Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-10-09
CHILD OF THE GRANGE,
A Farmers Organization Whichis Grow
ing Rapidly in the West.
Interesting Interview with the Vicc-Presi
dent in Regard to its Objects and
Methods.

The congregation here yesterday of |
hundreds OF farmers, each bringing from
one to three bales OF cotton to market, |
furnished forclblc Illustration OF the
objects and the strength of an organiza-
ton which has grown to greatness in
almost in year-thc Farmers alliance.
On account of its bearings on the com
mcrcc of the country and relationship 10
its greatest industry, no social movement
of recent years is more significant or
frauaht with such Importance to so vast
Il number OF people. Strange to say but
little is known about 1t beyond the mere
suggestion of its name. SO quietly and
! vet with such dispatch has it been or
ganizcd that it has assumed mammoth
proportions without betraying more than
its existence TO people whose occupation
was such us to exclude them from mem
4 bership.
Among the prominent members of
the alliance who were in the city
Yesterday was Mr.. j . S. Morris, yicc-pres-
ident of the Grand State alliance, \ GA
zErTE reporter sought him out yesterday
to learn something about the order, its
purposes and prospects.
"The Farmers alliance said Squire
: Morris, "was started five years ago in
Parker county. The first grand lodge
was organized near Pooleville
with Andy Dunlap as president
He is president still. We have now zoe
l subordinate lodges with Il membership o.
= about 100000. The growth of the organi
: zation has been achieved principally with
, in the last eighteen months"
sis II confined to TeXas?n
, ooh, no; the order is spreading on
.t.,ll gt..
d states 1t now covers Arkansas
!. Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin and Ne
u braska, although in none of thos,
II states has it such foothold as in. Texas. >
It "What is proposed to accomplish b,
G the alliauce?"
I "The leading aim is to bring the farmc
o face to fa,e with the consumer of hi
II product, or rs near that as possible
Is We want to sell our cotton, for instance
; direct to tine manufacturer or his agent
e and squeeze out the middlcmen. TAX
l. wheat for an example Last year tn
L. crop was sold by the farmer at from
N fifty to sixty cents per bushcl, and reSol
a by the Spectator at from eighty-iive cent
n to Sl.l0 see what the farmers lost b.
that operation. We have no war TO max
II again, any honest occupation. we ar
nc not fighting the merchant. We simpl
lie propose to establish direct market 10
10 our products, and stop the heavy loss in
* Cured by rehandling them so much"
"Arc there any political features abou
el Your orgUnization?N
NJ None whatever; that was the roc
= upon which the Grange Stranded. Gu
,n objects are purely commercial"
l0 "Who are eligible to Memberships
III Farmers, farm aborers, mechanics
ON clans and ministers of the gospel. Ii
sl dies are also admitted without any c,
. penSc, but few have Joined so far"
10 "NOur meetings are sccret?"
ht eyes, it is Il secret organizations
oil "Do you expect speedy success In a
no your aimsy"
"No; we are making an innovation
10 and it will be q hard fight, hut with IL
M thorough organization which we are pc
Gu iectlng we must ultimately Triumph
ca GLOW Is the alliance prospecting
~ Tarrant county2n
al "We have forty-slN lodges and ,ner
ne bership between $500 and 1000. | ha,
been engaged in the work OF orgau!2ir
iie lodges in the county for some time pas
iu Everywhere the farmers are taking a de,
interest In the matter, and found |
~ difficulty in forming lodges. In son
-"V places everybody wanted 20 conc, b
our membership Is restricted exclusive
w to the classes stated.n
NV Squire Morris is an old and honor,
Y citizen OF the county having rcsid,
~ for several years IN Fort Worth, nj
alt now living near Mansfield He was cleo
usl ed yiee-president OF the Grand State al
ancc at It's meeting in Decatur last A
gust. The state officers ares Prcsider
Andy Dunlap, Sprlngtowu, Parker cou
crS ~; rice-president, j. l.. Morris, Man
us field, Tarrant county; secretary, G. J
airy Wilcox, Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto con
oal ty treasurer, j. H. Landers, Gmndyie,
vas Johnson county; travelling state lecture
at l., O. Dawes The latter gentleman "
the visit Fort Worth soon and delivers pa
erS lie lecture on the organization.
led The regular quarterly meeting OF ,
on the county lodges will be- held az Arlin
zen ton Friday October ~.