Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-05-03
THE OLD GRANGER MOVE
MENT.
AN INTERESTING COMMUNICATION.


article having never been printed in
any paper in the Southwest, We pro-
duce the entire article, referring our
readers to the able arguments made
by Col Morgan in relation to mid
die men, capital, labor, banks and
railroads.
1t is generally known that Col. N.
J.. Colman has a large horticultural
farm, and he devotes much of his
time to this subject. In 1874 Col.
Colman was a candidate for the
nomination of Governor, and previous
to the meeting of the State conven-
ton he spoke in almost every county
in the State, treating largely on the
grievances of the farmers, and how
they ought to farm, the kind of fruits,
vegetables and stock they should
raise. For the results that would fol-
low his election to the Executive
chair, we refer our readers to the ar
ticle below.
THE GRANGERs-THEIR MILLENNIUM.
St. Louis, Mo-, August IL, 1874
Editor Times: Since the great in
pouring of the people on the occas-
ion of the great bridge celebration,
there has nothing unusual occurred to
vary the prosperity and peace of this
great metropolis. In the last few
days political matters have assumed
quite a talkative shape, and from this
time until the meeting of our county
convention on the 22d, and our State
convention on the 26th, considerable
interest will be manifested, while the
Changers throughout the State have
IN many instances met in their sover-
eign capacities and listened to many
speeches in which their grievances
were fully set forth. The Grangers
are not political. Their order is in
tended to elevate and promote the
farming interests, the improvement OF
all kinds of stock, farming implements,
fruits, grains and education, and will
60 into the investigation and study OF
science and all manner of professions.
While this is true as to the intention
of the Granger as non-political, not
that he may not have his own politi-
cal notions, and as any other citizen
he may exercise that right in the ranks
of his party, be it either Democrat OF
Resublican. But the door of the
first Grange in this State, after its or.
ganization, was hardly closed before
u certain Missouri politician com
menced an uncalled for canvas. Most
of his speeches were studied and care.
fully revised for the ear of the farmer,
and in eloquent tones he appealed tG
the farmers, setting forth their OPP
pressions and abuses in the mos
glowing manner, and proposing as /:
remedy for their oppressions-and J
admit that the farmers, particularly
of Missouri, have many-the very
doctrine that would, if adopted by the
incoming legislature miss of its mark.
to-wit: Did the intelligent farmer
ever for n moment consider the
magnitude of the power of the mid.
dle-men, and the impossibility of do
ing away with them at this time? Dc
Invest IN banks, manufactures and
mercantile trade? For instance, take
the ocean commerce, of which seven
tenths is now carried on in foreign
bottoms. Why? Because ships can
be built, equipped and manned cheap
er in Europe than in the United
States. So if there should be a de.
mand abroad for any products you
may have to spare, you farmers are Al
the mercy of charges of carriers, VIII,
have no interest to subserve in this
country, except to make as much as
they can for the service they ma
render. Will the Changers do away
with their middle-men by building and
manning ships to take their product
to foreign markets?
One particular office-seeker, who
was at the birth Of the farmers move
ment, and who if continued at its
head will be the cause of it's death.
deals largely in the expressions by
the banks and railroads. Admit that
the high charges of railroads for
freight and passage, and the high rate
OF interest demanded by the banks,
In proportion to the price received by
the farmer for his surplus is disprO-
portionate. What is the remedy for
this difference between capital and
labor? The farmers own their farms
and the banks and railroad companies
their banks and railroads. There can
be no objection to the quantity of
money in any community, but only to
its value for the RATE OF
There can be no objection to the
number Of railroads in this or any
other State, but only as to their man
agement or the unreasonable prices
they may charge for the labor they
perform in the transportation offreight
or passage. How is this inequality
in the payment of labor to be RENE
died? Would it be by the farmers
building other lines of railroads and
starting new banks? This would be
impossible, from the fact that the far
mers have not the capital to invest.
The only course to be pursued i'm this
matter of unequal differences as they
stand, is to enact constitutional laws
regulating freights and transportation
on the different lines Of railroads.
Supply and demand in all countries
and in every age regulate the price of
money and the products of the soil,
and maintain the equilibrium of the
two. Capital and labor cannot by
legislation be made equal to both, but
can be to avery great extent remedied
by equal taxation and fair compensa-
ton to the producer, carrier and con-
sumner. But alas, legislation will not
bring sabout what all parties most
need. The intelligent farmer has al
ready observed the eagerness for Of
flee manifested by leading politicians
of this State.
A certain gentleman who is a can
1iIafa for nomination for Co