndeh sha
be restored 10 the Treasury, may as VIZ
recogulze III this new organization, whiC