Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-07-19
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
H CHANGERS.

Some of the western railroad organs are
tnslinr = great ado over the decline Of the
grange organization. The annual meeting
of the National Grange held some months
ago in Chicago. and the report Of the secrc-
tary then submitted. shows that member
ship in the order fell off greatly in the past
year. Nine thousand subordinate oranges
surrendered their charters III 1876, and the
total membership decreased 100000. The
decline is most noticeable ia States, where,
in 1875, the order embraced nearly all the
adult population.
We don't see what the monopoly organs
have to crow over, even though tire organ
ization should 20 cat of existence. The OBJ
iccts for which ii was forned have been we'll
nigh accomplished. On the statute books
of every western State are laws Which hold
the monoplics in check, and they are not
likely to be repealed, no m:ltter what be-
comes of the grange organization. Then
Nae have a decision Of the United States SUI
prelne Court affirming the constittltionality
of the railroad tariff laws. Each State can
now regulate The freight and passenger
ktTIIIS Ol FtliIOittS O|Jct dtAifp III LIKE lN1lI~
tory. This decision is one of the most i'm
portant ever rendered by the Supreme Court
and was brought about by the glangers. It
IS Il fact that all kinds Of farming imple-.
ments. aewi,1g machines, musical instru-
ments, etc, can now be purchased by farm
ers for half the price paid in 1870. The
farmers are posted on the cost Of these
things now. and will not be sWindled again.
And the facilities for gathering the products
Of the farm, and getting them to market,
are greater now than ever. because associa-
ton in the grange has caused matters to be
taken mp, and the farmers have co-operated
for their own benefit iu making improve
ments and erecting elevators in districts Of
narrow compass- The farmers now consign
their grain to their own agents at the trade
eenters, instead Of selling it to agents, who
formerly combined to lower the price. Now
they get the advantage OF the highest mar
ket price, are paid cash, and allow their
agents Il very moderate commission. IN
deed the whole trade s."stem has been revo-
lutioniZcd.
Ii the grange goes down, it will be owing
10 the completion OF its work in the trade
i;,M. 1t never owned up to a political object,
which no doubt accounts for its decline IN
membership, as the reform it sought could
never have been accomplished without po.
litical action. The sorcheads, and stift-neck-
ed party men. do not relish the educating
influences of the order. At the start many
of the old party ~Wire-pullers got into the
ORDER, and FILLING to use it for partisan ends
have bred discord and ill-taeling.
1t is early yet for the monopoly organs tt
c~ow over the downfall OF the grange. 1t IL
yet powerful in a majority Of the States. L
is the strongest organization In the Unitec
States to-day, having a membership Of near
Is Il million, and with several millions o.
dollars invested in cooperative industries
With a revival of good times it is bound Il
take n new start. The hard times have &c
tolerated the preliminary work OF the order
in bringing down prices and crushing mo
noplies. The advantages OF the organiza
ton are not SO clearly seen now as formerly
hut that there will be work for it in the fa
fare, no keen observer doubts. The str0n:
g.een-bnek sentinacnt, in the west and south
is due almost entirely to the grange infiu
cnce, and, IN in our opinion, the day viii
come when our Industrial classes will discoy
or that Tie establishment Of Il Just financia