The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1878-01-09
The Good work of the grange

The Good Work Of the Grange
At the recent meeting of the Micbi
gan State Grange. the Master, Hon. J.
j. Woodman, delivered an address, in
the course of which he said:
In no direction is the good work of
the Grange, and the influence of the order
more perceptible than in the growing in
telligence of farmers in relation to gener-
al business, the laws of trade, influences
which govern the market, state and con-
dition Of the same, the current prices of
all commodities bought and sold upon
the market, the laws and customs rela-.
ting TO interest, money discount, com
mission, percentage, and exchange; and
the application of such knowledge to the
operations of the farm. fa@e
. - Greater economy Is practiced, less
debt is contracted, larger profits from
the farm realized, and consequently mort
cages discharged.
AS the position which our order has
taken in regard to railroads and corpora
tions engaged in transportation has been
misunderstood or Intentionally misrepre-
scented, it seems proper that / should
briefly refer to this subject.
- The following from our national plat
form--the declaration of purposes of our
order-are fundamental principles which
underlle the whole organization. and
must be taken as authentic: eve wage
no aggressive warfare against any other
interest whatever. On the contrary,
all our acts and all our efforts, so far as
business is concerned are not only for
the benefit of the producer and consumer,
but also for all other interests that tend
to bring these two parties into speedy
and economical contract. Hence we
hold that transportation companies OF
every kind are necessary to our success,
and that their interests are Intimately
connected with our interest, and harmO-
NOUS action is mutually advantageous.
We are not enemies of railroads nor of
any corporation that will advance our in
dustrial interests. a
Capital invested in railroads genuine
stock should be protected by the legisla
ton Of the country as sacred as any other
investment. While our organization is
not opposed to capital, or "any corpora
ton that will aid the industrial interests,
yet we are opposed to the 'tyranny OF
monopolies," and shall labor with all the
influence of our organization to remove
the antagonism between labor and CAPT
tai by common consent, and an enlighten
ed craftsmanship worthy of the nine
teenth century. s e q 1ol.
The government is clothed with SOW
erign power held la trust, to be exercis
ed only for the good of the people; anc
every franchise granted to corporation,
or privilege bestowed upon a particular
class, which does not in some way benef
the community, is an act of injustice t.
the people. go 'Ie.t'@il.
If for instance corporation is Great
ed which shall result in building rail
road or manufacturing establishment, I,
be operated upon such principles as I,
benefit the community, theE the peopl
receive some return for the privileg
granted; but if the franchises are so i'm
providently showered upon the corpora
ton as to enable it to Cypress the PEG
pie, then 10 benefit is, received, for tn,
franchise granted, but an absolute injury
and the state or nation perpetrating the
wrong has violated its most solemn trust
By this rule all acts of legislation, bot
state and national, should be tried and t
this test all theory of political econom,
should be subjected. individual hap
piness depends upon the general pros
perity.' - FL .1o4o1.Hasy5 81 :
l The business arm of the order ha
been greatly strengthened during tn
past year, and several cooperative store
have been established, and so far as Z.
have been able to learn from the report
made to me, they are generally success
full, and are proving a great benefit te
patrons. E ..'tlIGG af Gs0E