The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1874-12-25
, PATRONS oF AusBANDRy.
- W ; . -
Of Minnesota State GrnnS,


Grand Master Paskons. He opens with
review Of the progress Of the Order,
stating that 142 Oranges have been Or
ganized in this State duriug the past
year, and that there are now $4,000
.Granges:in the United States and Can.
ada. He gives the objects Of the Or
der as four fold, VIZ:
First and foremost, then, the Grange
is designed rs a school for the farmer,
where he can be- instructed and d.educat-
ed in the business or calling which feeds
and clothes the world. The wants of
the age demand better and more INTEL
ligent farmers. =.
The second great object of our order
is the cultivation of the social graces,
and the promotion of social enjoyment.
Man is social being, and in social in
tercourse finds the main enjoyment of
life. From the very nature of his call.
ing the farmer is in q measure isolated
from his fellows, and needs something
more than mere accident, or the calls Of
business, to bring him into closer social
connection with them. The Grange. is
admirably adapted to meet and supply
this want. -, . - ..r.
10 dispense charity is anot her Of the
leading objects,of our beloved order,
and we should love it, and cherish it,
and defend it, because it provides a
plan for the systematic, sure and
speedy relief Of those amongst us who,
from any cause, need assistance.
What is called the business arm of
our order, which at first was placed in
the background, has been placed in the
front, and demands our wisest and most
serious consideration. In all times
past the farmer has not realized salts.
factory pecuniary prosperity,> and it is
now sol ght through this secret society,
by concert Of action and cooperation,
to improve the financial condition of
our members. The pertinent and
vital questions here present them
selves: How, on the one hand, shall
we procure the best prices for farm pro-
duce? and how, on the other hand,
shall we procure farm and family sup
plies at the lowest rates The latter
question is rapidly approaching solu-
ton. Within the last twelve months
much has been accomplished through
cooperation in buying, buying with
cash, and as nearly as possible Of first
hands, thus creating competition
among sellers, thereby reducing the
cost Of tools and machinery for the
farm, and supplies for the household.
We are confident that, in this direction,
our efforts will soon result i'll entire
success.
The former question, however, seems
not to be so easily answered. Not
withstanding the fact that what the
farmer has to sell are articles of prime
necessity, without which the world
would starvc, and the price Of which he
Of right ought to have some voice in
establishing, he is still at the mercy o|
horde Of spectators, warehouse men,
and carriers, combined in monopolies
and rings, who fix the price Of his pro-
duce at their pleasure, taking to them
selves the principal profits, and lcav'
ing to him but little more than. the
bare cost of production. 1t seems as
though the remedy for this great evi
vas as far off as ever.
RAILROAD LEGISLATION A FAILURE.
Mr.. Parsons thus speaks Of the pres
ent railroad law:
The question of transportation o
farm products to market, is as impor
tant factor in agricultural economy 81:
the abundance or scarcity Of the crop
or the volume of the demand for tn
farmers produce. Cur efforts hav'
! accordingly been directed heretofore
principally to the restraint, by law, o
the transportation companies in ou
midst, and within our reach, to reason
able rates for carrying our persons o
our produce. In our own State a Law
has been enacted, and is now in force
intended as a remedy for the evil com
planned Of. The operation OF that law
as now executed, is an actual aggrava
ton of the evil. In many instances tn
rates of transportation, as fixed by th
Commissioners, are higher both fer pei
son and property, than before its en-
actment. One end, however, is gained
We hear now no more Of chartere
rights above and beyond the power c
the Legislature to restrict. For rea
sons obvious to the dullest understand
ing, the corporations affected: with on
accord, make haste to yield q read
obedience to the behests. Of the Con
missioncrs. The fault of this conl
ton of things is not to be found in th
provisions Of the law itself. but in tt
execution Of those provisions. Th
measures which We had fondly hape
would in some degree afford a reli
from our burdens, has been turne
against us, and made an engine Of sti
greater expressions. This seems to me
be a strange and unaccountable overtu1
Eof Justice. When the farmers Of Mi
,, nesota, who, either directly or indirec
ly, make all the freights upon our raj
IL roads, are left without &sreprescntati' =
: Of their special interest: on the Board
. Commissioners, under the law enactt
l at their instance and for their: especi
relief. it looks either like an ignoran
, ocor q wanton disregard ,oG's:the etern
t fitness of things" For. this pnsatisfa
. tory state Of affairs l. know Of no imm
diate remedy, but turn with no
! to the. promise o.: relief fro
= another quarter. Az the redu