The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-12-13
MARYLAND STATE GRANGE.

The twelfth annual meeting of the MARYLAND
beginning on Tuesday Thore are 60 Oranges in
the State, with membership of about 2,1OO. It
was said that there is just ground for hopefulncss
as to the future work of tho organization the
membership being substantially undiminished
and general confidence felt as to the necessity and
usefulness of the order for the advancement of
the material and educational interests of the
farming class. In his annual report Worthy
Master Devries says:
"The same causes which called our organization
into being still exist, and with increased power
and potency. Soulless corporations, not satisfied
with their wellilled Golfers, are now reaching for
control in governmental affairs to egalize unjust
exactions. While these bodies seek for a cause to
produce results, the farmer too often waits for
suits to find the cause. Herein lies his mistake
if not fatal error. As consequence, the profits
which of right should be the farmers, pass to
other hands almost without comment on his part
The prices of our cereals are infuenced-yea,
fixed to great extent-by another class whose
business it is to turn to their own account the
profits of the farmers labors. This class, known
as dealers in futures, bull and bear the markets
as their respective interests require, and thus in
fuence prices to no small extent. But farmers do
not, and cannot, influence prices one cent per
bushel, because it is the organized against the
unOrganized
"Then there is another class of middlemen,
more dangerous than the rest, if possible, known
as commercial travellers or agents, who, if their
statistics be reliable published, quietly
tracing from consumers daily about two millions
of dollars. If the above statements DO correct,
and think they are, the farmers as producers
have no voice in fixing the values Of their pro-
ducts, and in their disorganized from, it is i'm
possible for them to stand the exactions levied
upon them to meet the wants of such extraordina-
~ demands. These conditions are not only I'M
wholesome but dangerous to the body polite, if
not subversive of the ends of free government.
We should not forget that the responsibility is
upon the class who have the power to correct
these Innovations; failing to do our duty is but
to invite retributon. The present low price of
grain is ruinous to the American farmer, and how
is it accounted for by him Mainly, we think, By
adopting the theory of the classes above referred
to, viz, over production and the want of protec-
ton of foreign commerce.
"Whatever of force there may be in the latter,
the former statement cannot be sustained by the
facts. The wheat crop of the world for 1884, ac
cordng to statisticans, the increase ofpopulation
considered, is not as much per capita as in 1881
and 1882. Then it is not over production; and,
if it is not the solution of present prices only
be found in the division of the profits grain of
which the farmer not only secures no part, but is
left in debt by the operation in many cases.
Such a policy is unsound and will meet its re-
ward The object of the grange is to bring the
producer and consumer in closer contact, and
thus distribute the immunities of labor more
equally where they properly belong"