Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1874-08-13


from adjoining counties, met at the Fair
Grounds, in this place, on Wednesday last.
Large numbers of Changers and others
commenced coming at six O'Clock, and
by half past ten the town was literally filled
with as well-behaved and gay a crowd of
Several fine professions came in town,
when large procession, numbering thou
sands, was formed, and headed by the
Washington Silver. band, the Jefferson
Vile and Madison Mills bands, took up the
line of march, under the Marshalship of
J. NJ. Edwards, for the Fair Grounds. Ar
riYing there, the vast assembly was called
to order by the President of the County
organization, John T. Cox, Esq. Order be-
ing obtained, the meeting was opened with
prayer by Rev. P. F. johnson, of Jeffer-
sonville. The Washington band then
greeted the audience with some splended
music.
Mr. Waldo F. Brown, of Butler county,
was then introduced to the audience, and
after music by the Jefersonville band,
made very good address. His advice to
the Grangers, as general thing, was of a
practical character, though we doubt
whether, in some respects, his picture of
the condition of the agricultural interests
of the country is not oVer-drawn. He said
that many were disposed to laugh at the
idea of organizing Grange lodges. He
thought it was fortunate for such that they
had their laugh at the beginning, for at the
end it would be anything but laugh, and
told good anecdote to illustrate his idea
Of what it would be at the last.
He cautioned the Grangers not to pull
down but to build up. They should be
careful that they used their power proper
ly. They should not forget that others had
rights as we'll as they. He adverted very
properly to the too common habit of the
managers of County Fairs turning their
grounds into race tracks, admitting low
shows and swindling gambling concerns.
He though every Grange should have a
social meeting as often as once month";
and discuss questions in relation to the va
rious departments of agriculture and busi-
ness on the farm and garden.
This recommendation we regard as Of
great interest to farmers, and it should not
be omitted. The social meetings, and the
information to be derived by them, by free
interchange of opinions and relation of ex-
perience and experiments, in our view of
the Grange order, are the most important
advantages to be derived from their organ
izations. They need something of this
kind to bring them nearer together.
And we were glad to hear MI.
Brown. He did not regard the financial
question the greatest one in the organiza-
ton. He dispised the idea of breaking up
local merchants and those who were hon
estly pursuing legitimate business, nor
was he in favor of asking merchants to sell
goods at ten per cent. profit, or to sell
them to Changers lower than to others
He was in favor OF woman suffrage.
In the above we may not have used Mr.:
BIS precise words, but we give what we
took to be his sentiments.
Hon. Thos. Geffs, of Clinton county, was
called out and made a spirited speech, set
ting forth the grievances of the agricultu-
advantages to that branch of industry by
the grange organization. Adjourned till
~ p. M.
Convention met at e p. M; music by
the Washington Band and singing by the
Choir.
The President then introduced Mr.. Ellis,
Master of Grand Lodge of Ohio, to the
audience, who commenced his address as
per previous notice. We did not attempt
20 follow him closely through his speech,
and in what we may say of him we shall
say without any intention of misrepresent-
ing him. We understood him to say he
was in favor of cooperation; was friend
to the manufacturing interests ofthe coun-
try; thought there was now greater diff
ference in the social circle between the
professional men and the farmers that there
was twenty years ago; thought the farmers
needed an organization for self perserya
ton; all departments of Government are
rotten, dishonest and corrupt. He was
graciously of opinion, however, that the
lawyer, who followed his vocation honest
ly, was entitled to as much respect anc
confidence as farmer. He had no stool
in female suffrage, it was not principle o
the Changers.
He did not appear pleased with thost
magnificent brick edifices that grace ou
town, and intimated that they were al
built out of gains dishonesty made from
farmers; every brick was paid for by tn
farmers, while they were compelled to liy
in poor and Indifferent houses.
We cannot say that we were very favor
ably impressed with Master Ellis speech
There were, however, some good points il
it, but we think he will find it impossible
to put his theories into practical use.-
There is, undoubtedly, great need of re
| formation in all departments of trade, bus
mess, and in the social circle; and, perhaps,
the agricultural department is the pro pc
place to begin. Of one thing we are Ger
tain, and that is, that when the agricultu
raj interests of our county are depresse
all other branches of business suffer col
responding depression, and when agricu
tural interest flourish all other branche
of trade and business haYe correspond
ing impetus.
When Mr., Ellis closed, and the band
and the choir had discoursed some swee
music, D. NJ. Stewart, Secretary of the
State Grange, was introduced and made
short speech.
DR.. VIM. Jones took the stand and mad
brief speech. Rev. L. F. Drake was ais
called out and made few remarks. H