The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1874-04-09
ADDRESS
OF the Worthy Master, Hon. M. E.
Hudson, Delivered at the Second
Annual Meeting of the State
Grange, Held at Topeka,
Feb. 1871, 1874.


We have once more assembled in lhi
the second animal session OF our stat
grange. We have come up here I
take council together. and | need no
say to you that this will be an import
ant meeting: fogJ am well aware tina
all are fully Impressed with the rcspoi
sibility resting upon them a, repre-
setatives of orr order.
We are yet in oar infancy: ben on
growth is rapid. The succcs. we hay
had in planting and developing on
order. j. without parallel ia The hi,
terry of societies. Never before wa
the adage, ain union there is strength,
so clearly demonstrated as il is in Oh,
farmers movement. Though as vet il
our swaddling clothes, our power il
being felt and recognized in the land
The giant hand of monopoly that ha.
grasped so tight v.lhc throat Of labor
is already slackening itS hold: and
very soon, if we stand firm and united
and let wise councils prevail, we will
succeed and come out more than con.
querors, asserting our manhood. free
aud independent as God destined man
should be when he created him. But
in order 10 accomplish the great OBJ
ject of our order we must be prudent.
Not too cXacting. remembering that
others have rights as ourselves. And
here let me correct false impression
that pfcvils TO Il considerable extent
among those outside Of our order that
we are waging war against other class
e., and if we should get the power we
would cncroach upon their rights. as
we claim they have upon ours.
But not so, the farmers and working
classes are noble and generous, and
will not ask for themselves more than
:hey are willing to grant to others.
The cardinal principle of our order is
equal and exact justice to all. Special
privileges to none. Hence we make
no fight against railroads. banks, man
ufacturing corporations or other en-
terprises, as SUCH only so far as they
discriminate against us, max ing us pay
tribute to them TO an amount wholly
disproportionate 10 the comparative
values of money and labor.
All we ask is equal protection wi h
other interests. That labor may be
made remuneratiye and honorable.
The growth of our order since our
last meeting has been very rapid; and
the information from all sections of
our state cxcitcs the admiration and
wonder of its most sanguinc friends:
whilst those outside of the order have
beheld our growth with undisguised
amaZcment. Since our last meeting
closing first of August, during an in
terim of six months there has beer or
ganizcd in State five hundred and
scvcnty-iive subordinate oranges, with
Il membership of fifteen thousand five
hundred: and so far as we are able TO
learn. there is Il rapid increase IN the
number Of applications for dispense
tons. These results have been achiev- |
ed through the instrumcntality of our
deputies, and 10 these faithful men,
who have done thicr work so molly |
aud SO effectively. We owe lasting |
debt Of gratitude. And here | would |
say 10 the deputies that my CORES
pondencc reveals feeling among many |
subordinate oranges, that they do not |
place that construction on the clause |
of article 9Th. which reads. ''any one
interested in agricultural pursuits"
rs was originally designed. True, the
clause is capable of varied construc-
tions. consequently much confusion
and Misunderstanding must arise. Dur
ing the infancy of the order when
members were few, our strength feeble
al, there was but little danger in con-
STRUNG this clause literally. But now
these circumstances are changed. To
be patron of husbandry is not of
doubtful propricty, but the proudcst
of the land are knocking 1T our doors.
The order is recognized as one of the
gates are beseigcd by hordcs Of spccu-
lators, small politicians, dcmagogues,
office seekers, lawyers, etc. who sud-
denly discover that they are interested
in agricultural pursuits. but we fear
only as the beast for his prey. The
National Grange had under considera-
ton several propositions bearing dir
Getty Oh this point: and feel justified
in saying that they will determine by
law the proper construction of the con-
sti,ution. So we may be able TO keep
our gates closed against those whose
only interest consists in what they can
make out of Us. To admit such can
only result in evil. and sow seeds of I
discord.
For Us to decide what Interpretation
shall be placed upon the word ''politi-
cal demands our serious and Impair
tial consideration. That we are sub
stautially unit in the opinion that the
order should in no sense become po-
litical party: at the same time there
are questions fundamentally affecting
our material interests, which can only {:
be reached through legislation. The |
question of transportation. taxation.
finance and corruption in public places {
are such as come home TO the pockets I
of our members, and il seems impcra- /,
tive that they be discussed in the I
grange. Shall il be ruled that such
questions are political in the meaning I
Of the constitution. and they be denied ,
the privilege Of canyassipg them; on t,
The ground of politics? | am fully i
aware that this question belongs lcgiti- f,
matclv to the national grange, and | s
satisfied that that body will clearly set |
forth an authoritative INTERPRETATION q
for the guidance of members: but as 4
here has probably been more said mp t
,n the subject in our own state than i
my other, deem il my duty TO call II
,our attention TO this subject, hoping L
hereby that we may all have better {
understanding and find all impedi- il
nents which our enemies are contiuu n
lily casting in our way TO harmonious f
lction. p
desire TO call your attention TO the p
business agencies, state and local, es- II