Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-04-01

parlSOn Is IL auy "Ouuei Jul bheioh
today stands rebuked by the whole
world! andis there any doubt as to who
is in part 10 blame, with over one-half
of our population of one class, and they
unrepresented because not organized,
and because they have allowed an In,
significant minority to not only run
away with, but to hold and control all
the loaves and fshesi Farmers, why
don't you save your country'-Farmer'
Friend.
s0 The Worthy Master of the
State of Virginia, Hon. ]. W. White,
in his address to the annual State
Grange, on the 10th of January last,
says as follows
In two years, the age Of this organ
ization in Virginia, its growth has been
wonderful. From eighteen it has
grown to seven hundred subordinate
Granges-from three hundred it has
reached a membership of twenty thou
sand.
The Order was organized for three
well defined purposes, viz: To advance
the social, intellectual, and material in
terests of the farmer. Now, failure
to accomplish either of the above pur-
poses will fall short of what the origina-
tors purposed and what its members
reasonably expected and hoped from it.
Now, to accomplish these purposes we
must have laws and regulations best
adapted for securing them. In legislat-
ing for the Order we should ever keep
the three distinct objects before our
minds. 1t is clear if it was exclusively
a social or an educational organization,
then the laws that would meet its wants
would be totally unsuitable for it. l
hold that we should harmonic the
three, and pursue that course that will
best preserve aud advance their interests
intact.
When this organization Incorporated
a business feature, and said to the far
mer within our gates we will protect
you from burdens that now Cypress you,
it simply declared lis purpose to form
an organization among ourselves to
resist those formed against us. Now,
if this was our purpose, then to make
that defence effective, we must not only
have laws that are rigid, but general
in their application to each Grange and
each member. To do this the higher
Oranges must legislate for the lower,
and the power must rest with the high
er to enforce universal obedience. We
only have to follow the example of
other protective organization: their
laws are rigid and infexible, and by
rigid enforcement of them have they
attained their power and supremacy
over us. One less effective on our part
will only prove abortive, and the large
membership we now have and may re-
ceive only adds additional weakness,
and instead of becoming an organic
ed body of farmers. with a probable
membership of six millions, we should
become most gigantic mob.
The business system adopted by you
at your last session merits your conf
dence and support. l feel sanguine it
has the capability of relieving US from
the thraldom heretofore placed upon us
by the existing laws of trade J.; and l
have no hope of substantial relief to the
farmer except through this or perhaps
some improved system of cooperation.
How many of us believed at the last
session that the State Grange had in
augurated Lusines system that would
secure to all members patronizing it
from twenty to fifty per cent upon all
our purchases, and sell our products at
far less commissions than those ever
charged US before, with none of those
extraordinary charges and taxes that
were unjustly placed upon US by Boards
of Trade The adoption by the Ma
tional Grange, at its last session, of the
interstate business system will lessen
the duties Of your agent and render our
system much more effective and COM
plete. Now, the Patrons of Virginia
will receive the benefit of terms made
by agents of other States, thus realizing
the full benefits from national co-opera-
ton, as anticipated by the originators
of our system.
l cannot too strongly urge upon you
the importance, at this session, OF max
ing adequate provision for keeping a
person, either the Lecturer
or some other officer. in the field, who
shall visit the several counties and the
subordinate Oranges, if necessary, ILL.,
and counseling the members
as to the needs Of the Order, and par
ticularly in reference to our business
system. For the present year, just
closed, our Worthy Lecturer has rem
dered efficient aid in this matter. and
has been assisted by other members:
My own efforts in this direction will
be given in my report We have made
but beginning. In no other way can
L.. L a. .1l,v