The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-09-12
lhe gntellige,ltt.:.
- ,o. =, and ~ Fourteenth street
=, of III. state Grnnge ut Mounds


of IN. state Orange at Mounds.
s" vile. ~
q, West Virginia State Grange, or, to
~ =, 4. full name, the Patrons Of lIus-
+, meets to-day at Moundsyille, In
a: aa:,,iu,h annual session. This would seem
,.Tcs,e that they have been organized
"a, State eight years at least. AS
-, Of fact, however, the first grange in
Virginia WIS organized in Berkeley
"" 81, ten wears ago, and, If We mistake
rOl. r. ". Baylor, the present Mas
W. ',,t,hs State Grange, was It's first Mas.
" From the Eastern Panhandle, tho
'.r,. ~, Orler spread rapidly through the
@ a., especially in 1871, 1875 and 1875,
l.,;r, I The depression and hard times fol-
orins,he panic of 1873, and at one time
,ha,nr,lrrOi subordinate oranges was over
An AN ui,b An enrolled membership Of 5000.
me- oranges number now less than 100,
IN, corresponding decrease in the MEM
sssip. This decrease, it IS claimed by
~. who are in position to know, has
80, ,.ul,e! from any Inherent weakness
!, the grange or its principles, but is
r,uIy owing to the fact that many per-
:. rsrs received into membership who
,.Ily had no interest in common with the
,rpes, and they naturally fell away.
Their falling away discouraged not a few
abrr who really had farmers interest
.,he grange, but who had never given in
more than superficial adherence to the
Uaem, owing to their lack OF time or taste
tr the study and Practice OF its policy.
/, is said that many grangers attempted
n do their own business, that is, their buy
ipg and selling, iuan unbusiness-like man
Ss,. They s,artet! stores where there was
no necessity for them, or where the proper |
constituency ior such stores had not been
bullup. They also went into specialties
in direct antagonism to the principles Of
the grange, and their unbusiness-like pro-
js.s filled aud carried many members OF
,be order down with them. Some OF the |
more aspirins members injured the cause
by rinssin. their oranges into politics,
particularly for their own benefit, and this
l..atitied md disgustei many members,
ai thus new element OF disintegration
Us introduced, int!icting no little injury
% tie order in some counties.
As We understand the principles and
AIMS Of the Patrons Of Husbandry," they
have much that is laudable. They are
kind oi Farmers Club, or rather system
Of clubs, tOund together by Il National
organization, which National organization,
Thile it has commanding influence, and
aa exercise great weight in legislation,
1hers legislation is really needed, never
hrles; exposes the organization to the
,aases 9f power either in their own hands
G in the hands OF designing politicians.
10 the West, notably in Wisconsin, some
much needed legislation, restraining the
aOaOpOlizins and oppressive tendencies Of
ailrOads, was effected mainly through the
POse'ful agency OF the Grunge. This was
a'eryice, not only to the agricultural in
tetsts but all the interests OF the State.
In West Virginia the grange has never
sought, 50 far Us We recall, to exercise any
influence otthis sort, although it is possible
TIA; We may have not seen their influence
openly in the notifications Of tolls that
we're conceded by the Baltimore & Ohio
HllToad at tthe close otthe legislature OF 1879
!, some OF the counties there were no
-anges at all, while in others there were
qaIte Il number, rs many rs twenty. In
Ills county there were FIVE ut one time, but
aS there are but two. There are still
rsat many farmers Of West Virginia who
rswarmly attached to the grange, and
'aabelieve that it is 4 good institution
@Nspromotion OF their interests. They
llassocial features especially agreeable, las
RSHnSs them into more frequent and in
ltlgent discussion OF their e1perieucesand
0aeivations in regard to agricultural af-
4S and also Is to questions connected
nth the demand and supply OF their pro-
d:Gs in this and other countries. It Is
Hslhle that the order may, now that it
Is been prune,! and eliminated OF some OF
!s Objectionable membership, take on n
Lev lease OF life, and more successfully
any out its original design, although we
suspect that the good crops and flush times
MOng the farmers have done away with
much Of the feeling Of inter.dependence
that contributed so much to its rapid
s'0"th IN the days OF debt and doubt, fol-
lowing the panic Of 1873.
The present officers Of the State Grange
ne Col. r. W. Baylor, OF Jefferson county,
Master; james E. Hale, OF Barbour, Secre-
"!; W. Houston, OF Monroe, Orerseer; H.
I Davis, OF Doddridge, Steward; and +.
D. Whitman, OF Ohio county, Chairman Of
lie Executive Committee. There are
Naers whose official designations we can
"t recall. The meeting at AGoundsville
"''ay will, as is the custom every two
!eas, eIec, officers ior the ensuing term.
Tue representation in the State Grange is
aFeoan'ies, each county having US many
'"e' As it has contributing oranges.
II IS now doubtful whether the ror.