The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-03-06
COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI, MARCH 6, 1880.
ALABAMA STATE GRANGE.
LETTER FROM THE sRCRETARY.

ALABAMA "A 0NA1N0E.
LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY.
Editor PatrOn:-Will you allow space
IN your columns to place before your read
ers the causes which have brought about
the present condition of the Order in the
State of Alabama? / think this but just
because of the frequent structures in your
editorials bearing upon the officers of our
State organization. Although not sub
scriber, your, paper has been regularly
| read by me, as one of the members of the
family has been taking it for about one
year. One of the editorials to which l
refer was in the issue of February 9TH.
This is written in different spirit from
door open for a reply without entering
into a controversy. In your zeal for the
Order you have unconsciously, been un-
just to the officers of the State Grange of
Alabama, and at the same time, done
harm to the Grange cause, when, no doubt,
you intended to do good.
To place affairs in their proper light it
is necessary to go back several years in
the history of the Grange. When the
session Of 1875 convened, it found nearly
700 Oranges in the State, full treasury
and bright prospects. The representatives
of the Subordinate Oranges encouraged
by the fattering prospects ahead voted
away the Grange funds like water. The
finance committee at the next session
managed, by leaving out outstanding
claims then due, and including the dona-
ton from the National Granhe which had
been loaned on insult cient security and
was then virtually los !, to make favor
! able report. The officers of the Grange
were responsible for this, as no doubt the
committee acted upon the information
! furnished by these. But the real facts of
| the case was that a deficiency existed
Before the next session (IS77) the Subor-
! dinate Oranges had discovered the true
state of AFFAIRS and having lost confidence
| in the State organization, had ceased to
pay dues, then to hold meetings and were
reported dormant by the hundred AT
this session | was so unfortunate as to be
chosen Secretary Action was taken by
the Grange looking to the revival of the
| Order. Under this action it soon became
necessary, after due notice had been CIV
en- that unless Oranges reaffiiliated by a
certain time their Charter would be re-
voked, to mail the Masters orders for four
hundred and twenty five Charters. This
| left, after deducting the Charters surren-
dered previously, about one hundred and
fifty Oranges nominally in existence. l
/ say nominally, because not more than
eighty ever reported to the Secretary S
office. Brother Harrington, man of great
ability, not surpassed by any man in this
respect, connected with our organization,
and, besides. of lovely character in other
respects, was elected Master. Much was
/ expected of him, and he is still severely
criticised by our members. But know
that it was his intention to exert himself
/ TO the utmost in the interest of the Order
Every effort was met by the dormant
! Oranges with the coldest indifference,
4 the natural result Of the loss of confidence
in the State organization. A lethargy and
an apathy had seized upon the Order
which was appalling to those who were
expected to stem the tide of disintegra-
ton which had set in. Brother Harring
ton after surveying the field, was com
pletely dismayed, and threw. up the posi-
ton at the first opportunity. Withou
one dollar in the treasury, and deb
which steadily devoured every cent tina
came in, active work in the field was ut
terly impracticable unless the entire ex
pense be borne by the officers out of thei
: own purses. Unfortunately the most o
these officers, if not all, had no surplu
, means for this purpose. Capt. A. Y. Gard
ner, a man of wonderful energy, and grea
ability, happened to be chairman of tn
| Executive Committee, threw himself int
2 the breach, and by good management
E saved the wreck. Without his strenuou
: efforts there would not have been an
Grange in the State to-day Recognizin
that the pecuniary feature was the on
! which demanded attention, as without an
means upon which to work nothing coul
r be done, he set on foot the expedient of
o fair to fill the depleted treasury. The Cit
!. and citizens of Mobile held out every II
! ducement for this fair, and it was accol
:, dinghy held there. The propects of sus
y cess were bright, but more complet
Il financial failure never followed sue
3 prospects. This result was produced by
combination of circumstances, of whic
,s the feelings of hostility towards the .
4 der, and the presence of the yellow few
= during the Autumn were the MAN,
;s finer exhibition was never made in Il
Il South, but the attendance was almo
i nothing. Under this state of affairs CaI
r. Gardner, unassisted by any of the office
of our organization except the Secretar