Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1876-06-22
THE FARMERS, GRIEVANCES

~ tit tGilCH III NSu1 % Wco ASSSAoAy SN~AA
cred at a public installation OF officers OF
Manatau Grange, Ohio, by A. S. Beecher,
Master: a i@ #' @i# 5315t
The agriculture of our country, far as it
vet is from protection, has already become
an art. a science, a profession, in which he
that would instruct must first be instructed
far beyond my advancement. The charac-
ter far this great interest, its intimate con-
nection with the wants, comforts, and in
terests of every one, whatever his calling !;
it's relation to commerce.. manufactures, ed
u%cation, and general government furnish
abundant food for thought and reflection.
Agriculture spreads the sails on lake and
ocean, impels the car O commerce, turns the
machinery of the manufacturer, and is the
great motor of action throughout the civil
lied world. All, little and great, rich and
poor. owe their existence to the tillers of
the soil, and the very beasts of the fields and
birds of the air are dependent upon the pro-
ducts of the farm. Yet there is no branch
Of Industry SO little cared for by our law
makers, or 50 preyed upon by the v%ultures Of
trade.
Nine-tenths Of all manufactured articles
are the product Of monopolistic combination.
By their combination and boards Of trade
they are able to dictate to us the price Of
articles we use and consume. and establish
the price on what we produce. About six
years ago, two gentlemen-one from the
cotton States and the other from Pennsyl-
vania, both having been at one time, active
business men, but now tillers of the soil
saw the necessity of adopting some meas
ures.. whereby the farmer might be better
educated in his profession, enjoy, better
social privileges, and protect himself from
the power of combination and m%onopolies.
These gentlemen, after due deliberation, as
associated with themselves other prominent
agriculturists, and organized q secret society,
known as Patrons of. Husbandry. Their
place for transacting business and discussion
was called the Grange. Though this word
literally means 'sfarm, " it applies here in the
Same sr.r.o that i 4eag y does -ta-other Sc
cret ~socities. The belief entertained by many
that the great object of the Grange is TO- we
ducc and control the price of faPm labor, to
annihilate all classes OF men engaged in,
mercantile pursuits, is a very erroneous one.
The cardinal principles of the Order are,
honesty in all business transactions, public
or private, and strict uprightness ia all the
relations oflife. The workings Of the Order
4 tend to educate and elevate the mind of the
farmer and make himmore capable OF learn
ING the affairs of the government, conduct
ing intelligently the different departments OF
business, and exert a good influence around
him. tfis.f lai
1.-THE great and vital question of labor
needs more than q passing notice. lit IS
natural for labor to receive the greatest re-
ward. We do notblame the laborer for seek
ing the highest prices for services, nor do
we discredit the farmers statement, that
the income of his farm will not satisfy the
payment Of demanded prices. We trace the
principal cause of this state Of things TO the
influence and action Of other industrial pur-
suits. Take. for example, the coal and iron
trade. What is true of that will be trae
largely. Of all branches of manufacture
The coal miner works from six to eight
hours a day, as a rule, and at eighty-ive
cents per ton, makes from $3.50 to $500 per
day. The iron manufacturer who consumes
a large per cent. of the coal mined must pay
for this coal that will remunerate the owner
of the mine. The iron miner is paid in like
manner for the production of the crude ore.
After the iron IS manufactured, tits again
converted into useful articles, and is the
final nrnduct of labor at eXtraYagant prices.