The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-01-31
PATRONS OF HUsBANDRY.
Recent Meeting Of the Illinois state Grange at
Bloomington,

! noise II makes IS exerting a more far.reaching
and wholesome influence than the order of the
Patrons of Husbandry 1t is not only the so
cial center but the school of the farmer, and
quietly, unostentatiously, Is educating him
both IN his calling and up to the highest re
quirements Of intelligent citizenship The or.
ganization pervades all parts Of the country.
1t knows no north, no south, no east or west,
nor does it permit its councils to be disturbed
by political differences or religious wrangles
1t discusses matters Of state or religion as in
quirers, not as politicians or sectaries.
These remarks seem called for by the fact
that though the State Grange held last week
one of It's largest and most important meetings
at Bloomington, not one Of the Chicago daiies,
which pretend to slight nothing-not even a
village cock, fght-made the slightest alluslon
to it, and even the local papers of Bloomington
barely mentioned It's presence The meeting
was attended by half dozen of representa-
tives from this county, one of whom kindly
furnishes us briet abstract Of its proceedings.
The meeting took place Jan. Goth and lasted
three days, and though there appears to be an
impression abroad that the institution is about
dead, the gathering demonstrated that it was
never on more solid basis 1t is true, its
membership has slightly dropped of, but the
live, active, working members are left and in
all the better heart for being rid of the drones.
Each county is entitled to send but one dele
gate to the State Grange, yet there were over a
hundred present at this meeting, besides num-
erous visitors from all parts of the state
The Hon. A. p Forsyth, Member of Con
gress and Master Of the State Grange, was un-
expectedly present and presided, the lmpres
sion having been that he would be unable to
leave Washington Hereported that there was
but one farmer in the L. s. Senate and he a
colored gentleman from Mississippi, and but
SIX "grangers" In the house, thus illustrating
the unfairness ofthe representation of the farm
ing interests in the national legislature.
The Master Of the L. s Grange, j. J. Wood.
man, OF Pawpaw, Mich, was also present, and
in the evening gave very interesting address,
about an hour and half ia length. HIS theme
was the oppression of the producing classes by
the monopolles of the country. The railroad
monopoly, he said, IS at present exacing three
times the ordinary summer rates for carrying
freight from Chicago eastward virtually cut
ting bushel of corn in two, dividing one-half
between the producer and buyer and retaining
the other half to make large dividends This
was an imposition that called loudly for gov.
eminent interference and regulation. The pat
ent law swindle was another grievous mono
poly. AS an instance of It's working he cited
the clover huller, patented by one Birdsall,
who had commenced over hundred suits
against farmers in Michigan alone. They had
innocently bought their hullers from Glenn &
Hall, the manufacturers, with guaranty of
the right to use them, yet now, after twenty
five years, comes decision from L. S. Court
in Ohio to the effect that Birdsall IS entitled to
800 from every person who ever owned one
of these machines. He also stated that some
2, 400 suits have been commenced in Iowa
against innocent purchasers for infringement
on barbed wire fence patent. There should
be law to protect innocent purchasers in all
cases against patent right claims And so, one
after another, he handled variety of other
monopolies by which the producers are OPP
pressed
As in part responsive to the worthy Grand
Masters address, at the meeting of the grange
next morning. Mr.. J. X. Shaver, chairman of
the committee on transportation presented the
forms Of petitions to be circulated
by members Of the grange and others for sig
natures and presentation to congress-whch
were unanimously adopted
AGAINST TRANSPORTATION MoNoPoLIEs.
To the Honorable Senate and House of Rep
resentatlves OF the u. s. of America in Con
gress Assembled: We the undersigned, citi-
zens of - county, state of - do earn
estly insist, that the Congress of the United
States enact such laws as will alleviate the OPP
pressions imposed upon us by the transporta-
ton monOpolles that now control the inter
State commerce of our country. Railroads, or
Railways as they are severally styled, exact
frctuating and excessive rates of transporta-
ton for frelghts and passengers and in all such
arbitrary eXactions are law unto themselves,
being beyond the reach of State legislation,
and heretofore unrestrained by Congressional
enactments.
While general prosperity pervades the land,
agriculture, the cornerstone of our national
progress, is depressed. The surplus of our
farms is wrenched from us to enrich these
giant monopolles. A buoyant market instant
" enhances the freight rates of transportation,
robblng the producer of well-earned profits,
and levyIng upon the consumer unjust taxa
ton A depressed market maintains the pre-
viously enhanced freight rates, and in neither
case do these common carriers attempt to pro-
mote the public veal.
The patience of an industrious, law-abidIng
people is sorely tried, and with anxiety they
look for relief from your honorable bodies,
from whom alone relief can come That it