The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-01-20
THE CHANGERS.

I
THE CHANGERS.
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE SECRETARY OF THa
NATIONAL. AGRICULTURAL CoNGRESS-THE
! TENDENCY OF THE MovEMENT-TTEAs OF
INTER EST.
The st. Louis Globe gives the result of an
interesting interview with Mr.. Charles w.
Green, Secretary of the National Agricul-
tural Congress: at is no more a farmers
than mechanics movement, and onlyt takes
its name from the largest class engaged in it,.
1t results primarily from the aggressive
combination of capitalists-the illegitimate
and improper exercise of wealth power. The
farmers were rapidly discovering the advan-
tages of such association, independent of
any political significance. 1t is easy to see
how, almost imprecepibly, the political in
fiuences have crept in at these social meet
I ings, until il has now undoubtedly become
| the leading feature. Here was the oppress-
ed condition under which each and all of the
/ farmers, especially of the Northwest, were
laboring. 1t was impossible to make both
ends meet, let them pinch and save as they
might. On the other hand, they saw rail-
way kings and merchant princes parad-
ed before them, whose wealth
was augmenting by millions yearly.
Such things have engendered a
deep-seated unrest which has been manifest
ed in various forms. The labor movement
which nominated Presidential candidate
for the last campaign was one of these.
This was merged into the Liberal movement
with its candidate, Horace Greeley, always
in full sympathy with the toiling classes.
AS this feeling has gained ground among
the people, becoming a subject of general
discussion, and since the monopolists have
constantly treated the popular demands
with an air of careless indifference and
hon w ind hos Of llxy
resulted that when the farmers met in their
clubs this has been the principal topic of
conversation. Since il was not political in
the partisan sense, the members of all par
ties and creeds could well pledge themselves
as against a common foe. The party man
ayers, seeing where this must inevitably
lead, have vehemently charged that the
clubs and oranges were going into politics,
which has generally been answered by the
farmers in the spirit that if this is politics,
they are willing to be known as politicians,
since it is new and not unpopular species
Of the genus"
! Is THE MOVEMENT POLITICAL?
"But do you consider that the movement
is really and essentially political one?"
"Unquestionsbly so now. The very de-
NAL ofpOlitical intentions on the part of the
clubs and the resulting discussions, has un-
doubtedly exerted strong negative influ-
ence in making 1t so. IL has become fixed
purpose of the clubs, Oranges, and all sorts
of societies, to reform the abuses complained
Of Fonr fiiths of all the associations, OF
every character, organized during the past
eighteen months, have had that as the
primary purpose of the organization. Other
subjects will besecondary until this is finally
disposed Of"
THE Changers say. I believe that they do
not politically, as a Grange, but that they dc
lrx~rgN
ticable?"
''By making such assertions they are SIM
ply making themselves ridiculous. You
may have noticed that one of the resolutions
adopted by the Illinois State Grange, al
Bloomington, made the declaration YOU
speak of, and yet they sent out dozen pure
ly political resolutions right in the face of it
The last Rural World, too, has an article by
Master Allen, declaring positively that the
Oranges do not, and can not, discuss politi-
cal questions, and on the same page is more
than half column of political resolutions,
adopted at recent county council of the
/. Oranges. Such inconsistencies are only cal
culated to bring reproach upon the order
Either they are declaring what they know tC
be false, or it assumes an utter ignorance OF
the meaning of the term political"
az understand that the National Grange
meets here next month. Do you know what
subject will come under discussion?"
"Oh! you know that is secret. presume
their action will only have reference to per
fecting the business details of their OrganiZa-
ton. Another subject suggested by the In
diana Farmer an intense Grange paper, alto
gether within the charmed circle, will be as
to the disposition of their surplus $50 000 As
the Rural World suggests that the choice o.
permanent location for the national eflice,
may also be determined here, the inference
might be drawn that the surplus would b,
expended for buildings somewhere, perhap:
in st. Louis"
THE QUESTION or SECRECY.
''There is one advantage of secrecy whicl
1 had not before thought of. They can hay,
their family quarrels to themselves, and no
annoy their neighbors and the outside worlC
with them."
Eyes, and that is about the only advantag,
have ever discovered, except that they car
dispense their charity so that the left hanS
may not know what tue right is doing. in tn,
scriptRral fashion. La view of the difficulty
, experienced in letting politics alone, this
feature of secrecy is likely TO cause then
much embarrassment. 1t is certainly too
late to entertain the idea OF secret poltica
, party, strictly as such, and the political in
+ fiuences of any secret Organization must h,
seriously compromised by the fact of suct
secrecy Again, this feature of the grange
and the rituglistic ceremonies incident to ii
occupies an immense amount of very valu
, able time, and the more substantial business
men among the farmers who count its value
soon tire. 1T Ms evident from all the report,
we have seen that not one halfof the grange
are paying their dues, a sure indication tina
the interest in them is Tagging"
NOT CosING HEADwAx.
"You consider. then, that the movement il
lssing headways''
Not at all The open associations ar,
new gaining ground, and If there was any
system of record such as the Nation al Grange
has adopted, the extent of the open organi
zatiou would surprise you. One great adj
vantage for the open associations which the
oranges lose-and when they can not aforJ
to lose--is the assistance of the press in dis
seminsfing their work. Look, for Instance
at the Illinois meeting last month. The
four days proceedings of the State Grange.
with ifs Seven hundred and fiftv naaDs no.,