The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1882-04-13
Editor.
TROY, KANSAS:
A Prophet.


In 1873 he prophesied that the Grange movement
would be a success; then he proceeds to call at
tention to several very fine points, not visible to
the naked eye, 10 prove that his predictisn has
been fulfilled. This demonstration is for the
purpose of establishing his reputation as Proph-
ct, and give force to another prediction which
he now makes, that the prohibition humbug will
also he a success equal to that of the Grange. 1t
will be just about such success, and the editor
of the Wiorld will he entitled TO rank next TO
Mother Shipton prophet.
Ifever there was a dismal failure in the world,
il was the Grange movement If they have sue
ceeded in accomplishing one Of the objects which
they so loudly proclaimed, we have lost sight of
il. First and foremost, they were going TO reg
ulate the freights railroads, and prevent ex-
tortions upon the farmers. The railroad cOrpO-
rations never had the country efectually by
the neck and heels as nj this moment. They DO
not obey single law on the statute books, but rob
the producers daily. They run their roads TO
give the public the greatest Inconvenience and
expense, and defy all control. They own the
Courts and the Legislatures, and have a COM
plete mor:g upon the contemplate fraud who
draws the salary of the Governor Of Kansas,
whose hobby, to fool the people, is the same pro-
hibitory law, the success of which the Ford
predicts. The railroad companies are patting
him on the back, and encouraging him to ride
his hobby still harder, for they that it is
excellent thing to fool the people with, and to
keep their tool in the Governors Office.
The character known rs the '.middle man.
TO be abolished by the Grange, and farmers were
to deal directly with the manufacturer. The
farmer still buys his machines, his goods and his
groceries from the middle man, and pays him
profit, and sells his produce in the same way.
Most of the Grange stores went out with the first
stock of goods, the persons appointed TO manage
them having absorbed both profits and capital.
If they get their machinery and goods cheaper
now than few years ago, it is because of the
general cheapening of everything, as n result of
resumption, which the Grange fought to the bit
ter end
The Grange was going to improve the social
condition of the farmers-bring them together in
friendly intercourse and foster mutual conf
dence. To accomplish this, they wasted their
time in Grange meetings, picnics, harvest homes,
and running around generally, to the neglect of
their farms. Their crops failed, as a matter of
course, they became involved in debt, martgsges
grew upon tnsT liiIlns, ana rum hlaIeu tHcin III
the face. Many lost their homes, many others
are ,till groaning under load of debt, and the
few who worked out, are not anxious for any more
Grange.
One of the greatest objects the Grange had in
view, was thorough. reform in politics. For s
while they had things their own way, and elect
ed shysters and incompetents to office. The
public finances were demoralized, and treasures
wore robbed. The UorId need not 20 from home
TO find an instance. An honest and competent
man, nominated by the Republicans, was beaten
for County Treasurer, and Granger elected.
The County was robbed of about So, 900, by a
ring, the sum hocus-pOeused down to abont
sl2, 900, and even that amount compromised for
about nothing. After financially running them
selves, and unsettling the public finances, these
Grangers took IT into their heads that the cause
Of all the trouble was, that there was not enough
money to do the farmers of the country. They
naturally fell into the Greenback craze, and
went TO bowling for the Government to make so
many hundred million greenbacks, and scatter
them among the people. That party has become
so nearly run into the ground, that its leading
men, who would accept nothing short of the Pres
idency, are having themselves talked up for Con-
stables and Road 0verseers Their newspaper
organs (those that have managed to survive)
have about dropped the Grange and the Green
back, and are now squalling for prohibition.
But why shouldn't theyi Have not the prophets
foretold that prohibition is TO be the same grand
success that the Grange vast