The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-08-16
WHY ARE NOT ALL FARMERS
MEMBERS OF THE GRANGE!
LADoGA, WIS, uIy II, ]

members of the Grangelo This isa ques-
tion that often suggests itself to every
earnest worker in the Order No one who
knows anything of its purposes or has
read its Declarations, will pretend to
saw that its principles or purposes are
wrong. but on The contrary, all such ac-s
knowledge it to be good thing.
I believe there are tens of thousands OF.
GOOD farmers in the States that withhold
their connection and influence from the
Grange simply because popular men, in
their destination, have ridicufedita To be
called aGrangerIweuld be to them sovery
unpopular, that they would much rather
sit straddle of pushed wire fence than to
be known as on the unpopular side.
There was time when it was thought
that the Grange waste be avery power.
full political organization; then our would
be popular farmers rushed in, no distance,
no time no financial endorsements could
hold them back. Lawyers, doctors: poll
ticians, all came like the rush of a mighty
wind, begging and praying for. admission.
One would bel prominent doctor and
politician travelled from Milwaukee, thirty
miles. with his hair filled with hay seed
and an ear of corn in each pocket Sought
and obtained admission. But | am wan
dering from my text: "Why do not far
mers more generally become members of
the Granger" Another reason, is they are
not generally informed of its purposes. l
venture the assertion that not e-eighth
of the farmers Of my State can tell what
are the true objects of the Grange. Soon
after the adoption of the Declaration of
Purposes" at St. Louis, many the agricul-
tural papers and some others published it,
many did not. Less than one.eightn of the
farmers take an agricultural paper, and
many take none; SO that not more than
one eighth have ever read the "Declara-
tom .....
1t was thought best last year to hold
public meetings. They met with some
success, yet but few, comparatively, have
been reached uniformed as to the funda-
mental principles of the Order. | met
very intelligent 1rishman recently, and in
our conversation the subject of the Grange
came up, when he, with all of his intelli-
gence, denounced it as Socialism, commu-
nism and wholly at variance with chris
tianity or good government This man is
large farmer, and man of considerable
influence among his class, and with the
Priest to back him eXerts that influence
against the advancement of his class.
lust how to reach this class is poser to
me- so long as one mans dictum rules
them. Yet if the more liberal farmers
were disposed to unite in the grand move
ment. this class will take different views
and possibly yield their objections.
AT the last session of the National
Grange further Declaration of Purpo-
ses" was adopted, and resolution pass
ed to have it printed, under the super
vision of the Executive Committee, for
general circulation among farmers.
1t has been printed in some of the
Grange papers, but not for general distri-
button, consequently has not reached the
class intended to be reached by the reso-
luton. A few of the members have read
it and probably none others.
l can not see how the farmers generally
can be reached and educated in the prin-
ciples of the Grange, unless it be by tracts
or publications freely distributed among
them. More has been done in England
to advance cooperation by the circulation
OF tracts than all other efforts combined;
and the circulation of these same tracts
has had vast influence in advancing CO.
operation in this country A generous
distribution of tracts, stating the objects
of the Order, whether in the language of
a power for good to the Order. slfa
"A number of Grange papers wholly or
partly devoted to the Grange are publish |
ed, either by State Oranges or individual
enterprise, yet but few reach any except
members: Our agricultural journals do
not take a sufficient interest to publish
Grange literature in their papers, although.
wholly interested in agricul- |
ture. Some political journals have devo- |
ted more space to the Grange movement |
than some of the farm journals. --
1t the agricultural journals can not, or
will not, lend helping hand to build up |
an Order, wholly in the interest of agri- |
culturists, then they had better collapse
and let the political journals educate the
farmer in his duty to his fellow laborer.
Many of the States have employed Lee
turers at considerable expense. No State
can reach the masses through Lecturers
unless they 1.-THE Lecturers are willing to
shoulder both burden and expense. The
financial condition of most of State
Grange Treasures is not such as to war.
rant such an effort.
What shall we do to build up the Order
under these circumstances? Let the Ma.
tlonal Grange hold biennial sessions. and
thus save one half the money now spent
IN annual sessions, put the amount thus
saved into tracts for gratuitous circulation
educate the farmer, and thus build M the
order | cannot say that the work done
by the National Grange warrants the ex.
penses OF annual session. In the two last l.
meetings three amendments to the Const;-
tuition were passed and only one of them
was ratified; showing that the member
snip are not anxious for amendments
+. Sin Grange Bulletin. IS 80 II
/. 90 many Patrons have supposed that
because the Grange numbered more Sub.
ordinate societies or 49, -