Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-02-06
OLYMPIA, SATURDAY MORNING, jim. 50, 1SA.
SOME OF TIE sTUMBLINg-BL0OKs IN
THE WAY OF THE PATRONS.

in the management Of Q gigantic organ
ization like that of the Patrons of Hus-
bandry, many Of the details are in
trusted to incompetent or unworthy
persons. It is not within the range of
human wisdom to guide an institution
of its unwieldy nature in the grooves
contemplated by its founders and de-
fined in the constitution under which it
works. To keep it true as possible to
those great principles, under which it
has developed such surprising growth,
is the duty Of each Patron; but when
influenced by undue zeal or excitement,
he is led to use it as an engine of malice
or oppression, he strikes the most di-
rect blow at the life of the organization.
The principles upon which it is founded
are broad, liberal, comprehensive in
their character, designed only to check
palpable wrongs, to relieve the people,
in or OFT of the organization, from the
oppression which the power of wealth,
controlled as it sometimes is, by the
most sorbid influences, sometimes in
ficts. 1t constitutes no part OF that
duty to enter into competition with
every business which pays reasonable
profits as an investment. The moment
that such policy is proposed, it arrays
the whole community against the Or
ganization, for nobody knows how soon
his own business may be injured or
probably destroyed, by an attempt of
some hot-headed zealot, to establish
himself or some acquaintance in COM
petition, "under the auspices of the
Grange" There has been sentiment
of this kind aroused i'll our community,
by just such ill-advised action. A news
paper was the first infection, although
no fact is more apparent to person
possessing common sense, than that the
business is greatly overdone. This was
followed by proposition to establish a
Grange market, store and hotel, though
these branches of business are equally
depressed by the general stagnation of
business. The consequence is, that a
feeling of hostility has been aroused
against an institution calculated to ben
eft the whole community as q means
of resisting the aggressive demands of
odious monopolies.
While this evil is local and transitory
in its nature, far greater danger
threatens the stability of the organize
ton, existing at the very fountain-head
of the order, if recent reports are true,
as recounted by the press. 1t appears
that the movement has been managed
too much in manner to subserve the
interests of some of its high officers,
and the facts are just beginning to be-
Come the object of alarm to all who
have the good of the order at heart.
The National Grange is located at Wash
ington, and all Oranges in the country
are subordinate to it. A Grange Mas
ter in the West is reported to have said
that, to the best of his belief " the Off
GERS OF the National Grange must have
received at least $25O, 900, for granting
charters to subordinate Oranges dur
ing the past three years, " while news
paper correspondent, who bases his
calculations on the reports of the Gran
ges, estimates the receipts of the order
in Washington at a much larger sum.
He says: In July there were in ex-
istence $4,000 Oranges, with q total
membership Of over 100000. AT SIS
for each charter, this would give the
National Grange $3.50, 900 for charters
alone. Add to this the ten cents annual
dues received from members in all parts
Of the country, amounting to 5000, 900
year, and the receipts from new
Oranges, which are constantly organ
izing. and the result is grand total
worth looking after. OF course there
are expenses to be paid out of these
receipts. but the complaint is that there
is want of definite information as to
the character of these expenses, and
there are those who are suspicious
enough tointimate that the Washington
Changers who grant charters to their
bucolic brethren have an exceedingly
good thing Of It."
II the Patrons can steer clear of the
shoals and quicksands which menace
destruction, they will, in the end, reach |
the open sea. and catch the fayoring
gales that will watt them ON to 1 ne
cure haven. y Their future policy is
filed with momentous consequences.
Lei us hope that their counsols nav