The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-11-04

LANSING, October 18th, 1851.
The Executive Committee of the Michigan
State Grange, in session in the city of Lam
sing, have had under consideration the claim
for royalty of one N. w. Green, for alleged
infringement of patent he claims to hold
for driven wells.
| This committee, without having given this
claim that careful and exhaustive examina-
ton necessary to know its actual status, be-
lieve it to belong to that class of frauds that
through the unjust and oppressive patent
laws that disgrace our national statutes,
furnish opportunity for pretenders to levy
species of black mail upon innocent users of
inventions that have been in common use all
over the country for along time.
II is part of the scheme of these unscru-
pulous persons who undertake to collect
royalty to wait until the use of an article has
become general, that they may reap larger
harvest when they come to count up those
they propose to victimize.
The successful issue of the suit instituted
by parties in the eastern part of the State,
three years ago, to collect royalty from pat
rons for alleged infringement of patent by
the use of the common slide gate, is still
fresh in our minds, and we believe it our
duty as patrons, to make the same spirited
and determined resistance to this new de-
mand upon the farmers of the State for roy
atty, which then baffled and thwarted in the
supreme court of this State the further prose
cution of well devised scheme of robbery,
after several thousands Of dollars of royalty
had been collected.
With the opinions we entertain, we can
but advise all patrons and other persons in
terested, to refuse to pay one cent of royalty
to N. w. Green, his agents, or attorneys, OF
to any other person making a like claim
until such time as the claim is established as
good and valid by judicial decision in the
court of last resort in the United States.
For the purpose of providing the means
necessary to resist this claim, and of making
the defense which we advise, We recommend
ed that the subordinate oranges of the State
pledge to defense Jand such amounts as
they may severally feel able to give, subject
to the call of the committee in instalments
as needed, and that such pledges, signed by
the Master and Secretary of the grange, anG
under its seal, be forwarded to the Secretary
of the State grange.
And we also invite all parties outside the
order-interested in this matter-to make
+. common cause with patrons in this defense
and that they may share in the expense
, which such defense will involve, we invite
persons interested to contribute to this de
tense fund a sum of not less than one dolla
each. the same to be forwarded to j. L
Cobb, Secretary of the State grange, a
Schoolcraft, provided no organized resist
3 ance to this patent right claim is perfected
: by those outside the order in this State an,
if one or more organizations having tn
, same objects are perfected, they are hereb
. invited to make common cause with US i
contesting the claim of n. w. Green, or an
other person demanding royalty for drive
8 wells, and share with US in the expense c
all prosecutions; and we recommend an
. authorize Secretary Cobb TO employ II. L
! Platt of Ypsilanti, TO investigate the Who'll
subject, procure evidence for the defense an
b secure legal aid in his discretion, and max
o report from time to time To this committe;
8 Bro. Platt's connection with the slide gat
N cases, has given him some knowledge c
n patent right law, patent right lawyers an
l. patent right rascals, and we have entire col
fidence that he is the right man to TAX
charge of this matter
Secretary Cobb will issue numbered posti
y card receipts to all contributors to the q
tense .fund, and make report from time
- time through the Gr0Rge Visitor of til
9 progress of any and all suits that may
instituted against patrons or other contrib
tors to the defense .fbnd.
Whenever the matter in controversy sha
/, have reached a final issue and determination
the Executive Committee of the State grams
4. will make full statement of all expend
"a lures, and all unexpended money of Il
defense find shall be faithfully returned
the contributors in proportion to the amour
~ contributed.
Ex. Committee Mich. State Grange.
y ~aDDxuHns