New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-18
thing for bill at the village store to make YER

at 10 per cent interest Is the result Other men may
offer to sell goods to him cheaper, but it may be i'm
possible for him TO transfer bis trade when such
transfer might involve foreclosure Of mortgage.
The Grange advises all of its members to buy and
sell for cash. and TO demand such fayors cash pnr
clasers are Justly entitled to. IL ten per cent of
mans sales on credit become bad debts, the increase
in prices TO make up for such loss ought to be
charged against those who buy on credit, and not
against those who buy for cash. and on whose pur-
chases there is therefore no risk The Grange also
assists its members to get down to a cash basis, by
making contracts with local dealers to allow dis
count to Changers who pay the spot for their pur-
chases by making extensive contracts TO purchase
agricultural implements sewing-maehnes, &c, at
wholesale from the manufacturers, and III few
cases by lending money at low rates of interest to
enable the farmers take advantage of these ar
rangenents. have spoken of this feature of the
Grange movement at considerable length in one OF
my letters from Iowa the Grange in that State has
thus far been the model which those of other States
are initiating with greater or less success.
The Grange have said, teaches its members to
be thrifty and economical. By this do not mean
that it teaches them to pinch and starve themselves
to deny themselves the comforts or even the lux
uries of life. On the other hand it shows them how
to acquire the to crafty their finer tastes
Instead of leaving his plow in the last furrow to
in four years. when it ought to last SIX the Grange
teaches the farmer to put it under cover and save
enough to pay for the subscription to good news
paper or magazine or to purchase a good book. In
stead of allowing his wheat to lie in the shock and
sprout before it is thrashed, the Grange tells the
farmer that its value will be increased several cents
on bushel if he carefully stacks it, 1t shows the
careless thrtess farmer the secret of his more sue
cessful neighbours success, and gives him helping
hand to make that secret of practical value to him.
TILE ORDER NOT HOSTILE TO MIDDLEMEN OR RAIL
ROADS.
The Grange hopes to bring the producer and the
consumer nearer together by dispensing as much as
possible, with the services of middlemen The Order
makes no war upon mddlemen it recognizes the
service they render facilitating exchange OF COM
modities but they propose, wherever it is possible
to deal directly with the consumers of their crops
For this purpose they have already established
agencies in New-York and Chicago, and have made
some direct shipments of provisions from the West
to South Carolina planters In every case the buyer
and seller have both profted. In some places the
Grange owns elevators.
The Grange makes war upon railroads as such.
Its members generally recognize the fact that with
out railroads their rich farms would be deserted
except along the rivers, and become once more the
homes of wolves aud wild fowl, and they are willing
that men who put their money into railroads
shall receive fair returns the capital they invest
But they believe that the people have some rights
which even railroad corporations are bound to re-
spect and they not willing that railroad charges
shall be put so high to pay ten per cent on stock
which the present owners mover paid anything for,
nor on stock that has been issued as a dividend.
Many of the roads have been partially built with
money subscribed by the farmers themselves, or by
the towns and counties through which they extend,
and the people are unwilling that men who have
since got possession of these roads, often by the pay
ment of comparatively little money, shall make
large dividends until they have low rates. Above
ALL they are unwilling that the price of their crops
shall be fixed by a ring of railroad men,.
The remedy proposed is different III almost every
State. Some propose pro rata law Some desire
fixed rate of maximum tariffs for freight and pas
sengers desire that tho question shall be reg-
lated by the State, and some by the United states
In some States the present controversy ~ over tue
power of the Legislatures to control the railroads
in Others that power is conceded either IN the char
tiers of the companies or the constltu!lons OF the
States and then the question Is, hoU shall the power
be exercised Some bold that the right OF eminent
domain exercised by state III condemnlng private
property for the Of railroads night pertaining
only 10 the State in it's sovereign capacity and one
of which il cannot in any way dlyest Itself Railroad
property, they say is no more sacred or exempt IRON
the exercise of this night, when tue interests OF t
people demand il, than any other. Should railroad
company now existing therefore, become SO Oppres-
sive in its charges as to make III LOT he puDlG lnr
est that a new company should be formed under
greater restrictions the state has the power to charter
a new company 10 operate road over the same line,
and in its exercise of the right of eminent domain 10
appoint commission TO appT9lse ana cOndsml ,he
property belonging to the old company. Nowhere
arc violent or illegal measures proposed no tracks
have been torn up, no buildings burned the motto
of the Grange is, equal justice to all and as the
farmers have the power. by united action, 10 carry
any measure they propose, they teel confident OF
ultimate success.
NEUTRALITY IN POLITICS AND RELIGION.
The Grange Is not political organization; politics
and religion are forbidden topics of discussion in
the Grange-rOom. But it strives to educate men to
think for themselves and TO follow the dictates
of party leaders and packed caueuses unless their
own Judgment approves. majority of the people
in the West as is well known, have been Republic
cans and a majority of the Changers voted for Cen
Grant last year. The Democracy has been their
6fte n0i aud though the faith Of many of them may
have been shaken i'll the nfallibility OF the Repub.
lican party, they woud never 20 into any other OF
which the Democrats formed an influential part
But the Grange makes tne FARMERS pH%er wit da
now in the States where they are strongest, should
they step out of the ranks of the party with which
they have heretofore acted, IT Would not De neccs-
sary for them to seek shelter in tine camp OF their
long time political enemy. They might leave the
old ship that served them so long and bore them
safely through so many a glorious tight but which
il now strained and WOrmeaten, not TO go on board
fine Democratic ship, but to launch a new one of
their own. How wisely they may build remains YET
10 be seen. Just now, the influence OF the Grange
s little more than loosen the bands that bind men
to old parties and TO make them Tree 10 choose Their
future places
ASTONISHING GROWTH OF THE FARMERS MOVEMENT
The Grange although organized several years ago
did not become a formidable body until within the
mast twelvemonth. Immense crops of corn which had
TO be sold for less than the cost of productions short
crops of wheat with no corresponding increase OF
price railroad combinations TO prevent competition
and reasonable rates of freight wheat and corn
rings formed to control the price along many of the
great railroad lines and to prevent the farmers from
Ieceiying anv advantage from favorable markets;