Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-06-05
Communicated.
EprroE BELMONT CnRoSrcLE-

EDITOE BELMONT CHRONICLE
DEAR SIR: We noticed in a recent is
sue of the CHRONICLE communication
from your correspondent H, who, IN de-
scribing Farmers Club in Union
township, closes thus: Unlike its pre-
decessor. the Grange, the members do
not seek t. advance their own Interests
by destroying or monopoliZing the bust
ness of others, but feels that there eX
lists a common interest and common
dependence, and that due regard for
the tights and privileges of others is
one of the chief elements of success"
Now, we do not ask the use of your
columns in order that We may enter
UPON lengthy defense of the Grange,
or that we may compare it with the
above mentioned Farmers Club"
| 2Being personally acquainted with many
Of the members of said Club, We feel as
sured that they will make success of
tie organization if indeed success lies in
that direction. But the known fairness
of the CHRONICLE with all parties in
duces us TO ask small space in which
to reply to II. In the article there is
tirst an implied declaration that the
Grange is thing of the past, and that
the Club is built upon its ruins.
| If there was ever subordinate
Grange as such organization in Union
townshIp.we have no knowledge of such
organization. However, that may be,
il should be remembered that the
Grange, bsing national in its organiZa-
tion. can only be properly estimated by
reference to its national status. By
reference to such status we find that
there are now 81 State Oranges in a
| fiouri5hing condition, composed of 1880
live, paying sub-Granges, with an ag
gregate membership of 100000. If the
Grange is dead TO H, it is because HIS
range of vision is small. But his as
sertiOns with regard To the principles of
the Grange are still more unfair and
untrue. Its Declaration OF Purposes are
published, aud will cheerfully be placed
in the hands of any one who may desire
| them, and we defy Fl. or any other one
to prove that its seeking" or its acts
have ever been other than in accordance
with its published purposes. We mean,
of course, the Grange in its corporate
capacity.
Like all other movements toward re-
form, it met, and still meets, opposition.
At the first there Was almost Simulta-
! neous rush into its ranks by all persons
eligible, without waiting To consider its
principles, and consequently many join
ed who proposed only to get suddenly
wealthy by the saving of commissions,
which had hitherto been paid to middle
men, whereas. the true objective point
10 he attained WAS and is, the better ed
ucation. and social advancement of the
| farming class.
At the first there were many even
among its friends, who made unrea
sonable aud unwarranted demands for
1t. and falsely interpreted its teachings.
III this, however, has passed, and now
t..e organization having slOughed off the
| incubus. and being better understood by
It's neu Uers. and by the intelligent per-
sons in all occupations, is stronger and
more efficient for good than ever be-
fore. True, it does oppose monopoly in
all its manifestations: it does think that
corporate power should be restrained; !;
it does believe that transportation CON-
panies being allowed by charter to lay
their lines OF railway over public and
private domain, should not be allowed to
make unfair charges; that too many
parties may stand between the producer
and the consumer; that agriculture
ought to receive her fair share of repre-
sentation in State and National legisla-
lures.
Thsse are cardinal principles, and by
national organization it aims TO bring
about results in accord Herewith. Bul
the Grange is really working in the in
terest of every other legitimate indus
try, for it is working in the interests Of
agriculture which undsrlies all others.
And it is now SO regarded by intelligent
pc pple every where.
We had the pleasure of attending the
u Getting of our own State Grange last
- inter, which was held at Springfield,
he city Were more people and more
apital are engaged in manufacture than
any other city in the State. The city
welcomed the Grange so cordially as to
make it almost al ovation. We do not
know " hal is HIS occupation nOU-pOs-
sibly in the sewing machine business
hut we do wish he had been there to
witness the reception given by those
people, who are engaged in almost all
other occupations. to the Grangers who
Gas he says are trying to destroy all
other business.
One of two things must have been the
result. either he must have concluded
that the men of Springfield wele all
dazed. or that even his wisdom had
ia led to properly interpret the Grange
The Farmers Club, or farm social,
doubtless is good AS 4 local means of
profit and pleasure. but no better than a
subordinate Grange for like purposes.
The agriculturalists need an organiza-
- h., -, 10
cert of action in the whole country, and
10y the use of the Grange the farmer OF
Ohiom ~ catch hands with the farmer
of lo,a, of Michigan, of Maine, and
thus concentrate pow er in any good
Cause. The leading men among the
farmers of all States are members of the
Grange. In our Ow n State, such meR as
Secretary Ch ,mberlain. Henry Talcot.
Hon. ]. Fl. Brigham, Waldo Brown, of
the state Board of Agriculture, Or.
TOwnshend, of the Ohio University, and
many others equally good.
Yet II. would have people TO believe
that such men are so blind to their own
interests, and SD meanly selfish, as to |
desire and seek to destroy all other in
dustries. But l wot that through ig-
norance he did it."
Nav we append but one sentence
uttered by p. z. Mast, of Springfield,
about the Grange: The organization as
now constructed ought to command the
hearty cooperation of all who believe
that earnest labor of brain or hand is
the only true manhood and the only true
nobility"
Hoping | may find favor in your sight,
am l. II. SNYDER.