The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-09-05
THE COUNTY GRANGE PICNIC.


On Thursday of this week, the day set 10
the mass meeting OF the farmers OF this coul
ty at Dcbot's Springs, a heavy rain, laS'in
from early morning until noon, put dam
per ON all expectations of a large attendance
Preps rations had been made to accommt
date from ten to fifteen thousand people OF
the grounds.
Rutland Grange is deserving of especla
credit for its efforts to provide seats and 9th
or Accommodations. The stand was beautiful
" decorated with evergreens. The entrance
gate to the grounds was also decorated will
an arch of evergreens IN the center OF which
were the words "welcOme ALL" Stands To-
the accommodation of the hungry were also II
abundance, and an extensive platform fol
dancing was prepared.
The Local of the FREE TRADER arrived or
the grounds at noon, and found less than fifty
persons present At one O'Clock probably
two hundred had arrived, and at half past
three an audience bordering closely on a
thousand were called to order by Hon. John
Hon. Alonzo Colder, master of the state
grange.
Mr.. Golder's address was nearer plain
farmers chat with his ncighbors than what
would be, in educated parlance, termed an
Grafton. His remarks related mainly to the
history of the organization of the oranges {;
reviewed the field they haG passed over and
the victories they had thus far won, and then
called the attention of his brethren to their
duty in the future. He proclaimed the or
ganization social and educational, and not u
religious or political one, Counselled the
of the different oranges to sarve the
lawyers to death by settling their grievances
at home among themselves. He demanded
the repeal Of all special laws and special sal.
ary grabs and steals. The speaker demon.
,trated his views on this point by relating the
story told of an Irish farmer who went into
he poultry business. Early in the spring
ne was rewarded with two young broods. one
If chickens and one of ducks. On feeding
hem, he noticed that the ducks shOveled up
he dough with their spoon bills, while the
chickens could get but little He then took
pair of shears and clipped the ducks beaks
o point, declaring Now, be Jasis, yer on
IN equal fOotin." The speaker maintained
hat all of the politics necessary for grangcrs
vas to protect themselves; clipping the spe-
,ial bills in legislatures and thus placing the
armer, transporter, manufacturer and money
,roker "on an aqual footin" His address
asted about an hour, and was very warmly
cceived. At the conclusion a song by the
Rutland glec club and music by the Sheridan
,and completed the exercises at the stand.
Delegates were in attendance from the fol
owing oranges: Sheridan, Dayton, Serena,
rutland, Wallace, Grand Ridge, Worthwhile, |
Jtica, Waltham, Freedom and Tonica.
The Sheridan grange came with their band,
he delegation numbering about fifty.
Worthwhile grange was also present in uni
orm, some So strong This grange spread one
If the finest dinners we ever saw. We say
aw, ate not for how could body eat with |
wenty amiable ladies all talking to one at
nee.
Among the many distinguished attendents
We noticed: Hon. Dir. Porter, of Farm
Ridge, war correspondent of the Streator Hon-
tor, and the valiant Captain Dominy, Esq,
f Streator late aspirant for legislative honors
1 the hands of the radical convention. He
'as escorted to Dayton by the Streator Brass
Sand. BY some hook or crook, the band
topped at Dayton and had II picnic of their
WV all day, while the captain advanced in
oubla column on the enemy of all radical
flee seekers, the grangers, at the Springs.
Dancing upon u platform was engaged in
y the young folks and seemed TO be greatly
njoyed. The music was furnished by the
yedron string band g strings on two fiddles)
nd was good Frank Bcrose and Messrs
harrington and Meyers won the esteem of the
ancers for their good natured genial way of
conducting their branch of the entertainment
That SO large crowd SHOULD assemble un.
Ter so unfavorabe surroundings, was so graf
flying the members of The county grange that
hey will call another mass meeting near the
lose of this month With good weather and
.ood roads, they will gather ten thousand
trong TO hold harvest feast
-
FAIR WEEK.