The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1875-08-19
.ee.yGg MASTER TALKS ABOUT TIE GRANGE.


AGalyGE MASTER TALKS ABOUT TIE GRANGE.
In "a late issue OF the Kansas City
Times, one Tillman Everett, Master of
the Eureka Grange Of Johnson county,
this State, arraigns the Grange in very
severe manner, in very long letter
We know nothing of Mr.. Everett. lie
NAV be "sorehead," As Oranges are as
liable TO have members who deserve
that title rs any other organization,
political, secret or otherwise. As
social institution we have ncvcr doubted
the practicaJi'i,y OF The order. 1t has
also accomplished some good in regulat-
ing the mohopoiics Of the country. 1t
has brought the farmers together, and
they have been better schoolcd as TO the
best methods of farming by compar-
ing notes and ntcrchangins their OBJ
servations anu experiences. But rs a
regulator OF the trade and business ci
the country, and as an expert in the
financial management OF is affairs or the
affairs of Others, wc have never had
much faith in it. .,lr Everett attacks
the National Grange, aud writes 20
"arouse the members OF subordinate
oranges from state OF lcthargy 10 ii
more searching scrutiny in regard to
the evil -tendo"eies growing ont Of The
donss OF the National Grange" Aiter
Stain" that the Grange movement III It's
formation was designed to he chiefly a
social aud educational institution, TO
bring together the farming community
for the purpose of discussing agricultural,
literary and scientific questions, and TO
cultivate social friendship, he claims that
"unt;lir distribution OF profits
throughout the country, rapid decay
OF trade, domestic industry paral yzcd,
unjust and obnoxious tariff laws, bur
densomc taxes, corruption, &C., &C.,
caused general uprising among the
farmers in attempts at combination and
association Thus the Grange was to be-
come the power which wonld remedy
these evils, and TO that order people
rushed by Thousands. IIo says:
But reaction seems 20 be taking place
in tic minds Of the people. The interest,
rs 1T first manifested in sue, rdinaic
tiranmcS, appears to bc tagging, the at
tcndeurc falling OF, and the t;rahSc
seems To bc tossing lis wonlci vitality.
This state of things has resulted tom
various causes.
As now organized AMI conducted, The
order has not proved itself equal H. The
emergency Of the timc>--has failed to
meet the Expectations OF the ilrming
community, it being too exclusive IA lis
nature and not broad enough Isl its gen
crai scope and design To strike a. The
many evils complained OF by the pro-
ducing classes. Besides, there seems II
have been lacl. of wisdom on the part
of The National Grange in iis Iabored
effort TO exclude al industrial Glasses
except those actually engaged IN agri-
cultural pursuits" thereby tending TO
antagOniZc all other industrial interests
of whatever nature. Again, self aggran
dizcment, and an inordina;e desire for
sordid gain prompted many selfish and
ambitious men 10 seek admission within
tho grange precinct, thinking thereby 10
ret control inside, and so make II
stepping stone TO official position. Thus
The leaders in the mOyment, State and
national, have an eye single more TO
their own cmolumcnt than TO The inter
est OF farmers. Again, the cXtraordi-
nary powers assumed by the National
Grange, the manner Of conducting its
business, and The disposition OF the
grange fund arc alarming enough To
arouse the attention OF every man who
prctcnds TO II concern for the welfare OF
the order Present appearances justify
suspicion in the doiugs of the National
Grange and when the safety Of the CO.
pics money and their interest arc al
stake, suspicion is 4 just ground for
inquiry.
lie claims that the National Grange is
sort of sell-oonstitutcd body, dogmatic
and exclusive in its nature, and that
! lis OUlCCrS with tAtIaOIullii NnA uIi-
defined power and pay allotted them,
become the centre round which every
kind of corruption generates and forms.
After onumeratng some instances OF
their ex,ravagancc, he gives US the fol-
lowing:
Members of the National Grange, for
their services during the session held at
ST. Louis, in the winter OF 1871, voted
themselves s. per day, and 10 cents per
mile of travel, and - for every 800 miles
Travelled both ways, besides money to
pay their hotel bills. Masters OF State
oranges, and deputies each receive s.
Tor organizing sub oranges IN their own
counties, and five cents milLec aud $40
if ont OF their counties. This work l.
frequently performed by men of little
ability, and yet they receive for such
service Of two or three hours work, as
much as a common farmer could earn
IN one or two weeks. THIS Is equal
aud exact justice with vengeance.
On the question Of politics in the
Grange, he says:
Ii is cardinal principle Of the Grange