The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-12-16
THE STATE GRANGE.

III II STATE Gh4N Or.
This important body is now in session
in Minneapolis.
We are sorry to say that the zeal in
the subordinate oranges is not as great
as it was two years ago; and this seems
to be the case also in other States. We
find the following in the Industrial Age
of Chicago:
respected Missouri correspondent writes
the Age, "The Changers must take more ac-
tive part in politics or pass into bankruptcy.
All the non producing or parasite classes have
combinations formed to rob the industrial or
producing part Of the community, and they
are a unit in their efforts to do this. The labor
interests have been, until within few years,
without any counter combinations, and have,
like fools, been fighting or party, while the
plunderers have been using party to rob
them. The various workingmen's associa-
tons, the Oranges and the Farmers Clubs, are
counter combinations to protect their members
from further i1npositions, and, as far as posi-
bic, correct those that alre dy exist But the
importance OF this our friends do not appre-
ciate, nor comprehend the degree OF good it
might accomplish.
6 There is no difference i'll the old parties on
the score Of corruption and miSmanageInent.
The Republicans have had control of the Ma
=.
throwing out OF the necessities OF the war and
other questions thrown upon the country, the
legislation and public action OF the nation have
become corrupt, and tue masses Of the Demo-
cratic politicians ae as dishonest and CORFU ut
rs the Republicans. The Shepherd rings and
rascaities at Washington, had the strongest
Democrats in Congress among their supporters
The Tweed rings at New York had the strong
ct Republicans in the State working with
them ard aiding them in carrying out their
measures OF robbery How can the great pro-
duclng MASSES expect anything else but to be
robbed " hen such state OF affairs exists?
Why not combine III their own defense and
protect thenlselvtSf
The notes Of exultation that come up from
all over the country and especilly from the
metropolitan monopoly press, about the cleo
tons the past fail in Wisconsin, Minnesota,
iowa, Ohio and Pennsylvania, tell their own
story. In relation TO the result in each OF those
states their jubllance was almost boundltss
The Grangers had been beaten, they Sad-they
had be n repulsed, and now would be sent
back bowling to their farm yards and all this
kind OF thing, when the fact was, the monopo-
lists carried their tickets in Wisconsin. Ohio
and Pennsylvania, by Granger votes. 1t is a
TACT, douot not, susceptible of the highest
proof, that Il majority Of the Changers i4s.hose
States voted the Republican ticket, AMI to have
4 system of measures fastened upon them that
will cost them large share OF their earnings
The men that east these votes are still blinded
by old partisan pledges, and have not advised
| themselves of the bad character of the meas
ures that are being riveted upon them.
=, There is too much truth in all this.
The Grange organization seems to us to
be emasculated by the declaration of its
| constitution that is members shall not
discuss political questions. when every
! question which now -a.davs affects the
welfare of the human family is more or
less directly related to politics. This
was shown the other day in the National
Grange. when some ass from South
/ Carolina offered a resolution =
/ 'WHFRgAs. The financial question is now
/ becoming political question,
i Res0lped, That the Grange caano. properly
| discuss il, tar words to that effect
Now could anything be more absurd
than thi>? This Interpretation would
rule out the temperance question. the
| transportation question, the taxation
/ question. economy, retrenchmen, re-
| form and pretty much everything e,sc al
any Importance TO the people, for all oil
these are now more or less political H.
sues; and thus reduce the gigantic
grange organization. with its millions 81
members and all its vast capabilities fol
| the advancement of the welfare of III
| members. to 4 mere string OF farmers
clubs. to discuss manures and how Il
make hens lay.
For our part we are disheartened ant
discouraged The Grange in this S ate
contains 10000 members, and the re
/ ~. -, y III.
to say-infinitesimal. Whyo Becaus,
! its members cared more for their old 20
Iitical partl than they did for theil
} Grange or the reforms which it soug b
to inauCurate.
Waat aaye been the resuIts9 The or
sanizauon has lost in zeal aud growth
it has become the subject OF ualimite,
contempt at the hands of the Manopo
list newspapers; in legislation it has lit
: orally effected nothing and it Is weake
and farther away from achieving any
; thing for the defence of the farmin:
/ community to-day than it was two wear
t ago. 1t should. with its vast numbers
, De represeted by members OF its organi
cation on the fioorslof the Senate ant
House OF Representatives at Washing
: ton; we doubt ii it has a single represen
d tative in the Senate and we do not know
OF one In the House. When all tie grea
+ questions OF transportation GENE up Il
!. Congress. Minnesota's 10000 Granger
1 must depend upon tina: oily piece Q
l sleek humanity. Billy Window, whit
I scarcely knows the difference between
: Southdown sheep and Hydraulic Ram
or that illustrious statesman with In
!, guano reputation Bill King. And ye
e the Grange is happy.
:. The ritual and the "social feature At
; well enough, but they are net suincien
> to keep such vast organization alive
> The business feature has been mad