The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1875-02-11
THE NATIONAL GRANGE.


The National Grange met at Charleston,
S. c., on the Sd, and we clip the following
extracts from the telegraphic reports of
the Register, relative to its workings and
prospects:
The National Grange assembling to-
day represents $4,000 societies or subordi.
nate oranges. and has l,430,000 mem
bers, male and female The
officers of the National Grange are as fol-
lows
Master-Dudley w. Adams, Waukon,
Iowa.
Orerscer-Thomas Taylor, South Caro-
lima.
Lectwer-T. A. Thompson, Minneso-
ta
,Ste,oard-A. j. Vaughan, Mississippi.
assistant .Seward-G. w. Thompron,
New Jersey.
Chqolain-A. A. Grosh, District of
Columbia
Tredsuer-F. NJ Mcdowell, New
York.
Secreta,y-O. II. Kelley, Georgetown,
DC.
Gatckeper-O. Dinwiddie, Indiana.
Ceres-Mrs. d. w. Adams, Iowa.
Pomona-Mrs. o. II. Kelley, District
of Columbia.
Eora-Mrs j. q. Abbott, Iowa.
Lady Sesoard-Miss G. A. Hall, Dis
trict of Columbia.
Erecutiue on,mittee--William Saun-
ders, District of Columbia; ID. w. Akin,
South Carolina; Il. r. Shankland, Iowa.
These officers were elected in 1873,
when there were but 1862 Oranges and
eight State Oranges. They hold over
till 1875, and fully control the Order,
that now contains $4,000 Oranges. The
agricultural community Of the District Of
Columbia, it will be seen, exercises con-
siderable influence in the Order, and, as
Miss Hall is Mr.. Kelly's niece, the Kelly
family exercises considerable influence in
the agricultural community Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia. Just think Of it; 5
officers from little ID. G., 10 acres
square, barely larger than our townships,
that has not good farm in it.
TIE FUTURE OF THE oFDER.
A special to Chicago paper from
Charleston, dated the I'd, has the follow
ing:
The future of the order it is not diff
| o,,L to ,roJ,St Uta ua,rnt fo,furoa ,y,lI
be abolished; its ceremonial features
made simpler and optional; the National
Grange will be wiped out and reduced TO
a mere clerks office; the State Oranges
will conduct most Of its business, but the
County Oranges will be the real scat Of
importance, each representing fifteen or
twenty cooperative and social clubs.
Ere this is arrived at, sweeping reforms
nay, revolutions-must be instituted !;
and in this sense, this present meeting Of
the Grange is Of importance. The large
amounts Of money passing into the treas
ury--the receipts last year were $780,
900, and this year are in excess OF 5000
00O-and the power and profit Of their
position, have impelled certain members
Of the National Grange to covet its exten.
ded control. At present, many OF its
members sit and vote without represent
ing any constituency whatever; and il wal
attempted, last year, to perpctuate this
packing by making seven '.Founders'
life members, and creating superior
privilcdged class The patrons have
everywhere revolted against this and
rejected the amendments Of an
oligharchial tendency. Their introduc-
ton, however, has severely injured the
National Grange; and were the rank and
file able to exert their influence, the pres
ent Directory would be ousted, and the
Constitution popularized summarily. II
is, however, not expected that the Nation.
al Grange will reform itself, and its fail
ure to do 80 will precipitate revolution.
AMONG THE POINTS TO COME UP HERE
are the following:
Fira.--The disposition Of the surplus
fund The Order now has from 10000
to 100000 in Governments, and between
$4,000 and 100000 in cash. 1t is de
sired that this surplus shall be returned
to those who contribute it, and that th'
dues and fees shall be 80 reduced that, il
future, the accumulation Of such funt
shall be impossible. This the "KellJ
Ring" will oppose, principally on th'
ground that it is desirable 10 keep money
on hand to relieve distress. This ia very
shallow pretext; for, though the Statt
Oranges have sent Thousands Of dollars n
J Kansas and Nebraska, the National Grange
has not contributed cent. It did give
$4,000 TO the handful Of sufferers in Iowa
but not in cash. The Iowa branch of the
Ring having run in arrears for dues 10 that
extent, the National Grange wiped out the
debt, thus suggesting that what money
Iowa could not raise TO pay her debts, she
should give in charity. The establish
ment Of any national manufacturing en-.
terprise will not be favorably regarded
neither will the purchase Of real estate
and erection Of central Offices Last year
Crop Report Bureau was created 10 re-
duce this surplus; but it failed ignomin-
iously.
Second-The removal Of headquarters.
These must be taken from Washington,
partly TO remove the Grange from po-
litical influences, partly because central
location was desired 81. Louis is likely
TO be selected a. the
PERMANENT HEADQUARTERS or TIT
GRANGE,
though Louisville and indianapolis viii
also compete for it.
| Third-The reduction Of salaries
which are larger than are warranted By
the work and responsibility, and much
larger than their recipients could make a
any other pursuit.
Fosrh-The complete abolition Of th.
supplying features Of the National Grange
The Ring has made handsome prof.
on song books, seals, regalia, etc, and has
used the Orders seal and cash 10 advance
the interests Of Eastern houses wherein
are interested certain Of its members
This il absolutely demanded On all
sides.
FffM-The Investigation Oh the South
A committee Of Patrons will be sent
through the Southern States TO report
at once TO the agricultural community the