Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1879-10-02
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
CLASS INTERESTS.


we took occasion last week to refer RI a.
article in an Eastern farm ionrnal sbow;no
Hos1lhty TO the Grange for its supposed ad
socacy OF class interests and class legislation
we say : supposed, :" because in the Decla.
RATION OF Purposes, nor in any other paper
emanatlng from the Order, is this made 4
distinctive object; nor do we know OF d sim
gle Fatron OF Husbandry who is not opposed
20 special legislation. The association was
organized to promote the interests of the
farmer. What these interests are. is NOT
difficult to determine; how. and in what
manner they may be best attained presents
more cause for llesitancy. But there is no
uouDt as to the inexpediency OF discussions
oI partisan politics, nor of the discussion Of
class interests and special laws in favor OF
agriculture to the injury Of other interests.
ana yet we undertake to say that this very
'ning mas been done, and on every opportu-
nicy VIII Dc done, by any and every ~legisla-
lure where there Is not u fair average of far
iners, representative men of the interests Of
agriculture and agriculturists. The action
OF Patrons in lows and Wisconsin bear;no
vi Ialifoads seems to have been a source of
neVef-ending arrogance and bad temner.
Even Charles Francis Adams. to whom tho
country looked for more liberal views. goes
out OF ms way to make his fling one of 4 +,
piece 60 put him OH the political shelf tor
ever. AS . question OF policy, we are now
discussing their action. The result showed
1hey We're legally right, and there was never 4
= question but that this railway mnDaoe-
ment OF that section was Systematically = D
'nper'ous monopoly. Tue people of the
country " the Changers of Iowa their :
'.iahKs Tor the resolute stand they took. and :
Tue great lesson enforced that farmers have
ii2hts winch even railways are bound to re-
spsct. But class legislation is not confined tv
" railroads. We ask any unprecedented in
aia' 70 HOOK over the proceedings of n,hlic
iesislative bodies of Ohio-and Ohio is INT }
saimple-and be blind to the fact Of class IN
terests cropping out continually. The dis I
.ussion ana rejection by the people OF the =
ne revised Constitution turned almost so,e-
y on TINS point. Turn over the PAGES Of
the statute b%ook-many of the laws seem ~
nave been gotten up to make law sn;ts
aAaliihe the Statute IN relation to mutual
insurance associations, prior to the
law OF 1877. Consider the ntter -
AZURE 60 enact just and reasonable fee hills
shd salaries for county officials thouoh .,e.r.
y demanded by the popular voice, MARI
'he utter disregard of the popular will IL )
70 the monopoly in school books. /,
aead carefully the law in regard to wafer
curses, drains and ditches-a law in winch -
ALI the farmers of the State are Interested -
yet SO drafted that law suits are almost and
"afahteed and a lawyers help made essen.
a.' All this is the result either of purpose
: ignorance. These are not political cues
"hs. PARTISAN politics have nothing to do
u'em. 1t is the evil of class represent
laoh. Inc remedy is simple and direct. =
aAeate the body of the people to he think =
* readIng men and make the office seek