The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-07-01
Walr rar uaaxur Ms isosl.

get new meniher he Is generally Il rep.
resentative man. Still great many
hang baox aud do not unite with the
order. They aslS--'.What has the
Grange done 20 recommend ii to the
favor of the farming community r.
"Why should | join and waAte my
time attending its meetings. as we'll az
| pay my money out to support the or
ganization T. No one who understands
the situation will talk thus. IL is true
that when the order first gained q foot
ing in this valley, several grave mis-
takes were made. The membership
was not sifted rs it should have been.
Some persons went into It for the pur-
pose of getting office, aud monomaniacs
on different subjects brought up their
pet hobbys and talked on them inces-
sanity until tiring out the other mem
bers, they were successful in getting
their schemes endorsed. Grange stores
were started and invariably proved
failures, and other matters working Just
as loosely, there was great falling off
in membership. A few Of our very
best men remained firm in their faith
that the principles OF tho Grange were
correct, and il carried out in A right
manner wonld result in great good TO
the country at large. They went TO
work with viii and have resurrected
the order in this county, and the Linn
County Business Council is now power
here in the valley. Contracts made by
its agent save TO the Patrons thousands
of dollars every year. A feW years ago
the o. S..N. Co. obtained control of
the river transportation here in the
valley and would not carry wheat TO
Portland for less than II cents. The
Patrons congregated together and raised
sufficient money 10 put ON steamboat
line of their own. As soon as it be-
came known that they meant business,
5. G. Reed, vice president Of the com.
pany, came up and entered into a con:
tract to reduce the rate IRE cents per
bashei providing no opposition boat line
should be put upon the Willamette.
Find out what the surplus wheat crop
of the willamette Valley il for one
year, then take your pencil and multi.
ply it by about cents anl the result
viii show you what was savcl To our
farmers through the infaf ,ce Of the
Grange It will be quite sum and
viii no doubt astonisb you, but on
will never afterwards be heard to say
"what has the Grange dJne TO recon-
mend it to the favor Of the farming
community r
Last season "A contract was made
with ID. n. Osborne d Co. by which
members of the order could secure the
selfbinder put mp by thai lirm ut cost
almost 800 less than an outsider
could get the same machine for cash and
we understand the contract il in force
yet. In that case only the members of
the order could secure the benefit de-
rived from the coatract made by the
Councils agent, anl we are glad that it
was so, for it doesn't lo)S fair that an
outsider who loses no opportunity to
talk against the Grange, should share
alike with the Patrons in the bargains
obtained through the influences of the
Grange.
Last season the Patrons invited other
farmers to join them in pooling their
wool, and tho result was saving to
the wool-srowers OF aboat $1,000.
The Patrons also get a nice redne-
ton on their plows, harrowa and other
farm implements, aud We understand
that they will buy thresbera this year
at prices which will astonisb even
themselves. In the face Of all this it
certainly looks TO us that a man must
have considerable cheek to say that tire
Grange is damage to the country.
1t must be remembered that ia this
article we have not said anything in
regard to the social relations ex.
isting among the Patrons Their meet
ings must be very interesting and
members tell us that tire social enjoy
ment they have there fully compensates
them for their loss OF time and outlay
of money, not taking into consi9era-
ton at ali the benefits they derive
through the contracts made by their
business agent.
In looking at the matter from all
points we cannot see how farmer can
afford to stay outside Of the Grange,
and If We were TO change our Dccupa-
lion and engage in agriculture, we
wonld pay our initiation fee in the
Grange before any agricnItura. inple-
nent dealer would get single cent
,ut of us for plow.
==
FRANK DRIVER