The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1874-01-08
LOcKPoET, Nov. IS, ls7

society acquires q sort of diffidenee or
bashfuIness in their manner which is
| frequently n source Of embarrassment
during their whole lifetime. The an
tidOte for all this is supplied by the
social feature of the Grange. Besides,
there is much real pleasure and enjoy
ment in the social intercourse of the
Grange. '"Tis not all OF life to live.D
Intellectually, it is the aim of this or
der tc educate the farmer up to fu.i
and perfect understanding OF the re-
sponsibility that rests upon him as q
citizen, to keep him posted upon all
matters that affect his business. 1t
requires more education, more knowl-
edge, more science to prosecute the
business of agriculture successfully
| than is required in any other business.
To perform all the duties of a citizen
and farmer intalligently, the farmer
should be thoroughly posted in politi-
cal economy, science of government
and science of agriculture 1t is feature
of this order that it brings UP for dis
eussion every question bearing upon
his profession or occupation, or which
may enlighten him as 70 his duties as
a citizen.
The diversity of soil and climate,
and the great variety of productions
and their relative value give a wide
range for thought, and require an ex-
tensive knowledge Of the experience
of others, added to his own inyestiga-
tions and experiments, to make sue
cessful farmer. BY an interchange of
experience in our agricultural opera
tions in the Grange we gain much
valuable information, which would be
difficult to be acquired in any other
manner. In this way we acquire not
merely the theory OF farming, but the.
practical experience of our best far
mers, who are operating in the same
climate and upon the same kind of
soil, and who have the same obstacles
to overcome. To become good and
intelligent citizens, it is necessary that
we should have q thorough under
standing of our system of govern
ment, and the principles upon which
it is founded. Also, a thorough
knowledge of political economy.
These are proper subjects for discus
sion in the Grange. So also would be
any question Of principle or govern
mental policy but an attempt to
pledge the order to any political party
or candidate would be highly improp-
er, and could not be tolerated for one
moment in the Grange. While it
must be distinctly understood that
this Order is not political organiza-
ton, and political discussions will not
be tolerated in the Grange, yet it will
undoubtedly exert powerful infiu-
ence upon political parties, by educat-
ing the citizen up to be an indepen-
dent thinker and actor in his. own
political organization. In the man
agement of political parties as con-
Quoted at the present time the politi-
clan is master of the people, but
through the influence of this Order
we hope to see the people again mas
ter of the politician. This will be ae-
complished by the general diffusion Of
knowledge through correspondence
between different Oranges, and by a
general interchange of thought in the
Grange. We can also have libraries
to which all can have access. 1t is ex-
pensive for each farmer to purchase a
library for himself alone extensive
enough to cover all the subjects which
he might wish to investigate, but in
the Grange he can be supplied. 1t
would take too much spaca to enum-
crate all the advantages that would
accrue under this feature OF the
Grange, but enough has been said to
show its general objects in this line.
FINANCIALLY,
The benefits to be derived from this
feature of the Order are so extensive
that shall attempt only to give an
outline of the way in which the
Grange operates to benefit the farmer
financially. This is accomplished by
combination in making their pur-
chases of supplies, such as fertilizers,
machinery, stock, &C., and in selling
their products. By means of this Or
der we are enabled to bring the pro-
ducer and consumer together, and by
this means TO save between the two
classes the large profits of the middle
men. We do not desire to do away
entirely with middlemen, but we do
think through the Grange we can dis
pense with the services of a large class
Of drummers and agents, who are the
droues in the great hive of industry.
1t is estimated that the farmers be-
longing to the Oranges in the State of
Iowa during the present year have
saved in the purchase of reapers alone
the large sum of $350,000, and that in
buying their supplies and selling their
products they have saved over one
million of dollars in the same time.
To secure these advantages to the
farmers of this State during the COM
ing year it is necessary that we should
be thoroughly organized in every
county by the middle of the winter,
SO that orders for machinery may
be made up at an early date, so as to
give time for negotiation with the
different manufacturers. It's desira-
bic that manufacturers have the or
ders as soon as possible, that they
may be supplied without delay.
Mowers and reapeTs, ,sewing-machines,
drills, wheel rakes, wheel cultiva-
tors, and all that class of machinery,
and fertilizers, can be purchased TO
great advantage through the Grange.
1t should be borne in mind also that
none but members of the Order can
avail themselves of this advantage
through the Grange. Undoubtedly
this Order will exert a powerful infiu-
ence in solving the great question of
transportation, and in breaking down
the great monopolies of the country;
but have no space here for COM
ments on those questions.
ORGANIZATION.
It is desirable that at least one or
two Oranges be organized in every
town IN the State, and that the
Oranges should be as full as possible.
in order TO give them a strong, vigor-
Gus and healthy existence. The lar
ger the number OF members, the lar
ger the benefits to be realized finan-
cially, as the orders for machinery
and supplies will be correspondingly
larger. Oranges should not be organ
lied within three miles of each other, |
except in very thickly settled districts. |
1t requires not less than nine men and |
four women, and not more than twen-
ty men and ten women as charter
members, to organize Grange.
Parties wishing to organize q