The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-12-04
RBsa.zsthe Gazette, Washington Clty.
THE NATIONAL GRANGE.
Report Of the Committee ON the
Good of the Order---The kes-
0IufiOns Offered Last Night.

OIut1OnS OUereO AtSU tAs
At the meeting of the National
Grange last night Mr.. Thing, of
Maine, made the bllowing report
from the Committee on Good OF the |
Order:
WoytAy Master and Patrons:
Your Committee believe that the
welfare of our Orcer and the ne
cessities of husbandy alike demand
that we as an organization OF prac-
teal farmers step boldly to the
front and at once declare ourselves
an aggressive association, not IN
theory merely, but in practice as
we'll
Resolutions, addresses, nantes
toes or complaints coming from any
body of Patrons from the subordl.
nate to the National Grange inspire
corporations, monopolies, rings or
political parties with no feelings OF
fear or even uneasiness, so long as
theories are not reduced to practice;
but when we as an Order number
ing some eight or nine hundreds OF
thousands of intelligent, Thoughtful
men and women, and including
those dependent upon US represent
ing some three millions of souls,
having an active organization IN
| nearly every State, a National or
gaization through which we can
reach every member, and weekly
issue of especia. Grange literature
in every State, when such an organ
| ization, through its chosen repre-
sentatives, declares its unalterable
purpose to follow up its principles
! and resolutions with the ballot
wholly regardless of party connec-
tons or political leaders, we may be
assured that such action will not be
disregarded and that our inhuenc
as an Order will not be moderated
We meet here not only as the re-
representatives. of our Order but al so
Of that great class whose toll feeds
the world. The eyes of the farm
ers of America are upon Us. Prac-
teal results are expected from this
meeting. Shall these expectations
be realized? If yes, how? What
can we, as legislators of the Order,
do for the advancement of the ma
terial interests of farmer? What
course can we point out through
which he may improve his own
cumstances? We may talk as elo,
quently as we will of the necessity
of intellectual and social culture and
moral elevation and of their para
mount importance and value, but
after all has been said and its truth
acknowledged, still the great fact
remaining that to open the way for
progress in these directions the pc
cunitry circumstances must be made
comfortable If it be true that imam
can not live by bread alone" it is
no less true that he can not. live
without the bread. When we con
template the wonderful agricultural
productions of our country and the
vast columns of statistics as furnish
. ed by the Census Bureau and Agri
cultural Department, we must not
forget that it is not from these ag-
gregates that the wants Of the farm.
er and his family are to be supplied
but only from the few cents oil
profit arising from the operation. Il
middle men in the form of commits
{ sion men, agents, forwarders, ware.
bouse men, patent-right manipula
tors, and trade politicians are allow
ed to rob the farmer of his small
margin of profit, then has he indeed
become but newer of wood and 3
drawer of water for other men.
In view of these considerations
r aud of the alarming encroachments
, of corporations and monopolies, o.
the cooperative combination OF
capital generally, of the vast anc
constantly increasing power and in
huence of idle capital, which is a
best but pauper upon the industry
of The people, and in view of the
small results which have follow &c
] the efforts of this body in the past
/ your Committee believe that the
time for more aggressive measures
has arrived, and in accordance there
with the following resolutions arg
: respectfully presented:
t ReSokOed, That the National
} Grange of the Patrons of Husband
4; ry demand that the COMMISSIONS
; of Agriculture be made the Secre
tary Of Agriculture and a member
of the Presidents Cabinet, with the
same salary as Secretary of othe1
, departments, and that this depart
: ment be sustained and encouraged
by appropriations commensurate
with its importance.
ReS0tOed, That we also demand
the enactment of a general Rail
road Law, prohibiting all discrimi
nation in favor of or against any
class, locality, or interest in the
transportation of passengers o.
freight, also prohibiting excessive
; or exorbitant rates.
| ResoIOed, That we demand sucl
| revision of the patent laws as shall
7 effectually protect the innocent pur
chaser or user of patened article
or implement, and make the manu-
facturer or vendor alone responsible
for violations of the law.
Resolved, That we demand the
immediate enactment of graduated
!. income tax to the end that all wealth
may bear its just and equal proper
ton of the expenses of government
I. and that productive industry be sc
! | 11